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Arthritis Pain Relief and Prevention
Arthritis Basics
Arthritis signals people in a variety of ways. Joints might crack suddenly, like knees upon standing. Other joints may be stiff and creak. Maybe pain occurs, like when trying to open a jar. What's it all about? Let's look at the basics and learn more.
Arthritis actually means "joint inflammation" and has over 100 related conditions or
type/forms of disease. Left untreated, it can advance, resulting in joint damage that
cannot be undone or reversed. So early detection and treatment are important.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Although both have similar symptoms, both happen for different reasons. When joints are
overused and misused, the results can be OA. What happens is that the cushioning cartilage
that protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This generally
happens in the knees, but can be found in the hips, spine and hands often, too. And only
in later stages will a person most often feel pain, after quite a bit of cartilage is lost.
The second type, RA, refers to the body's immune system attacking joint tissue. Still not
fully understood in the medical community, this condition most often starts in a person's
hands, wrists and feet. Then it advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Similar symptoms include pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness, slight fever and inflamed
tissue lumps under the skin. And both OA and RA generally develop symmetrically, i.e.
affecting the same joints on both the left and right sides of the body.
A difference in OA and RA to note is with swelling. With RA, people report "soft and
squishy" swelling. While with OA, people report "hard and bony" swelling. Another
difference is that a person is more likely to develop RA if a sibling or parent had it.
While a person with a history of joint damage, either an injury or chronic strain, runs
a higher risk for developing OA.
There is no specific age for arthritis sufferers. While it can affect every age group, it
seems to focus on those over 45 years of age. And while neither gender is immune, a
reported 74 percent of OA cases (or just over 15 million) occur with women and a slightly
lower percentage of RA cases occur with women.
People with excess weight tend to develop OA, especially in the knees when reaching over
45 years of age. However, losing weight can turn the odds around almost by half. Regular
activity combined with exercise also reduces risk, strengthening joint muscles and reducing
joint wear.
Although there are no cure-alls for arthritis, there are a variety of pain relief treatment
strategies. Aside from medications, remedies, replacement alternatives and other helpful
treatment options and alternatives, the four main arthritis relief aids are gentle
exercise, good nutrition, a positive attitude and rest. And each will be discussed further
in subsequent sections, because education can play a huge role to dispel "old wives tales"
and myths that "nothing can be done about arthritis." Notable is that today, only a small
percentage of those afflicted with arthritis become crippled. And most never need canes,
wheelchairs, or other ambulatory devices.
Also note if you suspect you may have arthritis, it is advisable to seek medical advice.
Because healthcare providers can help to determine if the symptoms are not something else
like a virus or tendonitis or other similar problem that cold potentially worsen if left
untreated.
Basic Science of Arthritis
Joints can handle some heavy pressure. For example, knees handle a force of three to four
times a person's total body weight on average just talking a walk. The force of a deep knee
bend during a squat can increase to nine times the body weight. So just imagine multiplying
weight of more than 150 pounds times a minimum of three or four, and then even more. That
can sure add up to a lot of heavy work on knee joints over time.
Now for the science of this scenario. Where two bones meet, called the joint, the bone ends
are covered with cartilage, also known as gristle. This cartilage is sturdy, elastic and
spongy or compressible, and keeps the bones from moving against each other at the joint.
The cells of this cartilage, called chondrocytes, are thought to be the longest living
cells of the body.
Surrounding the bones and cartilage is strong, fibrous capsule lined with synovium, a thin
membrane that lubricates the joint area with fluid. The end result is less friction or
smoother rubbing together of the bones. This fluid also feds the cartilage cells, keeping
them healthy, and is "pumped" into them during joint movement. Thus lack of movement
(activity / exercise) can be unhealthy.
Other parts of the body features involved with this arthritic scenario include muscles,
tendons, ligaments, bursea and mental activity. Muscles, attached to bones with tendons
and ligaments, move bones by contracting. They also cushion movement, absorbing impact or
shock. Throughout the muscle and tendon areas are bursae or sacs filled with fluid.
These also help cushion movement. And throughout all the coordination of these parts
during movement, the brain is a part. The brain communicates via nerves throughout the
body, in particular the muscles for this scenario, to prepare joints for activity.
The exact science of what actually causes arthritis is still being researched. For most of
the 100-plus forms of arthritis, the causes are unknown. Injury, overuse of joints and
mechanical issues with joints (like skeletal abnormalities, worn out joint muscles) can
lead to arthritis. And many point to issues relating to bacteria and germs as some of the
problem. Heredity, stress, drugs, food allergies and viruses have also been linked to
some forms of arthritis. So have diet, poor circulation and lack of movement.
Inflammation
Arthritic joints can be affected with inflammation when bacteria or a virus (or other
undesirable element) enters the joint area or when an injury occurs. What happens is when
foreign matter enters this area or the area sustains injury, white blood cells, antibodies
and other natural "fighting" mechanisms automatically kick in internally to help. These
fighters cause swelling, redness and heat as the body fluid moves around. Symptoms of
inflammation, one of the uncomfortable issues associated with arthritis, are redness,
swelling and tender joints.
Other Main Types of Arthritis
After osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), three other major types of
arthritis are systemic lupus erythematosis, ankylosing spondylitis and gout. Let's take a
look at each.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) - This form of arthritis mainly affects women.
It develops in the skin, internal organs and joints.
Ankylosing Spondylitis - This form or arthritis affects the spine and can also
affect the ankles, knees, lungs, heart, shoulders and eyes.
Gout - This is a painful affliction mainly for men, about one million of them in
the United States alone. Uric acid build up, due to an internal chemical malfunction,
forms crystals that get stuck in a joint, generally the big toe, and become inflamed.
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