If a person experiences muscle pain and it continues for more than two to three days, there is a strong chance that he or she is suffering from arthritis. This chronic disease is a very common disorder, one that affects lots of people all around the world. The major symptom of arthritis is pain in the bone joints, but some arthritis sufferers may also feel pain in certain organs in the body.
The term Arthritis is actually a Latin word that means inflammation of joints. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints due to damage to the cartilage. Patients suffering from arthritis could suffer from long-term joint damage, which could ultimately lead to disability from severe arthritis pain. Arthritic patients commonly feel pain in the early morning hours that slowly subsides as the day progresses.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Without a thorough examination the doctor will not be able to find which type of arthritis you are suffering from. Arthritis can stem from injuries and strains caused by sports, repetitive motion, overexertion etc. Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease that largely affects older people.
There are three stages of arthritis:
The first stage of arthritis is swelling. The second stage is rapid division and growth of the cells. In the third stage the cells release specific enzymes, which erode the bone, causing the joint to lose its shape. It is then the arthritis pain becomes unbearable. Since this is a systemic disease, it can migrate and affect other body organs. So it is better to detect arthritis at its early stage before it spreads to other parts of the body. Arthritis can be treated with proper therapy and medication.
Treatment: Arthritis treatment includes medicine, exercise, thermal modalities, joint protection and surgery.
Medicine: there are several effective arthritis medications available in the market for proper arthritis treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful in most cases. However you should consult a doctor before buying any medicine.
Exercise: this helps strengthen muscles and joints plus increases blood circulation in those areas. Yoga is very therapeutic in reducing arthritis pain.
Rest: rest provides good arthritis relief, as proper rest helps the body to conserve energy and allows the body to heal and reduce pain.
Thermal modalities: cold and heat compresses give short-term relief to stiffness and pain.
Joint protection: this allows the patient to move with minimal stress to the joints. Joint protections like knee supports, back belts are common arthritis relief products widely available on the market today.
Written By: Sue Jan
