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Arthritis |
Arthritis is a disorder of the joints that causes pain, inflammation and reduced mobility in the affected areas. This disorder can be limited to just one joint or can affect numerous joints throughout the body. Arthritis is the general "umbrella" term for more than 100 associated joint disorders. Because there are so many different forms of arthritis, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis from your physician before moving forward with any form of physical or medical therapy.
Signs and Symptoms
Although there are more than 100 forms of arthritis, there are general signs and symptoms that occur in most of them. These symptoms include:
• Joint Pain
• Reduced joint mobility
• Swelling around the joints
• Stiffness of one or more joints, especially in the morning
• Redness on the skin around the affected joint
• Heat or warmness in the joint
• General fatigue (in certain types)
Treatment
Treatments depend heavily on the type of arthritis you have and the severity of it. Some causes of the disorder are not curable. In cases such as this, the treatments would be highly focused on pain management and limiting the progression of the disorder. This can be done with both physical and medical therapy.
Physical therapy and exercise are often the most effective treatments for many types of arthritis. Starting a regiment of low-impact exercises, including walking and swimming, can help to keep the joints loose and prevent them from stiffening. Frequent stretching exercises can also help to prevent stiffness and can help increase flexibility in the joints. Stretching exercises should be done throughout the day, especially if you are confined to a single position for long periods of time. Strength training can also help ease the pain of arthritis by strengthening the muscles around the joints and taking some of the pressure off the problem areas. Make sure to consult your physician before starting a physical therapy regiment, so you can determine what the right amount of physical exercise will create optimum results.
Medical therapy can also be used to ease the pain and swelling of many types or arthritis, but is often coupled with a physical therapy plan. The main medicine of choice for most arthritis types is acetaminophen (Tylenol). An acetaminophen regiment will often help reduce the swelling of the joints and also ease the pain, while helping to avoid many of the side effects other prescription drugs produce. Make sure to consult your physician before starting an acetaminophen regiment, so you can decide what the correct dosage is for you. There are also other over-the-counter drugs that could help including Aspirin and Ibuprofen. Ask your doctor if these are right for you or if there are any prescription drugs that would be more appropriate for your specific type of arthritis.
Other Tips for Living with Arthritis
• Outfit your home with items that can take the pressure off your joints—grip bars in your shower, easy grip jar and bottle openers, button and zipper aids etc…
• Make sure to get plenty of sleep (8-10 hours a night) to give your body the opportunity to rest and heal. It will also provide you with more energy, helping to reduce some of the fatigue that sometimes comes with arthritis.
• Eat a healthy diet. Make sure to eat plenty of foods high in vitamins and minerals. This will provide you with more energy and help you lose and maintain weight, which will take pressure off your affected joints.
• Ask your doctor if there are any supplements or vitamins you could take to help with your arthritis.
• Ask your doctor if applying cold or heat packs to the affected areas could help your symptoms.
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