Body Mastery

Arthritis Relief & Prevention

Arthritis is a big issue. Look at some introductory facts. Referred to as America’s
number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease in people over 40,
arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans. And this figure is expected to rise
to 60 million by 2020, according to the Center for Disease Control. Arthritis generally afflicts people between the ages of 20 and 50, but can affect all ages, even infants. The average age of onset is 47 and about three out of every five people with arthritis are under 65 years of age.

Arthritic expenditures for just one person due to lost wages, medical treatment and
other related expenses can come to more than $150,000 in his or her lifetime.
And doctors believe there are over 100 different forms of arthritis, all sharing one
main characteristic: all forms cause joint inflammation.

What can be done for arthritis relief? Many things. For example, weight and nutrition
are only a couple of factors that play a role in arthritic pain. And yet shedding
even 10 pounds to relieve weight from knees and finding the right nutritional strategy can help relieve pain a lot.

ARTHRITIC 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 could
potentially worsen if left untreated.

There are many ways to effectively manage arthritic pain today to find relief.
Available are arthritic diets, exercise programs, over-the-counter and prescription
medications, relaxation and positive emotion coping techniques. Also available are
surgeries, supplements, home remedies, natural and other alternative therapies. When
arthritis is first suspected, it would be wise to seek a medical opinion first. Then
as time and resources allow, check out the other options.