Arthritis is a condition that affects the musculoskeletal system including the joints, causing stiffness, inflammation, pain and eventually damage to the joint cartilage. The bones are protected in the joints by tissue called cartilage which acts as a buffer between the ends. Therefore, because of this, cartilage has the exact same needs as the other glands and organs; cartilage cells are referred to as Chondrocytes. The cartilage cells that are the chondrocytes are usually replaced by new cells when the old ones die.
However, over an extended period of time, the inflammation can kill more of the cartilage cells than the body is able to replace. This happens when the body is not healthy and suffers from malnutrition, injury can also be another cause. Arthritis makes the joints to become weak and instable. The traditional treatment to arthritis demands change of one’s lifestyle besides physical therapy and medication. If all non or less intrusive interventions give no relief then the last resort is joint replacement surgery.
Arthritis is divided into to major groups that may affect the ‘localized’ or ‘generalized’ parts of the body or even depending on the joints that get damaged; it is further divided into sub-groups. Localized conditions are where the soft tissue around the bone or joint is affected; it refers to conditions like tendonitis and bursitis. One of the localized conditions could affect just the hip or the knee joints. One of the foremost sub-categories of generalized arthritis is a condition that affects muscle and soft tissue without swelling or inflammation. In this condition there is no joint damage and fibromyalgia belongs to this category.
The second sub-category of conditions includes conditions that involve inflammation that affects the entire body. Gout, Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are all related to this group. Still other generalized situations include polymyositis, involving muscles, systemic lupus erythematosus involving the skin, kidneys and or other organs and vasculitis where any organ is involved.
A person can have more than one type of arthritis and it includes more than 100 medical conditions that affect approximately 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. As early on as infancy, this condition can begin, even though it is most commonly seen in adults that are over the age of sixty, in the primary form of osteoarthritis. As the population within America ages, the number of individuals that are suffering from arthritis is constantly increasing.This disease has increased loss time at work and and costs over 124 billion dollars a year in medical care and indirect expenses.
Maintaining the right weight, eating fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and D are simple but effective measures to prevent and arrest osteoporosis, There should also be sufficient calcium intake, 1000-1500mg per day for adults; in addition regular, moderate exercise can help preventing sports injuries that can aggravate a condition.
11 Comments until now
Tom, thanks for the breakdown on this. I have a bit of arthritis here and there. I’ve used peanut oil as a topical treatment and gotten great relief and I take Celadrin as needed. The right food, the right weight, and proper exercise do wonders. Am working on all.
Leah J. Utass last blog post..Busy, Busy, Busy
Thanks Leah,
My mother now suffers with hands that are disjointed from this disease and I’m sure it’s very painful. The peanut oil seems like a good idea, I’ll pass it along.
Arthritis is an unfortunate condition which affects most all of us at some stage in our lives. If you are a sufferer, a GREAT form of therapy is aquatic physical therapy or occupational therapy, depending on what your needs are!! Here is a link that can help you find a practitioner in your area! http://www.aquaticpt.org/
Wow! So much information. Many individuals are unaware that a healthy lifestyle can have a positive impact when dealing with arthritis.
Marks last blog post..Everday Fitness
Hey Rupal and Mark,
Thanks for offering you input. I think both of you have a really great outlook on health and fitness so I’m happy that you stopped by.
[...] Get us started Tom…Understanding Arthritis. [...]
Thanks for the info,
Arthritis is wide-spread, painful, possibly debilitating and, often frustrating to treat. Beware of miracle cures. There are none.
The non-inflammatory arthritis (called osteoarthritis or degenerative)is the most common. The best treatment and prevention is exercise (water aerobics and swimming are great) and no excess weight (puts stress on the joints).
Otherwise take any otc med that seems to help.
Note: See your healthcare provider for more specific diagnosis and plan.
James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.s last blog post..Potassium may lower blood pressure naturally
Dr, Hubbard,
Thanks for stopping by with some needed wisdom. I’m always amazed with any MD that has a practice and still a desire to inform with on-line writing too. You have a great site too.
Thanks for the information. I’ve seen arthritis on both sides of my family, so it’s great to understand it – and maybe prevent it – a little better.
cathys last blog post..Friday links
Thanks Cathy for the comment. I hoe your family is dealing with this with little pain as possible.
Thanks for the great tips.