Managing and Treating Arthritis Effectively

Arthritis is a painful condition that derives from the swelling of the joints. This can cause pain and a lack of mobility. It's a very common condition with over 50 million adults professionally diagnosed. It's especially common with adults over 65 years old. In fact, almost 50% of people over 65 years old have arthritis in one of its various forms.

There are over 100 types of arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis (OA). This type of arthritis is caused by cartilage inside of the bone breaking. It's especially common in the spine, hips, knees, and feet. 

Many things can cause arthritis including excessive weight, injury, infection, illness, and vocational stress. While not entirely preventable, the first step to managing and treating arthritis is to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, exercise, no smoking, and protecting yourself when physically active and moving heavy items.

People who have arthritis may experience a lot of pain, but there are plenty of ways to treat the condition and manage the pain so that people can live with arthritis more comfortably.

Managing and Treating Arthritis

You may think that the pain will never go away, but you can manage your arthritis symptoms! Millions of people manage to live better lives through a variety of treatments every day. There are a lot of potential treatments. Work with your doctor to figure out the correct one for you and start enjoying life again:

Get Moving

While it may be painful at first, one of the most effective methods to manage arthritis is to keep moving. Medical experts recommend that adults perform moderate activity 30 minutes a day five days a week. For people in a lot of pain, choose an activity that won't put a lot of strain on your body like swimming. Be careful not to overdo it, though! Know your limits and work with a physical trainer if possible to learn to exercise properly.

Lose Weight

Since arthritis can be caused by stress on the joints, losing weight will relieve some of this stress. Exercise and healthy eating will help you reach your desired weight. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon are particularly helpful. These acids assist in both weight loss and reducing joint pain.

Supplements

Natural supplements have been getting more and more popular for attending to joint pain. Common supplements that claim to support joint health include:

• devil's claw
• bromelain
• boswellia
• ginkgo
• thunder god vine
• stinging nettles

Medication

Speak with your physician about medication that can help your disease. Start with over-the-counter pain relievers with anti-inflammatory properties first. After that, be sure to speak with your physician again if they don't work to get something more effective. There are a large number of different prescription options based upon the type of arthritis and any other medical conditions that you may be suffering from.

Hyaluronic Acid Injections

Injections to the knee can help relieve the pain by inserting material into your knee that oils the knee. It absorbs the stress that the knee endures throughout the day. This is usually used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) after other treatment methods have not produced desired results.

Surgery

In certain severe cases, a patient may undergo surgery to replace the affected joint. Hips and knees are the most commonly replaced joints.

Questions and Answers

Arthritis is a complex condition that sparks a lot of conversation. If you still have questions, we want to try to answer them for you. Here’s some common questions that you may have.

Q: Will cracking my knuckles cause arthritis?

• Despite the common myth, cracking your knuckles will not cause arthritis at all. It is still a bad habit, though.

Q: Is all joint pain an indication of arthritis?

• No! Other possible joint conditions include bursitis, lupus, Lyme disease, and tendonitis. Talk to a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

Q: Can arthritis turn serious?

• If not treated properly, arthritis can create extreme mobility problems and even hurt your eyes, lungs, and kidneys. Early treatment is the best course of action and will reduce the potential for serious problems.