Arthritis Pain—OUCH

Arthritis is joint inflammation. It can affect one or more joints.

The symptoms of arthritis are joint pain, warmth around the joint, stiffness, which affects the person more in the morning, swelling in the joints, redness of the skin around the joint, and limited movement of the joint.

There are over 100 different types of arthritis affecting an estimated 46 million adults in the United States. More than half are women and nearly two thirds are under 65 years old. Arthritis even affects children.

The two types that are going to be examined are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. These two types of arthritis can be crippling over time. Surgery might be necessary in extreme cases.

Osteoarthritis is a deterioration of your joint's cartilage due to wear and tear. It is also called osteoarthroses or degenerative joint disease. It involves one or only a few joints usually in the hips, knees or fingers. This type of arthritis usually occurs as we age. The person would experience pain, swelling, tenderness and a decrease in function.

The person has to change their lifestyle to improve this type of arthritis. If needed, medication should be used like Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. If your symptoms are severe you'll need prescription drugs like Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade. Or you might need steroids injected into your joints.

Exercise should be added to your daily life to help maintain your joints and reduce the pain. Exercise should include: Low-impact aerobic activity, strength training to help muscle tone, and range of motion flexibility exercises. You will need a physical therapist to set up a program that fits your needs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects your hands, wrists or knees. It occurs in joints on both sides of the body. Joint symptoms usually develop gradually over a period of several years although with some people it progresses rapidly.

Medications for rheumatoid arthritis are Ibuprofen or Aspirin, Prednisone, narcotic pain relievers and pain relievers that are applied to the skin.

Rest and exercise is very beneficial to this condition. Exercise is important to maintain flexibility to the joints and to help strengthen the muscles around the joints. To maintain joint mobility do range-of- motion exercises.

You may want to include natural supplements to help with the pain and flexibility. These are without a prescription and usually without side effects.

We have to make the best out of life so get moving and always have a positive outlook no matter what the odds. Your life depends on it.