There are several different types of arthritis, and they fall within an area known as the rheumatic diseases. Treatment for arthritis will vary based on the type patient has along with the symptoms they're suffering from. The various types of arthritis have similarities in that they all affect joints, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Several types of arthritis also affect internal organs.
Arthritis Treatment Varies Based on Forms of the Disease
There are various different forms of arthritis so there is not one uniform type of treatment. There are over 100 known arthritis types in that number increases every few years. The main type is osteoarthritis and it causes wear on a person's cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of an overactive immune system leading to inflammation. In America, arthritis is the most common illness of a chronic type and it is not surprising because there are so many types.
Around the world, over 350 million people suffer from arthritis. Is not just an older person's disease, as over half of those afflicted are under age 65. 60% of those with arthritis are women, which is interesting because as a worldwide population women do not make up 60%.
Contributing Factors to Arthritis Treatment
There are many contributing factors to arthritis treatment. Not only does the type of arthritis play a hand in treatment, but the location, persistence, severity, and medical history of the sufferer also have a role. Arthritis treatment is customized by the doctor for each patient.
There are several arthritis treatments that have been handed down for generations and include homeopathic remedies and over-the-counter medications which can keep the cost of treatment low. As you move up the severity, there are prescription drugs, injections into joints with steroid and other regenerative medicine substances, and also as a last resort surgery.
One treatment that can work extremely well for arthritis is losing weight which can decrease pressure on the joints. What you really want an arthritis treatment is to relieve the pain and inflammation, along with protecting the joint so that is not subjected to such bad arthritis going forward.
One of the 1st things most doctors do with patients is to prescribe rest to the area in question. If that individual is an avid runner, and suffering from an arthritic flare in one of the knees, then it's prudent to hold back on the running for a bit. Ice and heat compresses along with pain cream formulations may provide excellent pain relief. Chondroitin and glucosamine are an excellent over-the-counter supplement for providing some pain relief and joint protection going forward.
Many arthritis treatments are a matter or trial and error to see what works best. Supplements are controversial because of lack of clinical support, and most doctors suggest their use only if there is obvious improvement when they are taken. If there is no improvement within two months, a supplement is probably not going to help the situation.
One of the best treatments for arthritis is exercise, which can strengthen up the muscles around the painful joint and take pressure off the area. This may include going to a fitness center, home exercise program, or a formal physical therapy program.
Along with the exercise, steroid injections into an arthritic joint may provide months of pain relief.This could allow individuals to substantially increase their activity levels, or possibly delay or maybe even avoid surgery.
Braces can help arthritic joints for pain relief a lot as well. This may include a brace on the wrist for instance to mobilize it, or a knee offloading brace or even a lumbar back brace in a time of an arthritic flare too. TENS units may help substantially as well.
In a person with mild to moderate pain, over the counter medications like Tylenol or NSAIDS may allow a person to be active. When pain becomes severe, it may necessitate a jump to short term narcotics to achieve significant pain relief.
Arthritis Treatment Varies Based on Forms of the Disease
There are various different forms of arthritis so there is not one uniform type of treatment. There are over 100 known arthritis types in that number increases every few years. The main type is osteoarthritis and it causes wear on a person's cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of an overactive immune system leading to inflammation. In America, arthritis is the most common illness of a chronic type and it is not surprising because there are so many types.
Around the world, over 350 million people suffer from arthritis. Is not just an older person's disease, as over half of those afflicted are under age 65. 60% of those with arthritis are women, which is interesting because as a worldwide population women do not make up 60%.
Contributing Factors to Arthritis Treatment
There are many contributing factors to arthritis treatment. Not only does the type of arthritis play a hand in treatment, but the location, persistence, severity, and medical history of the sufferer also have a role. Arthritis treatment is customized by the doctor for each patient.
There are several arthritis treatments that have been handed down for generations and include homeopathic remedies and over-the-counter medications which can keep the cost of treatment low. As you move up the severity, there are prescription drugs, injections into joints with steroid and other regenerative medicine substances, and also as a last resort surgery.
One treatment that can work extremely well for arthritis is losing weight which can decrease pressure on the joints. What you really want an arthritis treatment is to relieve the pain and inflammation, along with protecting the joint so that is not subjected to such bad arthritis going forward.
One of the 1st things most doctors do with patients is to prescribe rest to the area in question. If that individual is an avid runner, and suffering from an arthritic flare in one of the knees, then it's prudent to hold back on the running for a bit. Ice and heat compresses along with pain cream formulations may provide excellent pain relief. Chondroitin and glucosamine are an excellent over-the-counter supplement for providing some pain relief and joint protection going forward.
Many arthritis treatments are a matter or trial and error to see what works best. Supplements are controversial because of lack of clinical support, and most doctors suggest their use only if there is obvious improvement when they are taken. If there is no improvement within two months, a supplement is probably not going to help the situation.
One of the best treatments for arthritis is exercise, which can strengthen up the muscles around the painful joint and take pressure off the area. This may include going to a fitness center, home exercise program, or a formal physical therapy program.
Along with the exercise, steroid injections into an arthritic joint may provide months of pain relief.This could allow individuals to substantially increase their activity levels, or possibly delay or maybe even avoid surgery.
Braces can help arthritic joints for pain relief a lot as well. This may include a brace on the wrist for instance to mobilize it, or a knee offloading brace or even a lumbar back brace in a time of an arthritic flare too. TENS units may help substantially as well.
In a person with mild to moderate pain, over the counter medications like Tylenol or NSAIDS may allow a person to be active. When pain becomes severe, it may necessitate a jump to short term narcotics to achieve significant pain relief.
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