Most forms of arthritis can be treated or, at least, managed by exercise, nutrition, medication and sensible weight management. In some cases surgery is required. Consultation with a doctor will diagnose the condition and then an efficient treatment program can be devised and implemented. Treatment programs for arthritis will change over time for an individual and the disease will more than likely remain with the patient for the rest of their lives.
Arthritis can be described as a group of different disorders affecting joints and muscles. Symptoms include pain of the joints, inflammation and the limitation of joint movements. An inflamed joint will be red, sensitive, swollen and will feel quite warm. All joints have a lubricating fluid within a protective shield. Cartilage assists in the flow of this fluid over the joints and when suffering from joint arthritis, that cartilage will more than likely be damaged in some way either due to injury or degeneration. The damage will inhibit the flow of the lubricant and make movement of that joint very painful.
There are numerous other symptoms of arthritis including pain, stiffness and swelling of the joint for extended periods. They can also include fatigue, depression, sleeplessness and aching of the muscles. These symptoms can appear suddenly or can build up over time. The sufferer will experience a loss of movement and experience difficulty in performing usual daily activities. This loss of mobility and dexterity is often more distressing to some patients than the actual pain of the disease. Sometimes small changes in the way some tasks are executed can make a positive difference.
Exercise and physical activities can relieve the pain and stiffness felt by the sufferer while at the same time improving the range of body motions. Gentle exercise with less impact on joints and muscles such as swimming and floor exercises are more beneficial than high impact exercise such as running or contact sports. The exercise often helps improve blood flow around the affected joints and removes waste products as well as providing nutrients to the affected area. Exercises with a full range of motion are the most beneficial and help to improve flexibility and deformity of the joints. Resistance and weight training exercises increases the strength of the muscle surrounding the joint as well as the tendons and ligaments making movement less painful.
Other ways to prevent strain or injury to the weakened joints include adopting correct posture and techniques for carrying loads and heavy objects. The use of handy devices and implements should also be adopted to help cope with daily life. Weight loss is essential to alleviate the strain on the patient's weight bearing joints. The application of hot and cold packs to an affected area can also help to alleviate pain. Heat can be applied with the use of electric blankets, heaters, a hot shower or bath and air conditioning to keep the environment at a constant temperature. Cooling objects could be ice packs, frozen vegetables in a pack, or ice cubes wrapped in a towel.
Another way to help alleviate pain is by adopting the use of arthritis devices. Arthritis hurts when the joint is moved. Often the pain will cease after the joint has warmed or been moving for a while but once the movement ceases, the joint stiffens and the pain returns. To get the joint moving once again is often very painful. A device available for arthritis sufferers is the brace, which restricts movement within the joint. This restriction of movement alleviates the pain afterwards when the joint has stopped moving. Other types of braces are used to insulate the joint and resemble sleeves, which are placed over the joint and retain the heat within the joint.
