Arthritis is an incurable disease that affects millions of people around the world in various degrees from mild to completely debilitating. The word Arthritis actually means joint inflammation and is connected to a number of diseases that have joint pain, joint swelling, or joint stiffness as a symptom. There are four major categories of Arthritis with over 100 types in them.

Four Major Types of Arthritis

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis
2. Osteoarthritis
3. Gout
4. Ankylosing Spondylitis

First Aid A Growing Concern

While most first aid training, like HIPAA Compliance Training does not cover first aid treatments for arthritis pain, there is a growing number of emergency services calls concerning people who have injuries to the joints that are affected by arthritis. An injury to an arthritis-affected area is magnified by the pain that is already affecting the site, making usually minor injuries seem like major emergencies. Case in point, a woman who has closed a car door on an arthritic hand suffers so much debilitating pain that emergency services were called to the scene.

Steps That Help

While there is not cure for arthritis and it falls under the category of a non-preventable disease, there are possibilities in the realm of delay its onset as more scientific and medical knowledge comes to light. Slowing the degenerative process of arthritis includes these steps.

* Use extreme caution when it comes to affected areas to avoid trauma, activities that jarring or that require repetitive movements. Alternate or change up exercise routines designed to maintain strength and mobility so that the affect area is not used repetitively. Range of motion and stretching exercises are particularly important for arthritic extremities.

* Do not neglect exercises designed to increase blood flow and maintain mobility in affected area. Physical therapy is a proven process that can keep arthritis from overcoming an active life.

* Strive to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight places added stress on arthritic joints, which leads to more pain than would otherwise be experienced. Weight bearing joints will thank you.

* Once a joint develops arthritis, physical therapy will help to keep joint functional, decrease the overall amount of pain, and reduce inflammation. This is particularly true for weight bearing joints. Follow your doctor's orders and avoid opiate painkillers for as long as possible. When it comes time to use such drugs, do so sparingly and responsibly. Make sure that no one else can find or gain access to these drugs. They are very habit forming.

* If you must continue to use weight-bearing joints with arthritis daily for repetitive tasks, like stair climbing, take frequent breaks and rest between activities.

* Apply ice in 15-minute increments to swollen joints for two hours and then stop for two hours. Use a cloth or towel between ice and joint to protect the skin. Repeat the two hour on and off cycle for 48 hours or until inflammation and swelling is gone.

* If the joint is not swollen, yet the pain is intense, use moist heat for 20 to 30 minutes four times a day. After each moist heating session, do prescribed range of motion exercises, followed by a gentle yet purposeful massage. Heat and massage have proven to be quite successful in making pain bearable.

Know Your Malady

Know your arthritis. Your physician should have materials like pamphlets and you can find numerous articles on the Internet. New techniques and medications are coming out every day. Make notes of those that interest you and discuss these options with your doctor.