Arthritis Joint Pain Treatment

September 27, 2009

Arthritis sees the slow erosion of the cartilage in the joints - this disease causes stiffness and affects the musculoskeletal system. Cartilage is considered to be a living tissue that covers both ends of the bones, which protect them as they begin to rub together. They are like the glands in our body and the cells they are made of are called Chondrocytes. New cartilage cells or chondrocytes are replaced with new ones as they die.

However, over an extended period of time, the inflammation can kill more of the cartilage cells than the body is able to replace. You will find this especially true if an injury has ever occurred or if there aren’t enough of the necessary nutrients within the body to repair the joint. Damage from this condition can also cause joint paint, instability and deformities and interrupt daily activities. A typical treatment of arthritis includes lifestyle changes and physical therapy. The last resort to treat joint problems is the invasive joint replacement therapy and is only resorted to after all other treatments have failed.

Arthritis is divided into two main categories, i.e. localized and generalized depending on areas affected; it is further subdivided into sub-categories. Localized conditions are where the soft tissue around the bone or joint is affected; it refers to conditions like tendonitis and bursitis. Another sub-category of the localized conditions only affects one or only a few joints, such as a knee or hip. Generalized Conditions: The first sub-category for generalized conditions is for those that affect the muscle and soft tissue where there is no evidence of swelling or inflammation. A common type of arthritis in this category is fibromyalgia.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an example of a condition under this category, as well as gout, and psoriatic arthritis. Under this category, rheumatoid arthritis would be an example of a condition you would see, along with psoriatic arthritis and gout. Some of the other generalized conditions are known to include: muscles or polymyositis, vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

An individual is capable of having more than just one arthritis type and it includes over one hundred different medical conditions that are known to affect roughly forty six million adults and three hundred thousand children within the United States. As early on as infancy, this condition can begin, even though it is most commonly seen in adults that are over the age of sixty, in the primary form of osteoarthritis. As the American population ages, the number of people suffering with it is increasing.

Within the United States, arthritis as well as several related illnesses are known to be the cause of major disability and it cost over one hundred and twenty four billion dollars each year in indirect expenses and medical care expenses. Osteoarthritis can easily be prevented by following few easy steps: consume more fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin c and vitamin d and also maintain appropriate weight. Also by making sure they are getting enough calcium (adults: 1000-1500mg per day), regular exercise and to avoid injuries brought about by sports activities.

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