Tag: osteoarthritis

Arthritis – The Inflammatory Disease

Arthritis – The Inflammatory Disease
Amanda Baker

One of the most common conditions in the United States today is a debilitating inflammatory disease that affects our joints. It is estimated that there are over 100 different forms of this disease and over 40 million people suffer from one form or another.
Though typically thought to be an affliction of the aging, arthritis can affect anyone at any time, and with all of the different forms, each with their own symptoms, it could be hard to determine just what type of arthritis an individual is suffering from.
The signs and symptoms of arthritis are varied, though some of the first symptoms are familiar and easy to recognize. Symptoms such as general pain or swelling around the joints, an increased stiffness in the joints in the morning, a cracking sound in the knees when standing, and joints with a red appearance that feel warm to the touch are all signs of arthritis.
However, before you rush to purchase an over-the-counter arthritis treatment, you should talk to your doctor. Your doctor is the only one who will be able to tell you what form of arthritis you may have and how to treat it.
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis that plagues sufferers. It affects the joints and is a systemic disease that can affect other organs. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms tend to disappear after sometime, but the problem is still there. The true cause of rheumatoid arthritis is presently unknown, though many suggest that things such as infections, fungi, or bacteria are the culprits. However, there are also those that believe that rheumatoid arthritis is hereditary. Painful and swollen joints are a common warning sign of rheumatoid arthritis, followed by muscle pain, extreme fatigue, redness and warmth at the joints, even a low grade fever and appetite loss.
Next to rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is a common affliction, caused by breaking down of joint cartilage. Osteoarthritis commonly begins in one joint and typically only affects the one joint. It does not move to internal organs. Osteoarthritis commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine. By the time the pain starts setting in for an osteoarthritis sufferer, the damage to the affected joint cartilage could be considerable.
Relieving pain from a form of arthritis can be as simple as over-the-counter or prescription medication. However, in the most severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Being overweight can also play a role in arthritis. Some physicians believe that a change in diet can also ease the pain of arthritis, though there is a lot of debate on the topic. Regardless, you should speak to your doctor who can tell you just what form of arthritis you may have, and what treatment options may work best for you.

About The Author

Amanda Baker writes for http://tobeinformed.com – a website for health, fitness and wellness.

Arthritis – The Incredible Pain In Your Joints

Arthritis – The Incredible Pain In Your Joints
Kevin Pederson

This disease can affect anyone and at any age. There is no age
barrier for having such kind of disease. It immobilizes the
person in all the way it could. There is continuous pain,
stiffening and swelling of joints which can be from the group of
more than 100 rheumatic diseases. Arthritis can affect any part
of the body and it is very severe making it impossible for the
people to lead a normal life.

This disease target areas are the joints and causes major damage
to it. It shows the inflammation to your joints which is very
painful. The joint pain which one faces is referred to as
arthalgia. There are different forms of arthritis which even
includes injury which leads to osteoarthritis, inheritance,
infections and many other reasons which may be very much
unknown.

It usually affects the joints, ligaments, muscles; cartilage,
tendons and any other part of the body which can be easily
affected buy this disease. This disease is affected purely based
on the individual’s strength and weaknesses. These conditions
can easily weaken you and could even lead to life-threatening
conditions and the ability to affect most parts of your body.

Some of the very common signs which can be easily noticed are
the stiffness, swelling, redness and a warm feeling. As it
affects the joints the functions of the same becomes very
limited. The other common signs are fever, weight loss, fatigue
and feeling of tiredness.

These joints are very sensitive to weather changes. It is
understood that the sensitivity may be caused by the development
of the extra nerve endings with the intention to protect the
joint from any further damage. It is also noticed that arthritis
including fever are called septic arthritis and urgent medical
attention is needed.

About the author:
Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home
remedies websites which have information on “>http://home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Arthritis.html”>
providing information on some of the most common disease as well
as on painful knowledge about arthritis .

Arthritis supplements

Arthritis supplements
Karri Koivula

While not everybody agrees that supplements are useful, there is quite a lot of anecdotal evidence to support them.
Couple of most hyped supplements for arthritis include glucosamine and chondroitin.
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that may have a major role in cartilage repair, it can also have minor anti inflammatory effects.
Chondroitin is also component of cartilage, it works very much similarly to glucosamine.
They can be very useful when the pain is directly cause by cartilage breakdown.
There’s some scientific evidence to back up their usefulness, and they might be worth trying, especially in case of osteoarthritis.
But, remember that glucosamine & chondroitin are sold as dietary supplements, and supplements aren’t regulated with the scrutiny of drugs.
So, make sure to purchase from reputable sources, or better yet buy a branded product, and you’ll minimize the risks of ending up with an unworthy product that doesn’t even have a change to work.

About the Author
Read more at pain relief guide site, quick links below.
Glucosamine & chondroitin for arthritis
Glucosamine guide
Liquid glucosamine

Arthritis Pain Relief! Weighing Over the Counter Medications and Supplements

Arthritis Pain Relief! Weighing Over the Counter Medications and Supplements in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
John Robben

Chronic arthritis pain isn’t something to ignore: not only can
it affect your quality of life, it can also deplete your
emotional stores (leading to anxiety and/or depression) and
muscle fitness (leading to weakness or complete muscle
breakdown).

But whether you suffer from osteoarthritis (“wear and tear” of
the joints), rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation in the joints)
or gout (excess uric acid that accumulate in the joints), relief
from your arthritis pain is available. This article will discuss
the pros and cons of over the counter (OTC) medications and
supplements for osteoarthritis, focusing on managing arthritis
pain and maintaining the ability to use the joint in question.

Arthritis Pain Relief: Acetaminophen

Of the drugs in our list of arthritis pain relievers,
acetaminophen is widely accepted as the OTC with the least
amount of undesirable side effects and the lowest long-term
costs. However, acetaminophen does nothing to reduce
inflammation associated with arthritis pain, normally can only
treat mild to moderate cases of osteoarthritis and can easily
become toxic if mixed with alcohol.

Arthritis Pain Relief: NSAIDs

NSAIDs help sufferers with both arthritis pain and inflammation
and are quite inexpensive (like acetaminophen). However, long
term usage has been shown to cause upset stomach and other, more
serious side effects (such as skin rashes or speeding up the
progression of osteoarthritis by interfering with cartilage
repair and promoting cartilage destruction).

Arthritis Pain Relief: Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate

Combined together, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are
excellent supplements in the fight against arthritis pain: they
are said to increase mobility, reduce osteoarthritis pain and
form the building blocks for cartilage growth. However, those
allergic to shellfish must avoid glucosamine at all costs (since
it’s derived from the shells of shrimp, lobster and crab).

Arthritis Pain Relief: MSM

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) has been studied extensively (for
over twenty years) as an arthritis pain relieving supplement. By
blocking pain transmitters in the affected nerve, MSM users find
similar arthritis pain relief to acetaminophen, but without the
potential liver toxicity. Some osteoarthritis sufferers have
also noticed a reduction in inflammation of the joints also,
since MSM reduces histamine levels (linked to allergy-related
inflammation).

Arthritis Pain Relief: SAMe

SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) has been shown to reduce
inflammation in osteoarthritis sufferers as much as NSAIDs.
However, SAMe takes a longer time to see symptom reduction, but
offers less gastrointestinal discomfort than NSAIDs in general.
Arthritis pain sufferers should ensure enough B vitamins are
ingested along with SAMe to feel the full effects, and expect
slow but steady arthritis pain relief.

Arthritis Pain Relief: Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)

Found in evening primrose and borage oils, GLA is an omega-6
fatty acid said to help lessen arthritis pain, stiffness and
swelling. Few side effects have been recorded, however all
omega-6’s are blood thinners and may increase the risk of
bleeding if taken with NSAIDs.

As with all OTC supplements and drugs, check with your doctor
first before starting any arthritis pain reducing regimen on
your own. You may also want to monitor your liver and kidney
function for most of the medications discussed above since
almost all have a slight risk of side effects. Start with the
lowest dosage possible to see how your body and your illness
tolerate the item, and be patient: you’ll never be sure if a new
supplement or medication is actually working if you don’t take
adequate time to test.

About the author:
John Robben is the owner/operator of Ultimate Water Massage
(est. 2000), a Washington-based company that offers over 2000
products to ease arthritis pain. Visit for more information,
tools, supplies and tips for living with arthritis at
http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/.