Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that generates symptoms such as pain, deformity and difficulty moving, which has no cure yet. Treatment is usually done with medication, physical therapy and exercise, but in some cases surgery may be used.
Osteoarthritis, as it is also known, can be caused by trauma, overweight, eating, natural joint wear and tear or a change in the immune system of individuals with genetic predisposition to it.
- It can be of different types.
- Such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Septic arthritis.
- Psoriatic arthritis.
- Gouty arthritis (gout) or reactive arthritis.
- Depending on its cause.
- Therefore.
- Specific tests are necessary for the diagnosis of arthritis.
The name Arthritis is more generic because it does not define its cause or pathophysiology, so the term arthritis now indicates the same as osteoarthritis.
This nomenclature change occurred because it was discovered that in all cases of osteoarthritis there is always a small inflammation, which was the main characteristic of arthritis. However, for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or juvenile arthritis, the terms remain the same. But whenever it refers only to arthritis, it is actually osteoarthritis, although the most correct terms for both diseases are osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis.
If you think you have arthritis, check your symptoms and find out the risk of getting the disease:
These symptoms can occur in people of all ages, including children, and it is very common to be affected by more than one joint at the same time. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases in women, obese and people over the age of 40. However, some types are more common in men, such as gouty arthritis.
Arthritis is not yet cured and is therefore a chronic disease, but the individual can resort to different forms of treatment as long as it becomes painful and compromises their daily activities.
Living with a chronic illness on a daily basis is not easy, as it is a delicate process and it takes a lot of time and a lot of effort and dedication. Check out some tips that can help you learn to live with an incurable disease.
To relieve pain and improve the ability to move a safe diet is recommended, in which plenty of water is drunk and the excessive consumption of protein-rich foods is avoided, in addition to using anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, prescribed by the rheumatologist and physiotherapy. Surgery for the placement of a joint prosthesis can, in many cases, represent the treatment of arthritis in this joint, as is the case in septic arthritis, for example, but it cannot always be done.
For the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, your orthopedic doctor may, in addition to looking at clinical signs of the disease, such as joint deformity and inflammatory characteristics, order an x-ray exam to check for local inflammation and joint deformity. Tests such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging may be needed, but listening to patient complaints is usually sufficient for diagnosis.
In some cases, lab tests that your rheumatologist may order to find out what type of arthritis the person has:
Osteoarthritis does not cause changes in blood formula, so there is a popular way to say that arthritis is not blood rheumatism.
The main goal of arthritis treatment is to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and improve its function, since joint wear and tear cannot be completely reversed. To do this, medications and lifestyle changes can be used, where it is recommended to avoid physical exertion. The diet should also be rich in anti-inflammatory and low in processed foods, such as sausages and bacon. See other dietary tips for arthritis.
The main treatments for osteoarthritis are
They may be prescribed by acetaminophen, ibuprofen, a gpated physician or orthopedic surgeon, as well as ointments containing ketoprofen, plush and pyroxycam, and other substances such as glucosamine sulfate or chloroquine. When this is not enough, a steroid injection can be used every 6 months or once a year.
To prevent disease progression, medications such as infliximab, rituximab, azathioprine or ciclosporin may be indicated, for example.
Physical therapy can help the arthritis patient a lot. With physiotherapeutic treatment, inflammation may decrease and movement will be easier. Anti-inflammatory resources, pain relievers, and joint stretching and mobilization exercises can be used to preserve joint movements and prevent more deformities from strengthening.
Physical therapy should be performed at least 3 times a week until arthritis symptoms are completely gone. It is up to the physical therapist to decide what resources to use to treat this disease. Exercises such as swimming, aquagym and pilates are also indicated, as they help fight inflammation and help strengthen muscles. See more details on physiotherapy for arthritis.
If your doctor finds that the joint is very worn and there are no other drawbacks, you may suggest surgery to place a prosthesis at the site of the affected joint. One of the joints that has the greatest surgical indication is the hip and then the knee.
An excellent natural treatment to complement the usual arthritis treatment is to take teas and herbal teas, such as ginger and saffron.
Daily consumption of cayenne pepper and oregano also acts as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, while massaging affected areas with lavender essential oil or cat’s claw.
See what natural pain relievers you can take to relieve arthritis pain:
Warning: natural treatment does not exclude pharmacological and physiotherapeutic treatment of arthritis, it only contributes to a faster and more satisfactory result.
Natural joint wear is one of the most common causes of arthritis, but it can also be caused by overweight, overuse, age, direct or indirect trauma, a genetic factor and caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses, which settle through the bloodstream in the joint, generating the inflammatory process. If this process is not reversed over time, it can result in complete joint destruction and consequent loss of function.
If you have any questions about the cause of your arthritis, talk to your doctor or physical therapist.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs from age 40, but younger people may also be affected. One type of arthritis that occurs in children is juvenile arthritis. However, its most common form mainly affects people over the age of 65.