Arthritis
Understanding arthritis is the first step to managing it’s symptoms.
See below for details about the different types and how you best treat it.
The word Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common symptoms are pain, swelling and stiffness in one or more joints and fatigue.There are more than 100 known types of arthritis but there are three prevalent types: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a condition where the bones become fragile and brittle, caused by damage, infection or aging joints. It mainly affects people over the age of 45, but it can develop in younger people. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint although it usually occurs in large weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees, shoulders and the lower spine. It can also occur in the hands, particularly at the base of the thumb and the end joints of the fingers.
Symptoms
- Pain and tenderness
- Swelling and stiffness of the joints
- Muscle weakness
- Grinding sensation in the joints
- Loss of mobility
Treatment
- Medication. Learn ways to manage pain and talk to your doctor about suitable medication such as anti inflammatories and analgesics.
- Complimentary therapies. Acupuncture and T.E.N.S devices are drug free and highly effective alternatives for pain relief.
- Stay active. One of the most important thing’s you can do is exercise because cartilage relies on the fluid in the joint (“synovial fluid”) to provide nutrients and carry away waste products. Moving the joints stimulates the body to produce synovial fluid and keep it flowing around the joint. Before you embark on an exercise plan talk to your doctor first.
- Supplements. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in joint cartilage and fluid and may be able to help with arthritic pain. When combined with Condroitin there is sometimes added relief.
- Healthy diet. There is no diet that will cure OA, but a well-balanced diet will help you reach and keep to a healthy weight. Highly acidic foods can cause the symptoms to flare up.
- Mechanical aids. Walking frames, specially designed eating utensils and other tools can make daily tasks easier and help balance rest and activity.
- Acknowledge your feelings and seek support. As there is currently no cure for OA, it is natural to feel scared, frustrated, sad and sometimes angry. Be aware of these feelings and get help if they start affecting your daily life.
For more infomation click here to download the arthritis fact sheet
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints, usually in the hands, feet and knees. Women are three times as likely as men to develop rheumatoid arthritis which usually starts to develop between 25 and 50 years of age. The body’s immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, rather than fighting diseases. When this happens, the tissue surrounding a joint (the “synovial membrane”) becomes inflamed and thickened. This causes the body to produce increased amounts of fluid in the joints (“synovial fluid”) causing swelling, pain and stiffness. If the joint continues to be inflamed, the bones, the cartilage that protects the joints, and the muscles and ligaments of the joint can all become damaged. In advanced rheumatoid arthritis, this inflammation and swelling can also cause the joint to become deformed and extremely painful.
Symptoms
- Pain & tenderness
- Stiffness and swelling in the joints
- Tiredness
- Muscle weakness
- Weight loss
- Loss of mobility
Treatment
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but there are ways to control it and to manage pain.
- Medication. Learn ways to manage pain and talk to your doctor about suitable medication such as anti inflammatories and analgesics.
- Complimentary therapies. Acupuncture and T.E.N.S devices are drug free alternatives for pain relief. TENS devices stimulate muscle contractions, improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and block pain.
- Stay active. One of the most important thing’s you can do is exercise because cartilage relies on the fluid in the joint (“synovial fluid”) to provide nutrients and carry away waste products. Moving the joints stimulates the body to produce synovial fluid and keep it flowing around the joint.
- Supplements. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in joint cartilage and fluid and may be able to help with arthritic pain especially if Condroitin is part of the formulation.
- Rest. This helps to prevent swelling in the joints.
- Quit smoking. Smokers are twice as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis as non-smokers
- Seek support from other people and support groups - for advice, social contact and emotional support
- Mechanical aids. Walking frames, specially designed eating utensils and other tools can make daily tasks easier and help balance rest and activity.
For more infomation click here to download the arthritis fact sheet
Gout
Gout affects about 70,000 Australians, mostly men between 40-50 years of age. The first attack usually affects the big toe joint first although it can go on to affect the knees, ankles and hands. Gout is caused when an elevated level of uric acid crystalises in the joints causing irritation and tissue inflammation. Uric acid is a waste product produced by the body and is disposed by dissolving it in the blood, then filtered through the kidneys and finally removed through urine. Left untreated an attack of gout usually lasts 7 days. If the causes of gout are not addressed the attacks can become more frequent and severe and potentially spread to other joints and also permanently damage the joint cartilage, leading to osteoarthritis.
Symptoms
- Inflammation
- Pain and tenderness – especially in the big toe
- Redness
- Stiffness and swelling in the toes
Treatment
Gout is aggravated by anything that reduces the kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from the blood.
- Medication prescribed by your doctor can help reduce the amount of uric acid the body produces
- Complimentary therapies. Acupuncture and T.E.N.S devices are drug free alternatives for pain relief. T.E.N.S devices stimulate muscle contractions, improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation and block pain.
- Hydrate, drink plenty of water to help the body flush out uric acid. Avoid diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol.
- Avoid rich food – including liver, kidneys, brains, anchovies and shellfish.
- Maintain a healthy weight, aim to loose weight slowly to avoid further stress on the kidneys and reduce the removal of uric acid
For more infomation click here to download the arthritis fact sheet