After suffering from stiff, numb, or painful joints for so long
that you simply had to see a doctor, you now know that this suffering
has been caused by osteoarthritis. Whether you were surprised by this
diagnosis or not, finally receiving a diagnosis can be relieving in a
lot of ways, simply because you now have a name for your condition. And
if you know your condition, you can educate yourself regarding how to
manage your health and lifestyle to minimize the impact of arthritis on
your life. Here are a few tips.
An Arthritis Primer
Easily
the most common form of arthritis, this condition affects nearly 30
million Americans every year. Symptoms can include stiffness and
swelling, pain or numbness occurring in the joints. Specifically,
arthritis causes the cartilage that connects the bones together to
become inflamed. For instance, you may be experiencing stiffness in your
wrists and fingers that make it hard for you to perform regular daily
tasks such as writing or typing. Or, your lower back may ache so badly
that it is hard to get out of bed in the morning.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Your
joints are composed of several different structural materials that all
work together to allow you to move about your environment, including
bones, connected by softer materials like cartilage, and cushioned by a
fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Over time, these soft materials can
break down due to under use, over use, age, or genetics. As the
cartilage and bursa deteriorate, the joints become stiffer and painful,
often hindering your movements.
What Joints are Affected?
Arthritis
affects your joints, the areas of the body where bones come together
and allow movement in one or several directions. Osteoarthritis
typically affects the extremities, as well as the lower back, hips and
knees. Cases have been reported in the neck, spine, hips, knees, ankles,
wrists, and hands. You could experience symptoms in one or several
areas of your body. If left untreated, your symptoms could worsen,
including more pain and an inability to perform normal tasks.
Advanced Stages of the Disease
In
advanced stages of the condition, the cartilage may break down to such a
degree that there is bone on bone friction. When this happens, bones
may develop spurs or may even fragment or chip off slightly. When the
cartilage erodes to such a degree, inflammatory proteins called
cytokines are released that cause even further swelling, pain, and
damage in the joint.
Treatment Options
While you should
always follow your physician's instructions regarding treatment, you can
often treat your arthritis easily at home through gentle stretching and
exercise. If you are overweight, you can ease a lot of the pressure on
your joints by engaging in regular low-impact exercise such as swimming,
rowing, or cycling to shed pounds and strengthen your muscles and
joints. Your doctor may also recommend medications, other therapeutic
techniques, or even surgery to repair the tissue in the joint.
