Things You Should Know About Arthritis
When you are diagnosed with arthritis, it is important that you learn all you can about the condition. Your doctor will give you a lot of information that may be hard to remember, but luckily there are plenty of resources online that are available answer any questions you have about arthritis. This article is full of facts about arthritis so you can get a run-down of the basics.
Did you know that there are more than one hundred different types of arthritis? Arthritis doesn't just refer to a pain in the hands or knees but is a blanket term that refers to any inflammation, deterioration and damage in joints. The different types of arthritis, called arthritides, are classified based on the location of the joints, the symptoms and/or the cause. Some types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile arthritis, Still's disease and even gout.
As you may already know, there is no cure for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are many different treatments that can alleviate the pain and other symptoms. One of the first things that can be done to treat chronic arthritis is making some lifestyle changes. If you are carrying a little extra weight and have arthritis in your knees, the pain can be reduced drastically by losing some weight and lessening the burden on your body. Physical and/or occupational therapy can also be very helpful in relieving the pain and making other parts of your body stronger. Another treatment is anti-inflammation and pain medication; what you are prescribed will depend on the type and severity of arthritis you have.
Beware of myths and misunderstandings about arthritis. There are many misconceptions out there. Arthritis is not just an elderly person's disease but can affect anyone, even small children. While applied warmth is soothing to arthritis pain, moving to a warmer climate will not make a difference. Also, arthritis is not caused by poor nutrition. You may have poor nutrition to blame for other health problems, but there are no known foods that can prevent or cause arthritis.
Early diagnosis is crucial. As soon as you suspect you have arthritis, see a doctor. While arthritis cannot be cured, the progression of the disease can be slowed and the symptoms can be treated. You can avoid gnarled knuckles and other joint deformities and disabilities if you get diagnosed and treated early.
Be prepared for the non-physical impacts of having arthritis. It can be very taxing emotionally and financially. If you do not already have health insurance, it is important to consider how you are going to pay for the bills and prescriptions. This can cause emotional distress. Try to join a support group that will help you through this and give you advice to make treating arthritis easier.
As stated in the introduction, there are many things you need to know about arthritis after you have been diagnosed. Take what you have learned from your doctor, family, friends and this article and fully understand what you are up against. While it is painful and inconvenient, arthritis is a condition that can be treated with varying degrees of success depending on the knowledge and effort that is put into treatment.
