"Arthritis" means not only that someone is stiff, aching joints. Many types of arthritis exist, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Most species are chronic, meaning it can be a source of discomfort for a prolonged period. Arthritis can affect joints almost anywhere in the body and can change, you can see, feel and perform, including swelling, heat and redness of joints. It can last for a short time, but be very painful, or continue for a long period with lessdelivered results, but damage to the joints.
Arthritis is very common in the United States, especially the elderly. However, there are many steps to take and the provision of care for the elderly to relieve various types of arthritis. The species most common in this population are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the elderly and begins when the cartilage, theType of tissue, joints, bearings, begins to take it. This can lead to wear all of the cartilage between the bones off, painful form of bone rubbing against each other. This is the most common type of arthritis of the hands, neck, back, knees and hips.
The symptoms of OA of stiffness and mild pain accompanies the exercise or bending to intense pain in the joints, even in times of physical relaxation area. OA can also cause stiffness in the days when you did not use specificOnce in a while ', how to make a long car trip, but the stiffness usually go back when you move your joints. OA can eventually cause problems moving joints and sometimes on the development of a disability, if the affected areas of your back, knees and hips.
Aging is often the greatest risk factor for the development of OA. Other factors depend on the surface of the body, for example, infected, OA can be caused by genetic factors in the hands or hips may OA knee, caused byOverweight and injury or overuse of joints, knees and hands also may lead to OA.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is different from OA, since it is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your immune system attacks and damages the lining of a joint, as if it were an injury or illness. RA leads to inflammation of the joints causes pain, stiffness and swelling, sometimes simultaneously in several joints. It may be strong enough to prevent the displacement of someMunicipality. Elderly people with RA can often feel fatigue or fever. RA can develop at any age and is more common in women.
RA can affect almost any joint in the body and is often symmetrical, which means that if you have RA in a particular joint on one side of the body, you will probably experience the same common in RA, on the other side of the body. RA can damage not only the joints but also the heart, muscles, blood vessels, nerves and eyes.
Gout.
Elderlywith gout experience severe pain in comparison to many other patients suffering from arthritis. An attack began when the uric acid crystals form in the connective tissue or joint spaces, causing swelling, stiffness, redness, heat and pain in the joint. The attacks often follow eating foods like shellfish, liver, dried beans, peas, anchovies, or gravy. The consumption of alcohol, obesity and certain drugs can worsen symptoms. For seniors with certain drugs to lower blood pressurePressure can also be a risk factor for gout.
Gout is most common in the big toe, but can also occur in other joints such as the ankle, elbow, knee, wrist, hand, or fingers. The swelling can cause discoloration and sensitivity in the skin that extends to close the town. If you see a doctor during an attack, he or she can take a sample of fluid from the affected joint.
Other forms of arthritis.
Other forms of psoriatic arthritis in patients whopsoriasis; ankylosing spondylitis, which mainly affects the spine; reactive arthritis, which occurs as a reaction to another illness in the body; and arthritis in the temporomandibular joint, the point at which the jaw attaches to the skull.
Arthritis Symptoms and Warning Signs.
Senior citizens and those providing their elder care should look out for the following symptoms as they may be indications of arthritis:
lasting joint pain
swelling in a joint
stiffness in a joint
tenderness or pain when touching a joint
difficulty in using or moving a joint normally
warmth and redness in a joint
Any of these symptoms lasting longer than two weeks should be addressed by a physician. If you experience a fever, feel physically ill, have a suddenly swollen joint, or have problems using a joint, a doctor should be contacted sooner. You will have to answer questions and go through a physical exam. Before suggesting treatment options, your doctor may want to run lab tests and take X-rays.
Arthritis Treatment.
Some common treatment options exist even though each type of arthritis is treatedsomewhat differently. Rest, exercise, eating a healthy diet, and becoming educated about the right way to use and protect the joints are key to minimizing the effects of arthritis. Proper shoes and a cane can minimize pain the feet, knees, and hips while walking, and some technology exists for helping open jars or bottles, turn doorknobs more easily, and otherwise improve quality of life in senior citizens with arthritis.
Additionally, some medications can lower the pain and swelling. Acetaminophen (in Tylenol) and some NSAIDs are sold over-the-counter and can ease pain. Other NSAIDs must be prescribed. It is important for senior citizens and those providing their in home care to pay attention to the warnings on both prescribed and over-the-counter drugs and to ask a doctor about how to properly and best use over-the-counter medicine to treat arthritis. The FDA also has information about many medications.
Some treatment options are specialized for individual types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis Treatment.
There are medicines to help senior citizens with pain associated with OA, and rest and exercise may ease movement in the joints. Managing weight is also important. If one experiences OA in the knees, a doctor can provide shots in the knee joint, which can help to move it without as much pain. Surgery may also be an option to repair or replace damaged joints in senior citizens.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments.
Treatment can diminish the pain and swelling associated with RA and cause joint damage to slow down or stop. One will feel better overall, and it will be easier to move around. On top of pain and anti-inflammatory medications, a doctor might prescribe DMARDs, which are anti-rheumatic drugs that can slow damage from RA. Corticosteroids, including prednisone, can minimize swelling while waiting for DMARDs to kick in. Additionally, biogenic response modifiers block the damage inflicted by the immune system and help people with mild to moderate RA when other treatments have failed to work properly.
Gout Treatment.
If you've gone through a gout attack, talk to a doctor to discuss possible causes and future prevention of attacks. Work together with your doctor and other elder care providers to plan and execute a plan for prevention. Commonly, NSAIDs or corticosteroids are recommended for an acute attack. This treatment diminishes swelling, allowing you to feel better fairly shortly after treatment. Usually, the attack fully stops within a few days. If one has experienced multiple attacks, a doctor may be able to prescribe medication to prevent further attacks.
Exercise can help Arthritis.
In addition to taking the proper medication and allowing your joints to rest, exercise can help senior citizens to stay in shape, maintain strong muscles, and control symptoms of arthritis. Daily exercise like walking or swimming keeps joints moving while lessening pain and strengthening the muscles around joints. Before starting any new exercise program, it is important to discuss options with your physician.
Three types of exercise are the best for senior citizens with arthritis:
Range-of-motion exercises reduce stiffness, improve flexibility, and keep joints moving. Activities like dancing fit into this category.
Strengthening exercises strengthen muscles, which improves support and protection to your joints. Weight training fits into this category.
Aerobic or endurance exercises improve health in the heart and arteries, prevent weight gain, improve how your body works overall, and may decrease swelling in some joints. Riding a bike fits into this category.
Other things to do to manage Arthritis.
On top of exercise and weight control, a number of other methods may help senior citizens ease the pain around joints. Applying heat or cold to joints, soaking in a warm tub, or swimming in a heated pool may help you feel better and move your joints more easily.
Surgery may be an option when damage has become disabling or when other treatment options have not adequately diminished pain. With surgery, joints can be repaired or replaced with artificial ones. Commonly, arthritic knees and hips are replaced.
Unproven remedies.
Many senior citizens with arthritis try treatments that have not been tested or proven to help. Some are harmful, like snake venom, while others are harmless yet unhelpful, like copper bracelets.
Here are a few ways to determine whether a treatment is unproven:
The remedy is said to work for all types of arthritis and other diseases
Scientific support is from only one research study
The label doesn't include directions or warnings of use
Areas for further research.
Studies suggest that acupuncture could ease OA pain in some senior citizens. Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are also under investigation and may reduce OA pain. More research is needed to determine whether these types of treatments actually work to reduce symptoms and damage to joints.
Talk to your doctor and others involved in your elder care.
Try not to make light of your symptoms by telling yourself that joint pain or stiffness is simply caused by aging normally. Your doctor and other elder care providers can discuss possible treatment options with you to safely minimize your pain and stiffness and prevent more serious joint damage.
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