Arthritis Pain Causes

There Are Many Causes Of Arthritis Pain

Arthritis pain causes distress and discomfort for millions of people across the globe every day. Arthritis pain strikes the joints and can greatly limit the amount of movement a person can make. In some cases, arthritis pain causes an individual to completely lose the use of a joint and interfere with their everyday activities.

A person with arthritis usually finds it difficult to work or take part in things they enjoy such as sports or even walking. A person with severe arthritis may find it difficult to even get dressed or feed themselves, which are things that everyone else takes for granted.

This chronic disease can affect anyone of any age. In the past, it was believed that people developed this condition as they aged but it’s now known that even very young children can have arthritis.

The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation. The inflammation occurs when cartilage that acts as a cushion inside the joints begins to wear down. Bone surfaces become less well protected.

There are over one hundred different types of arthritis diseases although there are a few types that are better-known than others such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and fibromyalgia. Arthritis is known as a chronic disease because it can come and go throughout a person’s life.

Arthritis symptoms

Symptoms of arthritis include redness, pain, swelling and loss of movement in the affected area. Low-grade inflammation occurs in joints. An arthritis sufferer usually feels pain in the weight bearing joints, especially while walking and or standing. Because of the discomfort, patients tends to move and exercise less, and certain muscles may atrophy from lack of use. Ligaments may become more lax, causing a "popping" feeling during movement.

When a part of your body is damaged due to an injury or illness inflammation will occur. This is the body's cue for the immune system to rush in and repair the damaged tissue and the inflammation goes away. When a person has certain types of arthritis the inflammation becomes a problem and does more damage to the affected area. This is a vicious cycle that causes more pain and discomfort.

Arthritis pain relief

The type of treatment that you will need is something that will be discussed between you and your doctor. The key treatment for arthritis is physical therapy. This will help the person to maintain the mobility and the range of motion in the joint that is affected. The type of therapy depends on the type of arthritis you have, what caused it and your individual health.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are also used to treat this medical condition. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and dicolfenac. There are some other prescription drugs used for this condition such as penicillamine, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and azathioprine. These can help control the symptoms of arthritis. However, these may cause serious side-effects and should only be taken under the advice of a health care physician.

You can reduce your risk of getting this disease by making good lifestyle changes. For instance, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the stress and strain on your joints. Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine will help reduce your risk of getting this disease. Avoiding injuries whenever possible can also reduce your risk. Follow proper procedures when lifting and try to avoid excessive straining. Maintain a good posture and change your position when sitting and standing if you become stiff and sore. Always warm up and cool down before and after exercising.

Help and support for those who suffer from arthritis is available from the Arthritis Foundation. Also read our related articles on foods that cause or reduce arthritis pain.