Bone, Muscle, and Joint
Problems
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to a variety of
joint problems that cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. Simply put, arthritis
means inflammation of a joint. Arthritis can occur at any age, but
it affects older people the most.
There are more than 100 different
types of arthritis. The chart describes 3 common
kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and can usually be
successfully managed at home. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout will improve with
a combination of self-care and professional care.
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Common Types
of Arthritis
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Type
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Cause
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Symptoms
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Comments
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Osteoarthritis
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Breakdown of joint cartilage.
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Pain, stiffness, and swelling;
common in fingers, hips, knees, and back.
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Most common in women and men
between the ages of 45 and 90.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Inflammation of the membrane
lining the joint
(synovium).
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Pain, stiffness, and swelling
in multiple joints; joints may be "hot" and red; common in hands,
wrists, and feet.
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Occurs most often around age
30 to 40; more common in women.
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Gout
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Build-up of uric acid crystals
in the joint fluid.
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Sudden onset of burning pain,
stiffness, and swelling; common in big toe, ankle, knee, wrist, and elbow.
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Most common in men over 40;
may be aggravated by alcohol and organ meats.
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Little is known about what causes
most types of arthritis. Some seem
to run in families; others seem to be related to imbalances in body chemistry
or immune system problems. Many arthritis problems are the result of injury
or long-term "wear and tear" on the joints.
It may not be possible to prevent
arthritis, but you can prevent a lot of pain by being kind to your joints.
This is especially important if you already have arthritis.
If activities that jar your body (such as running) cause
pain, try activities that involve less impact (such as swimming).
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While activities that repeatedly
jar your body can increase joint pain, regular exercise can relieve or prevent
joint pain. Exercise is needed
to nourish joint cartilage and remove waste products from the joints. It strengthens
the muscles around the joints, providing support for the joints and reducing
injuries caused by fatigue. Stretching maintains your range of pain-free motion.
A warm shower or bath may help relieve morning stiffness.
Try to avoid sitting still after a warm shower or bath.
If the joint is not swollen, apply moist heat for 20 to
30 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Do not apply heat to a swollen, inflamed
joint.
Put each of your joints gently through its full range of
motion
1 to 2 times each day.
Rest sore joints. Avoid activities that put weight or strain
on the joints for a few days. Take short rest breaks from your regular
activities throughout the day.
Apply cold packs to inflamed, swollen joints for 10 to
15 minutes, once an hour. Cold will help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Regular exercise is important to help maintain strength
and flexibility in the muscles and joints. Strengthening exercises prevent
the muscle loss that leads to weakness. Try low-impact activities, such
as swimming, water aerobics, biking, or walking.
Acetaminophen can provide safe pain relief for osteoarthritis.
Anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may help
ease pain but can cause
stomach upset. Do not combine anti-inflammatory medications.
Enroll in an arthritis self-management program. Participants
in these programs usually have less pain and fewer limitations on
their activities.
If you have fever or a skin rash along with severe joint
pain.
If the joint is so painful that you cannot use it.
If there is sudden, unexplained swelling, redness, or pain
in any joint.
If there is severe pain and swelling in multiple joints.
If you experience sudden back pain that occurs with weakness
in the legs or loss of bowel or bladder control.
If joint pain continues for more than 6 weeks and Home
Treatment is not helping.
If you experience side effects (stomach pain, nausea, persistent
heartburn, or dark, tarry stools) from aspirin or other arthritis
medications. Do not exceed
recommended doses of nonprescription medications without your doctor's
advice.
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