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AUGUST 2015
EPIC WELLNEWS
ARTHRITIS AND YOUR JOINTS
Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow, hip, and knee. These critical structures are the sites where
you can bend. If you suffer joint pain from arthritis, you are not alone - an estimated 52.5 million US adults reported that
their doctor told them they had arthritis. Yet the causes of most kinds of this disease are still not completely understood.
Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of your body. Some types of arthritis cause changes you can see and feel—
swelling, warmth, and redness. In some kinds of arthritis, the pain and swelling last only a short time, but are very
uncomfortable. Other types of arthritis might be less painful, but still slowly cause damage to your joints.
Types of Arthritis
The most common types of arthritis in adults are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the type of the disease you’ll find most frequently. OA starts when the cartilage that pads bones
in a joint begins to wear away, so your bones rub against each other. OA most often happens in your hands, neck, lower
back, or the large weight-bearing joints of your body, such as knees and hips.
OA symptoms range from stiffness and occasional mild pain to pain that doesn’t stop, even when you are resting or
sleeping. Sometimes OA causes your joints to feel stiff after you haven’t moved them for a while. The stiffness goes away
when you move the joint. Over time, OA can make it hard to move your joints.
Why do you get OA? Growing older is what most often puts you at risk for OA, possibly because your joints and the
cartilage around them become less able to recover from stress and damage. Injuries, overuse, overweight, and genetics
can all contribute to the development of OA.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, a type of illness that makes your body attack itself. RA causes pain,
swelling, and stiffness that lasts for hours and can damage almost any joint. RA can also cause problems with your heart,
muscles, blood vessels, nervous system, and eyes.
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AUGUST 2015
EPIC WELLNEWS
ARTHRITIS AND YOUR JOINTS
People with RA often feel tired or run a fever. This condition is more common in women than men.
Gout, one of the most painful kinds of arthritis, happens when too much uric acid builds up in the body. It most often
occurs in the big toe, but other joints can also be affected. Swelling may cause the skin to pull tightly around the joint and
make the area red or purple and very tender.
WARNING SIGNS OF ARTHRITIS
You might have some type of arthritis if you have:
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Ongoing joint pain
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Joint swelling
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Joint stiffness
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Tenderness or pain when touching a joint
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Problems using or moving a joint normally
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Warmth and redness in a joint
According to the National Institutes of Health, if any one of these symptoms lasts more than two weeks, see your regular
doctor or one who specializes in treating arthritis, called a rheumatologist. The earlier you understand your arthritis, the
earlier you can start managing your disease and making healthy lifestyle changes to help your arthritis.
And remember to have your eyes and your childrens’ eyes checked regularly!
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AUGUST 2015
EPIC WELLNEWS
ARTHRITIS AND YOUR JOINTS
MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ARTHRITIS
The focus of treatment for arthritis is to control pain, minimize joint damage, and improve or maintain function and
quality of life. In inflammatory types of arthritis, it is also important to control inflammation. Treatment of arthritis might
involve the following:
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Medications
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Nonpharmacologic therapies
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Physical or occupational therapy
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Splints or joint assistive aids
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Patient education and support
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Weight loss
Surgery
In conjunction with medical treatment, self-management of arthritis symptoms is very important as well. These programs
help people develop the confidence and skills needed to manage their arthritis on a day-to-day basis. Ask your physician
which self-management programs he or she recommends.
REFERENCES
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/arthritis-advice
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/faqs.htm
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