Early Diagnosis of Arthritis

The essential part is to ensure arthritis is diagnosed early. This will help minimize later disability and pain. But, how do you deal with the pain? Some doctors say pain-numbing drugs should be avoided as they suppress the natural alarm signals given out by the body from time to time. Ignoring these signals could result in irreparable damage to the joints. The painkillers also have some undesirable side effects.

Aspirin for Arthritis Pain Relief

Avoiding all pain suppressants is also not advisable. The pain would discourage you from using affected joints, causing stiffness and eventual atrophy which would lead to loss of joint function. Aspirin is widely recommended to lessen inflammation, swelling and pain. Many doctors and patients endorse the effectiveness of aspirin.

Contrary to belief, dampness and extreme cold do not lead to arthritis. But, climatic factors seem to have a say on the degree of pain. For relief, try the application of heat and cold. Apply an ice pack to the painful area for a few minutes at a time, three times a day. Find some household help to deal with daily chores. Ask your husband to do the shopping. Living with arthritis may be difficult but not impossible for any mom.

The Arthritis Foundation recommends the healing virtues of hot tubs for arthritis patients. Arthritis inhibits movement because of the pain involved. So, patients stop moving worsening the condition. The warm water in hot tubs eases some of the pain and discomfort. Patients may even start an exercise routine for betterment. However, consult your doctor first before you begin to use a hot tub.

Exercise in Hot Tub

Warm up your body by soaking for a few minutes before starting the exercises. Stretching and resistance routines are most helpful. But, ensure your body is adequately warmed up to avoid muscle strain. Do not exert yourself by doing the routines for too long. After finishing the exercises, relax your muscles by keeping them warm for some minutes before you step out of the tub into the cool air.

Benefits of Hot Tub

The hot tube reduces the effect of gravity aiding buoyancy, which lessens the strain on weak muscles. The warm water dilates blood vessels, allowing more oxygen and blood to flow to the heart, skin and muscles. Also, hot water elevates the mood by the release of natural endorphins. This helps alleviate the depression commonly found in arthritis patients.

Psoriasis results in raised, scaly, red patches of skin; arthritis leads to joint inflammation. Patients with psoriatic arthritis usually develop skin symptoms first and then arthritic joint symptoms.

The causes for psoriatic arthritis are not known. For diagnosis, doctors rely on symptoms such as nail abnormalities and arthritis, as 80% of sufferers show this characteristic. There may also be a genetic component in the disease. Psoriatic arthritis is characterized by redness, stiffness, pain and tenderness in the feet and hand joints. Some sufferers may experience eye inflammation.

Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis

There is no current cure for psoriatic arthritis. However, anti-inflammatory ointments and medication are recommended, as is light therapy. Ibuprofen is suggested for moderate pain and stiffness. Regular exercise and sound sleep minimize the condition. Hot and cold compresses are helpful in controlling joint swelling and pain. Prescription drugs such as infliximab (Remicade) and adalimunab (Humira) can improve both arthritis and psoriasis.

Since psoriatic arthritis affects joints in the knee and hips, carrying extra weight only worsens the condition. Therefore, lose weight to ease pressure on sensitive joints. Shedding the extra pounds also results in increased mobility and energy. Your movements will improve despite the arthritis and you will find it easier to accomplish daily tasks.

Oxalates are certain types of compounds created by plants for protection from diseases and insects. In small quantities, these compounds aid the human body in managing calcium. But higher amounts of oxalates lead to crystallization, creating maladies such as arthritis, gout and kidney stones.

Oxalates create more problems if the gut is leaky, as greater quantities would be absorbed. The body also creates oxalates in certain conditions such as: vitamin B6 deficiency, oxidative stress and some kinds of bowel diseases.

An excess of oxalates may cause kidney stones and the formation of oxalate crystals in other organs. These crystals aggregate more quickly in injured tissues causing pain. Avoiding or reducing intake of oxalate-rich foods may help reduce these problems. Patients who have tried a low-oxalate diet have reported improvements.

Avoid the following foods when you try out a low-oxalate diet:

Fruits
High-oxalate containing fruits include oranges, currants, figs and papayas. Though lime juice and lemons do not host oxalates in large quantities, their peels do. So, avoid beverages, baked goods and related products that may have citrus oil or juice.

Vegetables
Broccoli, carrots, okra, celery, okra and tomatoes have high amounts of oxalates. The list may seem exhaustive, but you can try other options such as: zucchini, asparagus, pumpkin, onions, squash, acorn, cabbage, green peas, cucumber, cauliflower and red bell pepper, which are low in oxalates.

Arthritis causes pain and stiffness around the joint areas. Because of this, patients find it difficult to even move the affected joint. The following sensations are experienced by arthritis sufferers:

Joint Pain
It may feel like something is wedged in the joint, not allowing it to bend.

Knee Pain
Knee arthritis creates a pulsating, throbbing, sharp pain. It feels as if a needle has punctuated the skin and has protruded to the bone.

Hands
You will not be able to make a fist if you try, as the hand will not close properly. It would feel like trying to close the fist while holding a baseball.

Hip
Arthritis in this area would make you feel that one of your legs is shorter. A limp is caused while walking because of the sharp pain in the hip joint, which would make you lean more on one leg.

Arthritis can affect relationships by limiting leisure and social activities. Because of the strictures imposed on physical activity, the condition strains marriages. Matters become complicated as the patient may be unable to indulge in marital sex. The resultant helplessness could cause depression.

Pain in Joints and Connective Tissues

Arthritis actually comprises more than 100 diseases. It causes deterioration of the joints and surrounding connective tissues. Arthritis results when the body tissue that helps the joints move freely, called cartilage, breaks down or becomes inflamed. When this happens, the joints cease to work properly and become painful.

Arthritis affects joints in the hip, knee, hands and elbow. Sufferers may feel as if a wedge has been inserted into the joint, affecting bending and other movements. Arthritis in the fingers will prevent the patient from closing his hand or to make a fist. Hip arthritis makes the sufferer think one of his or her legs is shorter than the other. The patient walks with a limp because of the sharp pain, which makes him or her lean more on the unaffected leg.

Osteoarthritis

This is the most common type characterized by redness, heat and limited joint movement. Osteoarthritis is caused by:

• Old age
• Lifting and carrying more weight than one is capable of
• Repetitive motion causing stress on the joint
• Physical injury

Arthritis medication helps manage inflammation. In severe cases, surgery is necessary to repair or replace the damaged joints.

What is a Lavender Wheat Bag?
The lavender wheat bag contains both wheat and dried lavender flowers. The wheat bag is heated and placed over the painful/stiff joint. For heating purpose, you can place the bag in a microwave for around 1.5 minutes. Placing the heated bag over the joint can relieve the stiffness, and body aches. It can also be wrapped over the neck, leg etc., for relief. The aroma of the lavender can also add to the relief.

Lavender wheat bag can also be used as a cold compress. Cooled bags can be used to treat bruises and swelling. Keeping the bag in refrigerator for 2 hours and then using it can bring relief to the affected area.

Unlike hot water bags or bottles, the wheat bag does not spill and is not heavy. Using a heated lavender bag can relieve the pain due to arthritis. It can also be used as a heat source during cold whether conditions.

The wheat bag can be wrapped over the leg, joint or the neck for relief. Its a quick and easy way to ease the pains. So, if you pain is bothersome, get yourself a lavender wheat bag.

Electric foot warmers have several benefits. They improve blood circulation and soothe painful feet caused due to arthritis. They are especially useful during winters, when the pain due to arthritis can be worse. For patients with arthritis, the electric foot warmer can also be a nice way to relax.

Foot warmers come in different materials and heat level settings. Most of them use minimal electricity and hence, they would be a useful addition in the long run. Arthritis of the foot can be painful, however, by using the warmer, you can relieve the pain on a daily basis. So, if you would like to relax and have soothe your pains, do get a foot warmer.

Arthritis pain sprays increase the blood circulation and help in relieving the pain. The anti-inflammatory property of the spray helps in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Since the pain spray cannot to overused, similar to the use pills, using it may be relatively safer than use of medications.

Using the Arthritis Pain Spray:
Pain sprays are to be used on topically, on the pain site. After this, the area should be slightly massaged. A reapplication of the spray after 30 seconds is required. Using the spray in the morning, afternoon and evening can bring relief from arthritic pain. The pain spray is for external use and should be kept away from eyes and open wounds.

The effect of the pain spray depends upon the ingredients used in it. Aloe vera, menthol, eucalyptus oil, grapefruit seed extract, msm, and glucosamine etc are commonly used ingredients. Some of the ingredients used naturally help in relieving the joint pain.

Although pain spray for arthritis may seem to be an easy solution, but it might not be a permanent solution. In few cases, the pain spray might bring long-lasting relief. Hence, it is important to get to know the underlying pain by proper diagnosis and treatment.

Cartilage and Joints:

Cartilages are one that provide cushioning to the joints. They comprise 85% of water and matrix. The matrix further consists of collagens, proteoglycans and non-collagenous proteins. There are several types of cartilage. Hyaline cartilage, which is also known as articular cartilage, is the type of cartilage that lies between the joints.

Due to wear and tear the water in the cartilage is decreased about 70% in older people. The joints that are more prone to degeneration are: Distal interphalangeal joints, first carpometacarpal joint and weight bearing joints such as spine, hips and knees.

Here are some of the symptoms of joint degeneration:

• Stiffness in bones, especially in the mornings
• Pain in the movement of the joint involved
• Increased stiffness and pain with the passage of time
• Joints become more and more unstable which cause them to buckle or lock
• Decrease in the range of the motion of the joints
• Swelling at the site of the joint or around the joint
• Difficultly in doing simple things such as opening a jar, combing hair ot brushing teeth
• Limping while walking
• Stiffness in back or in neck
• Cracking sounds may be heard while moving the joints

The Process of Degeneration:

• In normal state the joint is surrounded by healthy cartilage, subcondral bone, thick synovial membrane that is made up of connective tissue and good flow of blood that runs past the membrane.
• One the degeneration starts due to whatever reason, the synovial membrane is ruptured. Once there is rupture, this leads to blood pollution into the synovial cavity. Further it leads to the leaching of the synovial fluid out of the membrane.
• The above leaching caused the synovial fluid to expand. This will make the synovial fluid less viscus and the ability to absorb the nutrients will decrease rapidly. Inflammatory cells are triggered and they start inter-reacting in the joint.
• The cartilage gets inflamed and eroded due to the blood pollution that happened in the synovial cavity. Several minerals like Nitric Oxide build up creating pain the joint. This is the stage where the pateint feels the pain in the joint during the movement.
• The synovial membrane and the cartilages continue to deteriorate. There will be increased chances of perforation in the layer of synovial fluid. Build up of minerals intensify further erosion and inflammation. Synovial fluid that supplies nutrients to the cartilage continues to leach out the membrane. This condition of the joint is called the degenerated joint.