What is arthritis? What types are there?:

You probably know someone who is suffering from arthritis. It causes pain, stiffness, sometimes swelling in and around the joints. All the symptoms can make it hard to do movements you once took for granted. There are steps you can take to avoid arthritis or to reduce the pain and keep moving. There are over 100 types of arthritis and the cause of most types of still unknown. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Many patients with Osteoarthritis end up getting hip replacement surgery to solve the problem. Another common type is Rheumatoid arthitis which is talked more about below. Psoriatic arthritis causes pain and swelling in some joints and scaly skin patches on the body. No matter what type of arthritis you have, find an arthritis doctor (a specialist). With recent Vioxx and Bextra recalls, arthritis pain relief is getting harder to alleviate.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms:

Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly begins in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands and wrists. You will find that joint pain tends to include both sides of the body - if your left wrist is hurting, odds are your right wrist will also have pain. Typically, more joint erosion means more severe disease activity. Other common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Pain associated with prolonged sitting
• The occurrence of flares of disease activity followed by remission or disease inactivity
• Muscle pain
• Loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, anemia, cold and/or sweaty hands and feet

Treatment for Arthritis:

Experts say that weight control is the best treatment option for anyone with arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. The Arthritis Foundation also recommends proper exercise for arthritis treatment such as strengthening exercises for muscles (helps to stabilize joints). There are even water or chair exercises that can help alleviate potential symptoms. Other treatments/therapies that may work in keeping flare ups and pain/swelling to a minimum are below:

• Heat and cold
• Joint Protection
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Arthroscopy may be used to help diagnose and treat some forms of arthritis

Arthritis Medication:

The drugs used for treating arthritis and rheumatic diseases fall into several different categories. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen. Many arthritis drugs are available over-the-counter; however long-term use of these products should never be undertaken without a doctor's advice. Arthritis medicine is not a cure, but it should be able to alleviate arthritis pain and give you some relief. There are some newer drugs known as COX-2 Inhibitors that are prescribed for patients with Arthritis. Those drugs are Celebrex, Vioxx, and Bextra. There are 2 new drugs coming to the market soon called Arcoxia and Prexige. In September 2004, Merck pulled arthritis medication Vioxx of the market due to the potential increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Soon after Bextra was also recalled. So now arthritis sufferers have been left with fewer choices. Arthritis drugs definitely need to be discussed between you and your doctor to determine what is safe for you.

Where is the best place to live if I have arthritis?

From the Arthritis.org website, they say "Some people with arthritis feel better in a warm, dry climate. For people with arthritis, life can be easier in a warm climate, because they don’t have to struggle with ice and snow. Studies of the effects of weather on people with rheumatoid arthritis are inconclusive. Symptoms may worsen if the barometric pressure goes down and the humidity goes up. And even if the warmer, drier climate helps you feel better, it will not alleviate the disease itself. If you are considering a move to a warmer climate, spending more time than a vacation there will be necessary to assess how your symptoms are affected. Another thing to consider before moving is the effect of moving away from you support system of family and friends, which may outweigh the benefits of the warmer weather".

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