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Arthritis

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CONDITIONS

What is Arthritis?

While often referred to as if it were a single disease, arthritis is actually an umbrella term used for a group of more than 100 medical conditions that collectively affect nearly 70 million adults and 300,000 children in America alone. While the most common form of arthritis - osteoarthritis (OA) - is most prevalent in people over 60, arthritis in its various forms can start as early as infancy. Some forms affect people in their young-adult years as they are beginning careers and families and still others start during the peak career and child-rearing years.

The common thread among these 100-plus conditions is that they all affect the musculoskeletal system and specifically the joints - where two or more bone meet. Arthritis-related joint problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures. Such damage can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that, depending on the location of joint involvement, can interfere with the most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard, cutting your food or brushing your teeth.

For many people with arthritis, however, joint involvement is not the extent of the problem. Many forms of arthritis are classified as systemic, meaning they can affect the whole body. In these diseases, arthritis can cause damage to virtually any bodily organ or system, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and skin. Arthritis-related conditions primarily affect the muscles and the bones.

Together, arthritis and related conditions are a major cause of disability in the United States, costing the U.S. economy more than $124 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses such as lost wages and production - and costing millions of individuals their health, their physical abilities and, in many cases, their independence. And unless something changes, the picture is going to get worse. As the population ages, the number of people with arthritis is growing.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Ore than 100 forms of arthritis and related diseases exist affecting approximately 70 million Americans today.
A complete listing follows: Achilles tendinitis, Achondroplasia, Acromegalic arthropathy, Adhesive capsulitis, Adult onset Still's disease, Ankylosing spondylitis, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Takayasu's arteritis, Tarsal tunnel syndrome, Tennis elbow, Tietse's syndrome, Transient osteoporosis, Traumatic arthritis, Trochanteric bursitis, Tuberculosis arthritis, Arthritis of Ulcerative colitis, Undifferentiated connective tissue syndrome (UCTS), Urticarial vasculitis, Viral arthritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Whipple's disease, Wilson's disease, Yersinial arthritis, etc.

SYMPTOMS

Pain Management

Listen to your pain

Learn to distinguish between the general discomfort of arthritis and the pain from overuse of a joint. By recognizing what you did to stress a joint, you can avoid repeating that movement. If the pain lasts for more than one hour after an activity, it may have been too stressful. Next time, try to do a little less or go about it in a way that takes less effort. Keep in mind that painful and swollen joints may be more susceptible to further damage.

Other ways to keep your joints healthy

Some additional tips that can help you maintain healthy joints include:

Maintain your ideal body weight. When you are overweight, you put more stress on your joints, especially the joints in your hips, knees, back, and feet.

Exercise protects and stabilizes joints by strengthening the muscles around them. Make sure you use an exercise program that is designed for you.

Try not to do a task that is too big for you. Get another pair of hands to help you out.

All About Joints

You owe it to yourself to understand how the joints in your body work, how those joints can be affected by arthritis, and what you can do to slow down or prevent joint damage. Take this true/false quiz to find out how much you know.

You must learn to live with aching joints if you have arthritis.
True False

Arthritis affects only the major weight-bearing joints of your body, such as the hip and knee
True False

Once the cartilage in a joint has worn away, your body will not grow new cartilage.
True False

You can't get arthritis from a joint injury.
True False

Arthritis is simply due to aging of the joints.
True False

If your joints hurt, you shouldn't exercise.
True False

Body Mechanics

Use good body mechanics

How you carry your body affects how much strain is put on your joints. By practicing the following principles of proper body mechanics, you will use your body more efficiently and conserve energy:

Stand up straight. Good posture protects the joints in your neck, back, hips, and knees.

When standing, the height of your work surface should be adjusted to minimize stooping.

When sitting, the proper height for a work surface is two inches below your bent elbow.

Increase the height of your chair. This will decrease stress on your hips and knees as you get up and down.

When you pick up items from the floor, stoop by bending your knees and hips. If possible, sit on a chair and bend over.

Carry heavy objects close to your body with the weight supported on your forearms.

Use your hands wisely and carefully

Most people take their joint health for granted, not realizing how often they depend on their fingers for daily activities. If you are an arthritis sufferer, your fingers may make this dependency painfully clear. Here are some tips that may help you avoid or relieve pain and prevent further joint damage:

Avoid positions that push your fingers toward the little finger. Try to use finger motions that go in the direction of your thumb. For example, don't brush crumbs off a table with your palm flat on the table. Instead, turn your hand so that the little finger is resting on the table and the palm is facing you; then push the crumbs off the table.

Avoid making a tight fist or pinching objects tightly. For example, use tools that have built-up handles. Consider using a purse with a shoulder strap instead of a clutch-style purse.

Avoid twisting or using your joints forcefully. For example, instead of straining to open a jar, use hot water to loosen a jar lid and pressure from your palm to open it, or use a jar opener.

Avoid holding items by using a tabletop grip (bending at the base joints of the fingers while keeping the two end joints straight). Hold the object with an open hand.

Use the strongest joint available for the job

These hints can help you save your weaker joints for jobs that only they can accomplish:

Carry objects with your palm open, and distribute the weight equally over your forearm.

Slide objects along the counter or workspace instead of lifting them.

Using a loop that you pull with your wrist or forearm can decrease stress on your fingers when opening cabinets.

When lifting or carrying, use your largest and strongest joints and muscles. This will help you avoid injury and strain on your smaller joints.

Keep your joints moving

Avoid keeping your joints in the same position for an extended period of time. Some tips for keeping your joints from becoming stiff include:

When writing or doing other work requiring the use of your hands, release your grip every 10 to 15 minutes.

While watching television, get up and move around every 30 minutes.

On long car trips, get out of the car and stretch at least every hour.

On a long airplane flight, move around the cabin occasionally to avoid stiffening joints.

While traveling on a train, walk from car to car to stretch your legs.

At least once daily, move each joint through its full range of motion, without moving so far that you feel pain. Move slowly and gently; sudden jerking or bouncing can hurt your joints. The pain-free range of motion for each joint may vary from day to day, so make sure not to overdo it. These stretching exercises will help keep your joints flexible. Immobility adds to stiffness and pain.

Avoid overworking your joints

Effectively manage your workload throughout the day. Try to pace yourself by balancing periods of rest and activity. Over long periods of time repetitive stress on joints can hasten the wear and tear that leads to osteoarthritis.

Avoid rushing by working at a steady, moderate pace.

Rest before you become fatigued or sore.

Alternate between light and moderate activities throughout the day.

Joints

We rely on our joints to get us where we want to go, each and every day. A joint is the place where the ends of two or more bones meet. For example, the bone of the lower leg (called the shin, or tibia) and the thighbone (called the femur) meet at the knee joint. Understanding the structure and function of a normal joint will help you appreciate the importance of maintaining healthy joints. As you become better informed, you may discover and correct any misconceptions you may have about your joints and how to take care of them.

Structure and function

The point where the ends of two or more bones meet is called a joint. Most of your joints, like the knee joint, are movable joints. Their structure enables us to bend, straighten, and twist our arms, legs, and back. In a healthy joint, the bones are protected from physical wear and tear. The joint absorbs shock from repetitive movements like walking. Each part of the joint plays an important role in providing flexibility, support, stability, and protection, all of which are essential for normal and painless movement.

Cartilage. One of the keys to healthy joints, cartilage forms a firm, slippery coating on the end of each bone. It covers and cushions the bone, allowing the joint to move easily. Cartilage is made up of mostly water, as well as:
Collagen.
This fibrous protein is the building block of skin, tendons, bones, and other connective tissues. It forms a meshwork that gives support and flexibility to your joints.
Proteoglycans.
In cartilage, strands of proteoglycans and collagen are interwoven to form a meshwork that allows cartilage to flex and absorb physical shock.
Chondrocytes.
These cells are found throughout cartilage, helping cartilage grow and stay healthy. Chondrocytes make the collagen and proteoglycans that form the basis of the cartilage tissue. Sometimes, they are triggered to release enzymes that destroy collagen and other proteins.

Synovium. This thin membrane surrounds the entire joint and is lubricated with the synovial fluid. The synovium has an outer layer called the joint capsule. This tough sac helps hold together the bones and other parts of the joint.

Muscles. Muscles keep the bones stable and allow the joint to bend and move. Strong muscles also provide support for the joint.

Ligaments. These tough, cord-like tissues connect one bone to another and help to keep the joint stable.

Tendons. These tough, fibrous cords connect muscles to bones. Together, tendons and muscles power the joint and make movement possible.

If you have joint pain, stiffness, and/or swelling for more than two weeks, you may have arthritis. Make an appointment with your doctor.

Healthy joints

Nearly 43 million Americans have arthritis or a related condition. If you are living with arthritis, protecting your joints is an effective way to avoid or relieve pain and to prevent further damage to your joints.

You can minimize how much arthritis pain affects your life by developing the following habits:

Use good body mechanics

Use your hands wisely and carefully

Use the strongest joint available for the job

Keep your joints moving

Avoid overworking your joints

Listen to your pain

More helpful tips

Learning the Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis is a term that includes a group of disorders that affect your joints and muscles. Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, inflammation and limited movement of joints. When a joint is inflamed it may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red. Surrounding each joint is a protective capsule holding a lubricating fluid to aid in motion. Cartilage, a slippery smooth substance, covers most joints to assure an even, fluid motion of the joint. With joint arthritis, the cartilage may be damaged, narrowed and lost by a degenerative process or by inflammation making movement painful.

There are many different signs and symptoms of arthritis. If you have experienced pain, stiffness, or swelling around a joint for more than two weeks, you should visit your physician. Only a physician can determine if you are suffering from symptoms of arthritis. You need to find out which type you have in order to start the best course of arthritis treatment. These arthritis symptoms may come up suddenly or slowly over time and may also include sleeplessness, fatigue, depression, and muscle aches.

Many people will experience some difficulty functioning at home, at work or at play because of joint pain, stiffness and loss of motion regardless of the type of arthritis they have. Getting out of bed in the morning, buttoning buttons, writing, sewing, meal preparation, dressing, sleeping, walking, climbing stairs, arising from a chair or a toilet seat and attending to matters of personal hygiene may all be impaired to some degree by arthritis pain and joint stiffness. A lot of people find that impairment of mobility is more distressing to them than arthritis pain.

By going to the doctor immediately, you can start a treatment plan that will help protect your joints and lessen the arthritis pain. You can start to protect your joints by avoiding excess stress and perhaps by using assistive devices to help you around the house. Staying at your ideal weight will also help relieve pressure on your hips and knees. A major goal of all arthritis treatment is the preservation or improvement of daily tasks.

Arthritis Symptom Checklist

Do you have pain, inflammation, or stiffness in your joints? Ask yourself the following questions to see if arthritis could be causing your discomfort:

Have you had pain or stiffness in your joints for 3 or more days a week for the last month?
Yes No

Have you had swelling in your joints for 3 or more days a week for the last month?
Yes No

Do you have stiffness in your joints, especially after not moving for an extended period of time (eg, moving in the morning)?
Yes No

Do you have pain or discomfort in a joint that has a history of injury?
Yes No

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