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Is There Help for Arthritis Sufferers? |
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More than nine million people in the UK have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. Because there are over one hundred different kinds of arthritis, the definition of the disease is rather general. Basically, arthritis is a condition that causes stiffness, pain and loss of movement of the joints. The two most common type of the disease are rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
The most common misconception is that arthritis only strikes the elderly. But people as young as 20 have been treated for Rheumatoid arthritis. They are then forced to live with the disease for the rest of their lives because there is no cure.
What are the symptoms? Rheumatoid arthritis is arguably the most painful and debilitating form of the disease. In most cases, the knees, fingers, wrists and even the toes are affected. These joints can swell up without warning, often due to a change in the weather. Immobility, general fatigue, weight loss and lack of appetite are the most common symptoms. What can arthritis sufferers sufferers do?
Over time, frequent inflammation can and often will destroy cartilage and bone. As a result, the goal of treatment is to prevent or mitigate inflammation and to preserve the joints. This is often accomplished (or attempted) with drugs that are designed to reduce inflammation, like regular aspirin. Rheumatoid arthritis suffers typically swallow a dozen aspirin or more a day to fight inflammation.
Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy have also been effective at increasing mobility and reducing pain. When the condition is chronic and near crippling, doctors may prescribe powerful prescription drugs that often have unpleasant side effects.
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