Arthritis Pain Relief 101
Coming of age equals coming of a variety of body pains. And do
you know what most of our oldies would complain about regarding
this issue? Arthritis. An estimate of over 50 million Americans
suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other
conditions related conditions.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is the kind
of arthritis that usually affects nearly three-quarters of those
over 50. At the onset of arthritis, pain is not a part of the major
system yet. Morning and after rest stiffness and crackling joints
are usually the first few symptoms that confirm the diagnosis of
the condition. Upon the development of the disease, patients are
expected to suffer from more discomfort, disability and pain.
If left untreated, it can become progressively distressing and
painful crippling can result. This is particularly true with
rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects women.
It is prevalent with age group of 20 to 45.
Arthritis is not only caused by the wear and tear the joints
undergo. There are other factors that aggravate this condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an immune deficiency syndrome
where antibodies develop against components of joint tissue, and
mistakenly and aggressively attack the joints. Misdirected
neovascularization leads to displacement of water while decreasing
the volume and viscosity of synovial fluid (fluid between joints),
further lessening the flexibility and cushioning power of the
joint, until the surfaces of raw unprotected bone painfully begin
to wear against each other, as it happens in conditions of
Osteoarthritis. Inborn recessive genetic errors may also predict
the inclination of a person to develop arthritis.
Dealing with the chronic pain of arthritis can be frustrating. Pain
from arthritis is often caused by inflammation, a localized
protective reaction of tissues to irritation or any kind of injury
and is often characterized by pain, redness, swelling and even
disability. Crepitation is a process that can also cause the pain
that is felt by an arthritis patient. It is the rubbing together of
two bone fragments that cause a crackling sound. Muscle tension and
fatigue can also cause the pain.
The usual treatment for arthritis is through the use of
painkillers. Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like
aspirin can help relieve the pain of arthritis. But they only
target the symptom and not the disease itself. Studies even show
that the continual use of these NSAIDs may even cause joint
deterioration thus making arthritis worse. Modern medicine does not
have much to offer for the cure of this disease.
The traditional temporary arthritis pain relief medications
available leave a lot to be desired. Other pain solutions can be
relied on to achieve arthritis pain relief. Massage therapy,
hydrotherapy and cold packs are a few of the simple methods of pain
management. Herbal remedies such as ginger, willow bark and fish
oils and the well-known cartilage constituents glucosamine sulfate
and chondroitin sulfate are also promising a lot in revolutionizing
the treatment of arthritis. Aside from the symptomatic relief they
offer, they actually interfere with the origin of the disease. They
are also being considered to help the body rebuild functioning
joints. Also reported to be fast acting,in cream form, they
increase mobility and optimal repair of joint structures as they
help reinforce the body's protective linings and lubricating fluids
by recovering cell stability and function to stop further
damage.
Those discovered treatments among many might just be the best among
the elusive arthritis pain relief that are commercially available.
But above all, no matter how clichd it may sound, an ounce of
prevention is better than a pound of cure.
About the Author
Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information
about arthritis, please go to: http://arthritis.besthealthlink.net/
or for updated links and information on all health related topics,
go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/
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