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Inflammatory arthritis

Unfortunately, as people age there are several ailments that are typical. Although many of them can be treated, arthritis is one that seems to not only get worse over time, but be very difficult to prevent. Arthritis is a term that generally covers all types of joint inflammation and degradation. Although there are many types of arthritis, the term is often used even in cases when the disease is not present. As people age, their joints become weak due to loss of bone tissue and cartilage, but pain in those regions does not necessarily mean that someone has arthritis.

There are cases however, when the symptoms of arthritis are definitely pronounced and easy to spot. In particular, cases of inflammatory arthritis can be extremely painful and evident in the elderly. Inflammatory arthritis refers to varying types of degenerative and inflammatory conditions, but can also result from an immune system that attacks itself. For example, Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the ends of two bones rub together because of a complete lack of cartilage. With degenerative conditions such as this, the pain gets worse throughout the day as activity wears on the joints. The best treatment for degenerative forms of inflammatory arthritis is Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID’s) medications, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen. Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements have also been shown to improve the health of joints in elderly patients, although one must be certain that the supplement they purchase is legitimate.

In cases of inflammatory arthritis that are cause by autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system attacks the area around the joints and causes the degradation of bone and joint tissue. The difference between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis is that in cases of the former, the body must be given medication to fight the negative immune reaction before the condition can be improved. Also, whereas lesser forms of inflammatory arthritis can be considered acute, autoimmune conditions are almost always chronic conditions that get worse over time, especially without treatment.

Symptoms of inflammatory arthritis are usually the same across the board. Although usually the disease starts in the hands and smaller joints, it usually spreads to knees, ankles, elbows, and the toes and fingers. The pain can vary depending on the day’s activities and may be accompanied by swelling in the joints. There are a variety of creams, pills, and supplements that can be taken to combat inflammatory arthritis, but even those lose their effectiveness over time.

Your best bet is to start with a Glucosamine Chondroitin supplement and take NSAID’s when needed. If the pain becomes worse, then your doctor might more advanced medicines. In extreme cases, you might be given the option of surgery in order to relieve the pain and rebuild your joints. The best medicine though, is to make sure that you get plenty of rest and use ice or heating pads to treat your swollen joints.

Inflammatory arthritis is a condition that cannot be taken lightly, but if there is a silver lining it is that you can generally see it coming from years away. Once you start to notice symptoms, you should implement a habit of resting more often and taking NSAID’s to help relieve the pain. Research the variety of supplements that are available to you and make sure to take them every month. Given the proper treatment and rest, you can live a normal life. In cases of autoimmune or other forms of chronic arthritis, you will need to see a doctor in order to receive the proper form of medication. This will allow your body to heal itself and help you prevent future problems.

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Last updated on Jan 23rd, 2010 and filed under Musculoskeletal Disorders. Both comments and pings are currently closed.