Arthritis

Background

Arthritis is a condition that affects over 3 million new patients each year. In Idaho, around 23% of adults are affected by arthritis.  A common misconception about arthritis is that it is a single disease, but – in fact – arthritis is a common symptom of a group of ailments known as rheumatic diseases. Arthritis directly means inflammation of the joint. Additional symptoms in the joint include pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases, joints are not the only area of the body affected by these rheumatic diseases; sometimes, tendons, muscles, or the skin are affected.

There are hundreds of types of arthritis that can occur in patients, although relatively few are seen by physicians day to day. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most prevalent form of arthritis. It often develops from wear and tear on a joint, after which cartilage damage occurs, leading to poor joint function. Another common type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the synovium in multiple joints.

Arthritis affects people of all ages. In fact, two-thirds of people who suffer from the condition are under 65. Even more surprisingly, one in every 250 children suffers from an arthritic disorder. Additionally, arthritis is more common in women than men. Affecting 22.7 million people, arthritis is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritis, and current best practices in clinical medicine only seek to treat its symptoms. Early diagnosis is critical when helping patients to deal with arthritis. A significant number of people confuse arthritis for an injury when they first experience pain, meaning that they decide to wait before seeing a doctor.

Learning to live with Arthritis

Arthritis has a large impact on a patient’s lifestyle. The emotional effect is significant because, in many cases, people may need help doing everyday tasks that they could undertake independently before. Generally, patients will slowly adjust to these challenges.

Due to the lack of a cure for arthritis, it is imperative that patients eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, avoid stress, and stay at a healthy weight. Eventually, most people may need assistive devices to help with mobility. Patients should ensure that they have access to all the resources needed to help make their lifestyle as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

If you are struggling with joint pain, walk-in to DOC to be evaluated!

Sources:

Arthritis. At-a-Glance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated 07/22/15.