Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 40 million Americans. It is also the most common cause of disability.

While more than half of patients older than 65 years of age have osteoarthritis changes in the their knees on x-ray, osteoarthritis is not considered a “normal” part of aging.

Certain activities and occupations increase the likelihood of osteoarthritis. For instance baseball players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the elbows and shoulder. Football players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the hips and knees. And ditch diggers have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in their wrists.

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis developing in the knees.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that arises from biochemical changes in cartilage which include a decrease in glycosoaminoglycans, an important constituent of collage, an increase in water content, and an increase in the content of destructive enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

These changes lead to structural weakening of cartilage. Small fissures develop, then larger cracks and irregularities also occur. Ulceration of cartilage and further deterioration occurs. The end result is a premature wearing away of cartilage with exposure of underlying bone. Along with this wearing away of cartilage is an increase in inflammation of the lining of the joint, the synovium.

The joints that are affected most in osteoarthritis are weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

Stiffness and pain are the moist common symptoms.

On physical exam, there are signs that point towards the diagnosis including bony swelling, and distribution of joint problems.

Laboratory testing is usually normal. X-rays may show changes.

Treatment for osteoarthritis is aimed at five primary goals. They are relief of pain, maintenance of function, prevention of disability, control of co-morbid conditions, and avoidance of medication side effects.

Non-drug therapies include patient education, physical therapy, thermal modalities, weight loss if indicated, and exercise.

Drug therapies include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, injections of glucocorticoids or viscosupplements (lubricants), and disease-modifying drugs.

Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, balneotherapy (spas), glucosamine/chondroitin, massage, chiropractic, etc. all have their advocates.

One area that has received much attention is the use of mechanical shifting devices that can unload specific joints. For instance osteoarthritis of the knee, a common problem, has received much scrutiny lately.

A recent study showed that the use of shoes that mimic barefoot walking may help because there is more pressure placed on the middle of the knee joint when people wear shoes as opposed to when they walk barefoot.

Also, the use of a simple device like a cane also reduced the load on the knees.

(Kemp G, et al Arthritis Care and Research 2008; 59: 609-614).

Other studies have found that lateral wedge insoles worn inside shoes can also reduce the load on the medial side of the joint.

Until the day comes when new cartilage can be grown… and that day may be closer than we think, particularly with the emphasis on stem cell research, the above modalities may have to do.



Thanks to Nathan Wei for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Arthritis Pain Relief Cream

The term ‘Arthritis’ is derived from the Greek words ‘arthron’ meaning ‘joint’ and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. It refers to more than 100 different types of arthritis conditions. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal (bones and muscle) pain. Arthritis is not just a disease of the old though many older people do have arthritis.

Arthritis is a joint (the area of the body where two different bones meet) disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, pseudogout, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia are some common types. As a degenerative joint disease, it is the major cause of disability in older people. So it is better to consult physician as early as possible if any of the following symptoms persists. Let’s discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and cure for arthritis.

Causes of Arthritis:

1] Old age is the most common reason for arthritis. As one ages, the cartilage on his joints wear off. Too much damage sustained by the joints would lead to arthritis. Throughout the years, the cartilage in the joints would begin to thin out.

2] Obesity and too much physical activities are the other common causes.

3] Genetics has a major role to play in all families and often diseases can be found even before they start showing signs, simply by looking at your family history.

4] The onset of childhood arthritis may follow an infection or injury, but these events do not cause the arthritis. With childhood arthritis, the body’s immune system stops working properly.

Arthritis Symptoms:

-Pain and limited functionality of joints

-Inflammation of joints

Types of Arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of arthritis is not restricted to any particular age. It can happen to you at any age.

Osteoarthritis: This is the most common of the types of arthritis. It has been discovered to be the cause of severe strain and the wearing away of the cartilage in the joints of the foot.

Gout: This type of arthritis is associated with foot complications. It affects the big toe most of the time.

Juvenile arthritis: Unfortunately, children are not left out of this deadly disease known as arthritis. Juvenile arthritis affects mostly children before the age of sixteen, which is why it is called Juvenile arthritis.

Treatment of Arthritis:

1] Physical therapy

2] Splinting

3] Cold pack application

4] Paraffin wax dips

5] Anti- inflammation medications

6] Immune-altering medication

7] Surgical operations

8] Cheese - It is an excellent source of calcium for bones, and protein for muscles and other joint-supporting tissues.

9] Banana - It is perhaps a rich source of potassium, but has also good sources of arthritis-fighting vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin C.

10] Green tea - It contains hundreds of powerful antioxidant chemicals called polyphenols and may help prevent or ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

11] Salmon - It is among the richest sources of healthy fats, making it an ideal source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Surgical operations are the best solution for long-term treatment. Joint replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries these days. Medications along with proper diet & exercise are fruitful in controlling the pain, but they can’t cure arthritis.

Read About Home Remedies also Read about Home Remedies for Arthritis and Home Remedies for Asthma



Thanks to naturalremedies for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Get a Money-making Website

Can you answer newlywed07’s question about Arthritis?:

I’m 26 and I just found out that I have Osteoarthritis and Scoliosis in my lower back. What exactly does this mean for me? My doctor was kind of vague with me with this diagnosis. I have a LOT of lower back pain and it hurts all the time and I don’t know what to do. My doctor recommended physical therapy, but my work’s health insurance doesn’t cover it. I have tried Aleve, but it doesn’t phase it.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief

Can you answer debhas5’s question about Arthritis?:

I have osteoarthritis in my hands, wrists and one knee. Now my elbow is hurting and I really don’t want to go to the Dr.’s again. How do you tell the difference? Thanks for the help.

Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you are looking to improve your health you are likely to be interested in the natural health supplements that are on the market today.

The vast majority of health supplements, vitamins and minerals that are offered are usually confusing for the average buyer. The first obstacle is to understand which pills are the right ones for you and your condition. The next is to understand their ingredients and to buy the best ones.

The case is the same for those looking to buy glucosamine chondroitin.

Glucosamine is one of the most popular health supplements nowadays. It is mainly beneficial for those looking to improve their muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage. With age the amount of cartilage needed in joints lowers and the bones start to rub into one another. Glucosamine helps to relieve the pain and fight joint problems by replacing the cartilage.

Glucosamine health supplements are usually made of sea ingredients such as sea shells. For that reason people allergic to sea food should be very carefull before applying glucosamine products.

Chondroitin is another chemical found in the human body. It is present in the ligaments of the animals and that is the way to get some “the natural way”.

It has similar effect to glucosamine while its action in the human body is slightly different. Chondroitin improves cartilage by helping water go into its structure. The water helps cartilage to stay between the joints longer as it brings essential nutrients within the cartilage.

There are less stand alone Chondroitin supplements compared to the Glucosamine supplements. The most common form is in a combination with Glucosamine.

Glucosamine Chondroitin health supplements are important for people who suffer from joint problems such as Osteoarthritis. Joint diseases are usually characterized by insufficient cartilage tissue and for that reason this type of supplements has great effect. Glucosamine Osteoarthritis pills can be taken even before any symptoms of joint problems have appeared. People of certain age who have a family history of bones and joints problems, as well as people being sport active should start taking Glucosamine Osteoarthritis supplements to prevent joint problems.

Of course such as any other medicine, Glucosamine Osteoarthritis supplements may hide specific risks. As mentioned these products are often made of sea ingredients, that is why they are not recommended for people with allergies to sea food or other sea products. Osteoarthritis is not working well with blood thinning medicines. You should get advice from your doctor before the application.



Thanks to Keith Londrie for contributing this article to our Arthritis blog:

Alternative Treatments For Arthritis