Arthritis & Rheumatism

There are over 100 types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. This site provides the latest arthritic and rheumatic information including the treatment options available.



Arthritis is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This can be felt in the person's joints, skin and organs inside the body. Should the person feel anything wrong, it is advisable to go straight to the doctor. Doctors have discovered that there are over 100 types of arthritis. Given the number, the doctor will not be able to know which one is affecting the person without an examination.

There are 2 common forms of arthritis. The first is rheumatoid arthritis which is considered a chronic disease. There is inflammation in the joints caused by cartilage damage. Anyone who has this will suffer long term joint damage that will lead to chronic pain and disability. Pain is usually felt when waking up in the morning and will gradually disappear during the day.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that will not go away. This happens in three stages. The first is swelling. The second is the rapid division and growth of cells. The third is when these cells release enzymes that will eat the bone causing the joint to lose shape until the person will not be able to move it anymore.

Since this is systemic disease, it can spread and affect other organs in the body. The best way to prevent is from happening is detecting it early to prevent the person from being disabled. This can be treated with proper medication and therapy. There many drugs available that the patient can use. Some drugs offer pain relief to reduce the inflammation. Others can just do one function.

The second is called osteoarthritis. This happens more often than rheumatoid arthritis but unlike the first, there is no inflammation present. The cartilage in the joint is damaged and will eventually degenerate. Pain will slightly be felt when the person gets up but this will hurt later on during the day. Osteoarthritis can either be primary or secondary. When it is primary, it is often associated with age. It is similar to a car where the parts have to be replaced due to wear and tear. Doctors consider this to be normal as people grow older.

The secondary type is often associated with something else that has caused this to happen. Some of these factors are an injury that took place, heredity, obesity and bone density. Osteoarthritis can be treated with medication, exercise, weight control, joint protection, physical and occupational therapy. This is done to relieve the pain and slow the progression of the disease. Both of these are caused by different things. The common thing between these 2 types is that joint pain can happen anywhere in the body.

Given the many medications available to treat this disease, the patient has to be aware of the side effects of each before choosing which one to use. The doctor should explain these to the person in order to make the right decision.



Saturday, March 10, 2007

Arthritis - Halting the progression of rheumatoid arthritis


Halting the progression of rheumatoid arthritis
Berkshire Eagle - Other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as DMARDs or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, are non-specific and suppress the entire immune system. But BRMs, which are often called "biologics" since they are derived from living
Source: www.berkshireeagle.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis
WOOD - RA, however, is usually active for years, therefore this drug should be reserved for "bridge" therapy between the time when the decision is made to start a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD: such as gold) and when the drug becomes effective
Source: www.woodtv.com

Blood is life-giving fluid
Portales News-Tribune - Rheumatic fever threatened. Months later a tonsillectomy was performed and this blood transfusion became critical before the operation. The technology then wasn t like we have today, but I thank God doctors and nurses did the best they could with
Source: www.portales-news.com

LIVING IN THE MOMENT
New Orleans Times-Picayune - I myself was born with what they called a 'children's heart,' had rheumatic fever and my parents were told I would be lucky to live to be 21. I couldn't do sports, so I did theater, acting in every school play I could -- whenever asked. The parts
Source: www.nola.com

Pol s art a gift for charities
Kansas City Star - When she was 2 years old, she was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, which meant she didn t get to play in the snow or take gym. So that she wouldn t feel cheated, her parents brought her a paint set. My mom and dad seemed to realize that I was
Source: www.kansascity.com


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