Arthritis Pain Relief 101 by Charlene J. Nuble
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 clichéd 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/
