Arthritis Addiction Treatment

Osteoarthritis

This drawing of an arthritic hip shows how the cartilage covering the leg bone (femur) and the acetabulum of the hip become damaged over time.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It results from overuse, trauma, or the degeneration of the joint cartilage that takes place with age. Osteoarthritis is often more painful in joints that bear weight, such as the knee, hip, and spine, rather than in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints. However, joints that are used extensively in work or sports or joints that have been damaged from fractures or other injuries may show signs of osteoarthritis. Other disorders that injure or overload the articular cartilage may lead to osteoarthritis. (more…)

Live long enough and you can pretty much count on developing arthritis: a touch of osteoarthritis, at the very least.

Arthritis (’arth’ meaning joint, ‘itis’ meaning inflammation) isn’t a one-note story or even a few variations on a single theme; it actually consists of more than 100 different conditions. These can be anything from relatively mild forms of tendinitis (as in ‘tennis elbow’) and bursitis to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are forms of the disease, such as gout, that almost nobody connects with arthritis, and there are other conditions - like osteoarthritis, the misnamed ‘wear and tear’ arthritis - that a good many people think is the only form of the disease. (more…)

People may avert some arthritic conditions by avoiding infections - for example, using tick repellent to prevent Lyme disease and practicing safe sex to prevent the sexually transmitted diseases that can cause Reiter’s syndrome.

However, there is no sure way to prevent most forms of arthritis. Yet many of the lifestyle changes used to treat arthritis may help prevent it or delay its onset. Avoiding trauma and injury, through means such as using seatbelts and wearing protective sports equipment, may help keep from predisposing the joint to early osteoarthritis (OA). Avoiding obesity or losing weight if necessary reduces stress and weight on the body’s joints. Healthy levels of exercise (approved by a physician) can help maintain muscle strength and minimize the likelihood of joint injury. (more…)

For most forms of arthritis, the exact cause is unknown. Infectious forms may be traced to a specific bacterial agent (such as gonorrhea) that invades a joint. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the result of the breakdown of cartilage, usually related to aging, but it is not fully understood why the degeneration begins. It may be the result of a malfunction in the cartilage and the metabolism of the underlying bone. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune conditions, meaning the body’s overactive immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. The causes of autoimmune conditions are not well understood. Gout and pseudogout involve deposits of crystals in joints, a process that is only partly understood. (more…)

If you don’t suffer from osteoarthritis, take a moment to consider your good fortune. In 2002, 43 million Americans were diagnosed with arthritis — and the Centers for Disease Control expects that number to balloon to nearly 70 million by 2030. You should also think about your future. Are you doing everything you can to protect your joints?

Osteoarthritis is the kind of arthritis you get from wear and tear on the joints — and in many cases, it is preventable. Here’s a look at the steps you can take to keep the disease out of your life.

Six steps to prevention

• Watch your weight. Extra weight can strain the joints, especially the knees and hips. Over time, this strain can lead to arthritis. The good news is that even a small reduction in your waistline can lead to a big reduction in your risk. A 1992 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that women who lost an average of 11 pounds over 10 years cut their risk of osteoarthritis in the knee by half.
• Avoid injuries. Don’t wait until your golden years to start protecting your joints. No matter what your age, serious injuries to joints — torn ligaments, torn cartilage, or broken bones — can lead to arthritis somewhere down the road. A study published in the September 5, 2000 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people who injured their knees as teenagers and young adults were nearly three times more likely than those without injuries to have osteoarthritis by the time they reached 65.

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