Arthritis Symptoms

Can That Pain in Your Joints Be Arthritis?

Ask yourself these questions: Do you have problems with one or more of your joints? Do you know which signs point to arthritis symptoms? If not, you should arm yourself with as much knowledge on this disease as possible. With early diagnosis, there is much you can do to keep arthritis symptoms at bay and to keep your joints from becoming severely damaged.

It is not uncommon for an individual to think that the stiffness they are experiencing is a result of physically overworking their body. They may also attribute this stiffness and pain to getting older. While it is true that we do slow down with age and tend to feel many aches and pains as we grow older, ongoing joint pain is not normal.

Arthritis symptoms can include inflammation, stiffness, swelling, and warmth at the joint site. Arthritis symptoms can also include rapid or gradual weight loss, fatigue and fever. There are over a 100 different types of arthritis.

The most common type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis. It usually affects the knees and hips. This type of arthritis has been commonly referred to as the “wear and tear” arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system attacks the lining of joints as if it were a foreign, harmful substance. The associated swelling can be quite pronounced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lupus arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. The joints most affected by this form of arthritis include the wrists, hands and knees.

Gouty arthritis usually affects the big toe and knee. It is brought about by formations of crystals within the joint.

If you are experiencing pain in one or more joints and you do not get relief from over the counter medication, or through the application of heat or cold packs, it’s possible you may have arthritis. You should never ignore arthritis symptoms. If you suspect you may have arthritis, you should definitely consult your local doctor, who may refer you to a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist specializes in bone, joint and muscle disorders. Rheumatologists may treat arthritis, as well as autoimmune disorders. While it’s true that there is no known cure for arthritis, there are a number of medications which are known to bring much needed pain relief and alleviate the suffering brought on by arthritis symptoms. As well, these medications may also somewhat slow down the progression of arthritis.

Hanif Khaki is the acclaimed and highly regarded author of numerous health related articles and founder of the popular resource site, http://www.arthritispaincure.com

How to Relieve Arthritis Pain

Arthritis pain is caused by many different variables, including inflammation of the tissues that line the joints, the tendons, or ligaments around the joints, and muscle strain. Fatigue also causes arthritis pain to worsen.

Everyone’s arthritis pain is different, and the pain varies a great deal from person to person. Also, everyone responds differently to different treatment methods. You and your doctor should work together to develop the best plan to relieve your arthritis pain.

There are, however, many things that you can do yourself to increase the effectiveness of your treatment. Eating a healthy diet will give your body necessary nutrients to keep your joints healthy. Since fatigue contributes to arthritis pain, getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night is a must.

Keep a daily journal, including diet, activities, stress and pain levels. Discussing this with your doctor can help you both determine what aggravates your arthritis and how best to treat it.

Additionally, discuss with your doctor about whether to use hot or cold packs for pain relief, as the type of arthritis you have will dictate which is best. Many patients find joint stabilization (splints) very helpful in relieving their arthritis pain.

Massage is also helpful in managing pain, but because the affected area may be very sensitive, a professional massage therapist familiar with arthritis pain is best suited for this. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe medications to help control the pain, but these are some tips as to what you can do yourself.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Health-Fitness-Solutions.com. He provides more health related advice and arthritis pain relief information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

What Causes Childhood Arthritis?

Childhood arthritis is a disease that occurs in children under the age of 16. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in one or more of the joints. This pain, stiffness, and swelling are called inflammation. With childhood arthritis, the inflammation lasts longer than six weeks, and is not caused by an injury or other illness. Childhood arthritis is also called juvenile arthritis.

How common is childhood arthritis? It affects 1 in 1,000 US children under the age of 16. Both boys and girls are affected by childhood arthritis. Arthritis is not just a disease of old people. In fact, approximately one in 1,000 children under the age of 16 suffers from arthritis. Juvenile arthritis is among the most common chronic childhood disorders.

What causes childhood arthritis?

The exact cause of childhood arthritis is unknown. Childhood arthritis does not usually run in families and cannot be passed from one person to another. 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. The immune system's job is to fight off germs and disease. However, in a child with childhood arthritis the immune system attacks healthy tissues. What triggers this process is unknown.

What can you do about childhood arthritis? If your child has inflammation, in one or more joints for more than six weeks your doctor may perform a physical examination of your child and order tests, such as x-rays and blood tests to find out what is causing the inflammation. There is not just one single symptom, sign, or test that will give a diagnosis of childhood arthritis.

If your doctor thinks your child has childhood arthritis, he or she will usually refer your child to a rheumatologist (pronounced room-a-tol-o-jist). A rheumatologist is a doctor who has received special training in the diagnosis and treatment of problems involving inflammation of the joints, muscles and other parts of the body.

For more information, visit http://www.ArthritisInfoCenter.com