Have you ever experienced a shocking and unbearable pain on getting up after sitting up for a considerable period of time, or do you face pains in the knee joints while walking down the stairs? It is time that you consulted the doctor instead of taking over the counter pain-killers. Chances are bright that you are suffering from arthritis.
Certain types of this ailment can cut short life of the sufferer by as much as 18 years and the pain it causes the patient is often unbearable. It is high time that you learnt to distinguish between muscular pains and arthritis… the latter being a pain associated with the joints. It is not just human beings who are plagued by arthritis.
Even animals suffer from them. Evidence gathered by doctors reveals that arthritis has been around since the beginning of civilization… in fact the first known instance of this illness in human beings can be traced back to 4500 BC and was observed in the skeletal remains of humans who lived in what is today known as Tennessee. There are nearly 100 types of arthritis and some of the common ones are listed below.
Types of Arthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Ankylosing Arthritis
- Reactive Arthritis
- Gout
- Pseudogout
- Systematic Lupus Erythemasotus
- Polymysotis
- Fibromyalgia
- Lyme Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Of the above, Rheumatoid Arthritis is most prevalent and can be found in approximately 1% of the population. Since it can cause critical damage within a year, early diagnosis followed by aggressive treatment is vital. If not taken care of this type of arthritis may shorten the life span of the sufferer by as much as 18 years.
Symptoms of Arthritis
Knowing about the symptoms of arthritis can be helpful since those who can recognize the onset of this ailment early on, have a greater chance of being treated early and hence escaping from the painful jaws of this ailment. If you are suffering from a nagging and persistent pain in the joints or are feeling a tender and painful feeling in the joints that gets aggravated by day to day activities like walking, writing, getting up from a sitting position, throwing and object or even turning a knob, chances are likely that you are suffering from arthritis.
These are the external sighs. There are some internal symptoms too that occur in those who are suffering from arthritis. Sudden and unexplained loss of weight, weakness and lack of energy, fever, loss of flexibility or the range of motion in the joints and also some of the signs that identify arthritis.
How to Cure Arthritis
While it is best to consult a qualified physician for the course of treatment, one should have knowledge about the types of medications used to control arthritis. Arthritis medications fall under 5 different categories and a list of them are given below:
- Disease modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Analgesics
- Corticosteroids
- Biological medications
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