What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is known as the inflammation and degeneration of the joints. The inflammation of the joints can lead to pain and swelling. Arthritis has more than 100 types but the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
- Swelling of the joints
- Pain of the joints
- Stiffness of the joints
- Decreased motion/activity of the joints
Diagnosis
Arthritis can be diagnosed by your General Physician. Your doctor will assess your symptoms can do a physical examination to check for the presence of symptoms such as swelling or stiffness of the joints. Your doctor can also order imaging scans such as X-rays or blood tests to determine the type of arthritis. It is important to understand that some symptoms of arthritis may come and go as time passes and some types of arthritis may not show all of their effects at once.
Treatment
Managing Arthritis
Medicines work best when combined with proper lifestyle changes. Keeping a healthy weight, keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure under control and quitting smoking are all ways that can beneficial to improve the quality of your life. These lifestyle changes along with routine checkups with your doctor to monitor your health is the best way to manage arthritis.
Surgery
If your arthritis is very severe, surgery can also be an option. Your doctor may recommend a surgery to replace a damaged joint with an artificial one. Your doctor may also perform a joint fusion, in which two ends of your bones will be locked together so they can heal and join.
Physical therapy
Arthritis causes stiff joints and routine physical therapy can help in stimulating the bones, joints and muscles. If you have arthritis, daily physical therapy can help in improving the mobility and strength of your joints and help you achieve a better quality of life.