The word ?arthritis? is defined by joint inflammation, and is characterized by swelling, stiffness and pain. While there are about 100 diseases that fall under the umbrella of arthritis, two of the most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Arthritis symptoms of these two variations of the disease include joint and muscle pain and stiffness, and difficulty using the affected joints. Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis will also have issues with fatigue, loss of appetite and low-grade fevers. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints, such as the skin, heart or lungs.
The difference in the arthritis symptoms of these two diseases has to do with the cause of the illness. Osteoarthritis is the result of wear and tear on the joints through years of use or intense activity, such as with a professional athlete. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is caused by the body's immune system attacking its own joints and surrounding tissues, resulting in painful inflammation and swelling. Since the immune system can also turn on organs and other parts of the body, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas as well.
Treating Arthritis Symptoms
There is no known cure for arthritis, but treatment of arthritis symptoms begins with understanding the reason for your symptoms so that you can address them at the cause. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis this can be particularly important, since treatment can and should include methods to reduce the joint damage that is caused by the disease as well as effective pain management. Often the first course of treatment will be medication for pain management, and this can vary depending on the severity of the pain that accompanies the arthritis symptoms. In some instances, an over-the-counter pain medication that includes an anti-inflammatory will be sufficient. These include ibuprofen like Advil, or naproxen that is found in pills like Aleve. At other times, your doctor may need to give you a prescription for a pain medication that will be more effective.
Once you have successfully managed the pain of your arthritis symptoms, you can begin work on reducing the symptoms through a regular exercise program. Your workout routine should include range-of-motion exercises, as well as strengthening and endurance work. Always check with your doctor before starting any type of exercise regimen to treat your arthritis symptoms. It is also a good idea to find a personal trainer who has had experience working with arthritis patients.
Arthritis symptoms can be painful and difficult to cope with. Fortunately, there are options available to arthritis sufferers that can help reduce the pain associated with arthritis and improve the quality of life and activity for many.
Neck arthritis, which is also known as cervical spondylosis, is a type of arthritis which is caused by degenerative changes in the bones and the intervertebral disks of the neck. It is primarily due to aging, as although there are other contributing factors as well, the condition usually presents itself after the age of 40 and then continues to process on from there.
With neck arthritis, the bones in the neck, as with the rest of the body, progressively degenerate as your body ages, and over time, arthritis of the neck may result from bony spurs and problems with ligaments and disks. As well, the spinal cord may end up narrowing and compressing the spinal cord and nerves, and injuries from neck arthritis can in fact cause full spinal cord compression.
Symptoms
There are a number of signs and symptoms that you are likely to notice from the onset of neck arthritis, and this includes: neck pain and stiffness that is usually worse with upright activity, you may have numbness and weakness in the arms, legs, hands and fingers and have trouble walking due to all over weakness, you may feel or hear grinding noises or popping in the neck when you move, and you may experience muscle spasms or headaches which will typically originate in the neck area.
Treatment
When it comes to the treatment of neck arthritis, most of the time, if your symptoms are mild, your doctor will most likely recommend a variety of non-surgical treatments such as rest and medication. However if your arthritis is very advanced or incredibly painful, they may opt to go with further and more serious forms of treatment for you.
Remember that different forms of treatment work differently from one person to the next, and so what works great for one person may not have any affect at all on you. This is why you may have to try out a few different options before you can settle on one specific one.
The most important thing is that you keep on top of your health and that you make sure to watch out for any signs or symptoms of arthritis, not only in your neck but over your entire body. Arthritis is, after all, one of the most common diseases worldwide, and although it can be treated, the pain and discomfort that is caused by it is incredibly severe.
Make sure that you get in for regular checkups with your doctor, so that together you can make sure that you are always top notch when it comes to your health.
Both John Ugoshowa & John Hilaire are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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