Diagnosing Knee Arthritis and Treatment

One out of every three adult Americans will suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is a disease that affects the body's bone joints. People who suffer from arthritis often experience many painful side effects, and there is no known cure. A very common type of arthritis is arthritis of the knee.This particular type of arthritis can make walking, bending the knee, and even sleep problematic.

These mobility problems are common to sufferers of knee arthritis.A common cause of knee arthritis is injury to the joint or extreme stress on the joint. For example, a sports injury or a bad fall may injure the knee joint. Extreme stress on the knee joint can also be the result of a injury to the area, or it can be the result of excess weight bearing down on the knee joints for many years.

The Proper Treatment of Arthritis

Whenever a joint has been injured or under stress, the likelihood of that joint developing arthritis increases. If there hasn't been an injury or stress on the knee joint, arthritis of the knee may be due to genetics and was inherited.How do you know if you have arthritis in the knee? Symptoms can include swelling of the knee joint, a general tenderness in the area, aching in the joint, a popping noise when the joint is extended, or overall stiffness of the knees.

Often, the symptoms are exacerbated by temperature changes, particularly coldness, or moisture changes in the air and precipitation. Many arthritis sufferers come to accurately predict the weather based upon their symptoms.This correlation of arthritis symptoms and weather changes is based upon science. Joints that are afflicted by arthritis may develop an excess of nerve endings.

These nerve endings are therefore much more sensitive to changes in the weather. This can also increase in the beginning of the day and when the joint is moved.If you think you may have knee arthritis you should consult an appropriate doctor. A doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, what symptoms you are exhibiting, and can perform other tests to correctly diagnose the problem. An accurate diagnosis is vital to treating the problem.

Exercise As Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

You may be suffering from another problem that is not linked to arthritis.As stated earlier, there is no known cure for arthritis. There are however, therapies available to lessen the symptoms and provide some relief from pain. These run the gamete from doctor prescribed medicines and physical therapy, to over the counter medications and herbal remedies. Many sufferers find that a combination of pain management techniques and exercise can lessen the symptoms. In severe cases, surgery has also been used to treat knee arthritis.

The appropriate treatment should be tailored for the patient and the severity of the arthritis.The information compiled is not intended to be a substitute for any advice and information provided by a medical professional. It is for your information purpose only. If you believe you are suffering from knee arthritis or have questions about its treatment, consult your doctor immediately.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

Treatment For Arthritis - Simple Remedies Can Help

In the United States, arthritis is ranked after heart disease as the most common reason for work disability. It affects millions of people and renders most of them incapable of moving freely.

Despite the continuous development of technology and the numerous scientific breakthroughs, there is still no specific treatment for arthritis that could permanently cure it. All doctors could offer to arthritic patients are treatments for the pain and discomfort.

Drugs are the commonly used treatment for arthritis. For people who suffer from osteoarthritis, pain relievers like acetaminophen could be effective since there is little inflammation.

Those with rheumatoid arthritis should use aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to decrease severe swelling. But some patients do not respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

They could try disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. But administration of this medication has to be monitored by a medical specialist to avoid side effects.

Patients can also use biological response modifiers as treatment for arthritis. Biological response modifiers are new drugs that minimize joint swelling by blocking the reaction of tumor necrosis factor, an immune system protein substance.

Hormones called corticosteroids can also be an extremely beneficial treatment for arthritis, but it could cause a lot of side effects. Corticosteroids could be injected or taken orally. There are other treatments that could lubricate joints or filter the blood for harmful antibodies.

Patients could also opt for medical procedures to treat arthritis discomfort. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation block pain messages from reaching the brain. This is done by stimulating nerve endings in the affected area through mild electric pulses.

Surgery can also be used in the worst cases. A surgeon can perform osteotomy, which is the procedure done to realign joints. Synovectomy, or the process of removing the synovium, could also be done. But severely damaged joints can be replaced, through arthroplasty, to provide relief from pain.

However, simpler remedies could also help arthritic patients. Placing ice packs or heating pads on the affected area for several minutes could alleviate the pain and swelling. But using ice packs is not advisable for patients that have poor blood circulation as it may only worsen the swelling.

Exercise is also a recommended treatment for arthritis. Swimming, aerobic exercises and brisk walking are only some of the exercises that can be therapeutic. Stretching exercises are good too.

Exercise can also help the patient lose weight, which can be relieving. Extra pounds can mean more pain for patients with arthritis since the weight-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips, are strained more.

The administration of a therapeutic course is vital for patients who suffer from arthritis. Unevaluated symptoms can stop a person from living a normal life. If untreated, arthritis can be more than just a physical annoyance. It could drastically change your life.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....