| Arthritis pain can be frustrating.Nagging and | | | | pain and swelling. Eventually, cartilage begins to |
| crippling arthritis pain can continue day after day. | | | | degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses. |
| How much happier would you be if you could stop | | | | Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate |
| your arthritis pain right now and feel great all day? | | | | new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the |
| Knowing the nature of the disease can really bring | | | | joints. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows an injury |
| you the right answers. | | | | to a joint. For example, a young person might |
| What is arthritis ? | | | | hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then, years |
| Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases | | | | after the knee has apparently healed, he might |
| and conditions. The word arthritis means "joint | | | | get arthritis in his knee joint. |
| inflammation". When joints are inflamed, it causes | | | | RA is an autoimmune disease. This means the |
| pain and usually also limits movement of the joints | | | | body's natural immune system does not operate |
| that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain | | | | as it should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating |
| has a large impact on their life. Arthritis is second | | | | a process of inflammation and joint damage. RA is |
| only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. | | | | a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on |
| Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, | | | | both sides of the body (such as hands, wrists or |
| dressing and bathing for more than 16 million | | | | knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from |
| Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000 | | | | other types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis |
| hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. | | | | occurs most frequently in the 30-50 age group, |
| Arthritis is not just an old person's disease. Nearly | | | | although can start at any age. It is strongly |
| two-thirds of people with arthritis are younger | | | | associated with the HLA marker DR4 - hence |
| than 65 years including nearly 300,000 children. | | | | Family history is an important risk factor. The |
| Arthritis affects children and people of all racial and | | | | disease affects Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio. |
| ethnic groups but is more common among | | | | Other conditions can also cause arthritis. Some |
| women and older adults. | | | | include: |
| The disease can affect different parts of the | | | | · Gout, in which crystals build up in the |
| body. Two of the most common forms are | | | | joints. It usually affects the big toe. |
| osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. | | | | · Lupus , in which the body's defense |
| Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune | | | | system can harm the joints, the heart, the skin, |
| disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed | | | | the kidneys, and other organs. |
| as part of the body's immune system activity. | | | | · Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of |
| RA is one of the most serious and disabling types, | | | | the liver can cause arthritis. |
| affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | What can you do about it ? |
| two to three times more common in women | | | | Some people may worry that arthritis means |
| than in men and generally strikes between the | | | | they won't be able to work or take care of their |
| ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body are | | | | children and their family. Others think that you |
| usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of | | | | just have to accept things like arthritis. |
| RA differ from person to person but can | | | | While there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much |
| generally include: | | | | can be done today to reduce pain and boost joint |
| · Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling. | | | | function. Learning how to manage pain over the |
| · Pain and stiffness lasting for more than | | | | long term is essential to maintaining a good quality |
| 1 hour in the morning or after a long rest. | | | | of life. There are things you can do to keep the |
| · Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger | | | | damage from getting worse. They might also |
| joints closest to the hand . | | | | make you feel better.Here are some simple things |
| · Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a | | | | to do: |
| general sense of not feeling well . | | | | · Lose weight if you're overweight |
| Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of | | | | · Exercise regularly for short periods. |
| arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which | | | | Going for a walk every day will help, too. |
| the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the | | | | · Use canes and other special devices to |
| joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of | | | | protect your joints. |
| movement as bone begins to rub against bone. | | | | · Avoid lifting heavy things. |
| OA commonly affects the joints of the fingers, | | | | · Don't pull on objects to move |
| knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more | | | | them-push them instead |
| common in older people because they have been | | | | · Use heat or cold to reduce pain or |
| using their joints longer. Using the joints to do the | | | | stiffness. |
| same task over and over or simply using them | | | | The pain and disability that accompany arthritis |
| over time can make osteoarthritis worse. | | | | can be decreased through early diagnosis and |
| Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. | | | | appropriate management.So if you have |
| Athletes are at risk because they use their joints | | | | persistent symptoms lasting more than several |
| so much. People who have jobs that require the | | | | days - go see your doctor. The doctor will |
| same movement over and over are also at risk. | | | | examine you and may take x rays (pictures) of |
| Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in | | | | your bones or joints to decide if you have |
| the joint later on. Excess weight can accelerate | | | | arthritis and what kind you have. |
| arthritis in the knees, hips and spine. The most | | | | After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you |
| common symptom of Osteoarthritis is pain in the | | | | have, he or she will talk with you about the best |
| affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain is | | | | way to treat it. The doctor may give you a |
| usually worse later in the day. There can be | | | | prescription for medicine that will help with the |
| swelling, warmth, and creaking of the affected | | | | pain, stiffness, and inflammation. |
| joints. Symptoms of OA may greatly vary. Some | | | | The good news is that now there is a way to |
| patients can be debilitated by their symptoms. On | | | | stop your pain with a medication . Celebrex is a |
| the other hand, others may have remarkably few | | | | nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), |
| symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of | | | | specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain |
| the joints apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can | | | | and swelling (inflammation). It represents a huge |
| be intermittent. | | | | breakthrough in the treatment of pain, |
| These 2 forms have very different causes, risk | | | | inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis. Celebrex is |
| factors, and effects on the body, yet they often | | | | believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting |
| share a common symptom--persistent joint pain. | | | | the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. |
| What are the causes of arthritis ? | | | | Unlike the older medications, however, it does not |
| Primary OA is mostly related to aging. With aging, | | | | interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, |
| the water content of the cartilage increases and | | | | which exerts a protective effect on the lining of |
| the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates. | | | | the stomach.Celebrex doesn't cause the stomach |
| Repetitive use of the joints over the years | | | | bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal |
| irritates and inflames the cartilage, causing joint | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might. |