Will I Need Surgery For Arthritis
Healthcare providers usually only recommend surgery for certain severe cases of arthritis. These are cases that havent improved with conservative treatments. Surgical options include:
- Fusion: Two or more bones are permanently fused together. Fusion immobilizes a joint and reduces pain caused by movement.
- Joint replacement: A damaged, arthritic joint gets replaced with an artificial joint. Joint replacement preserves joint function and movement. Examples include ankle replacement, hip replacement, knee replacement and shoulder replacement.
How To Prevent Arthritis Naturally
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Arthritis, the inflammation of or pain in one or more joints, can affect anyone, regardless of their age or gender. While most people usually think that arthritis is a single disease, it actually is a term referring to joint pain. There are very many types of arthritis, with the most common ones being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Some of the common arthritis symptoms are pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints, and a decreased range of motion. These symptoms can either be mild, moderate or severe. They can remain unchanged for many years, or become worse over time. Arthritis, when severe, can result in reduced mobility, chronic pain or even permanent joint damage. While some of this damage is visible, some is only visible on X-ray.
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What Are The Different Types Of Arthritis
Arthritis is a broad term that describes more than 100 different joint conditions. The most common types of arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis, or wear and tear arthritis, which develops when joint cartilage breaks down from repeated stress. Its the most common form of arthritis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, or arthritis of the spine .
- Juvenile arthritis , a disorder where the immune system attacks the tissue around joints. JA typically affects children 16 or younger.
- Gout, a disease that causes hard crystals of uric acid to form in your joints.
- Psoriatic arthritis, joint inflammation that develops in people with psoriasis .
- Rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes the immune system to attack synovial membranes in your joints.
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What Can I Do To Make Living With Arthritis Easier
Changing your routine can make living with arthritis easier. Adjust your activities to lessen joint pain. It may help to work with an occupational therapist . An OT is a healthcare provider who specializes in managing physical challenges like arthritis.
An OT may recommend:
- Adaptive equipment, such as grips for opening jars.
- Techniques for doing hobbies, sports or other activities safely.
- Tips for reducing joint pain during arthritic flare-ups.
Types Of Finger Arthritis
There are three types of arthritis that commonly affect the fingers:
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis, also called wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most common type of finger arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes normal cartilage to wear away. This exposes bare bone at the joints. The most frequently affected joints in the hand are the knuckles of the mid-finger and fingertip and the joint at the base of the thumb.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis causes a different type of joint destruction. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that affects the whole body. It causes the immune system to attack the soft tissues surrounding the joints. The most commonly affected joints in the hand are the knuckles at the base of the fingers .
- Gout: Gout is a condition that occurs when crystals develop within the joints. These crystals can form in one or more joints when there is too much of a substance called uric acid in the body. While the big toe is the most commonly affected part of the body, gout can also develop in finger joints.
Rarely, other types of arthritis can also cause problems in the fingers.
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No : Avoid Injuries Or Get Them Treated
Suffering a joint injury when you are young predisposes you to osteoarthritis in the same joint when you are older. Injuring a joint as an adult may put the joint at even greater risk. A long-term study of 1,321 graduates of Johns Hopkins Medical School found that people who injured a knee in adolescence or young adulthood were three times more likely to develop osteoarthritis in that knee, compared those who had not suffered an injury. People who injured their knee as an adult had a five times greater risk of osteoarthritis in the joint.
To avoid joint injuries when exercising or playing sports, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases recommends the following:
- Avoid bending knees past 90 degrees when doing half knee bends.
- Keep feet as flat as possible during stretches to avoid twisting knees.
- When jumping, land with knees bent.
- Do warm-up exercises before sports, even less vigorous ones such as golf.
- Cool down after vigorous sports.
- Wear properly fitting shoes that provide shock absorption and stability.
- Exercise on the softest surface available avoid running on asphalt and concrete.
If you have a joint injury, it’s important to get prompt medical treatment and take steps to avoid further damage, such as modifying high-impact movements or using a brace to stabilize the joint.
Exercise To Help Prevent Arthritis
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Broccoli Could Slow Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is considered a “wear and tear” condition. Over time, the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in a joint wears away, causing bones to rub against one another, leading to pain, stiffness, and inflammation. This can happen simply as a result of getting older or because of injuries or repeated stress on the joint. Women, heavier individuals, and people with certain genetic factors are also more likely to get osteoarthritis. While any joint can be affected, the knees, hips, spine, and hands are most vulnerable to cartilage damage .
According to a 2013 article published in Science Direct, research suggests that sulforaphane, a compound released when eating broccoli, can slow down the destruction of cartilage in joints. Sulforaphane is present in other cruciferous vegetables as well, including Brussels sprouts and cabbage, but is particularly concentrated in broccoli. This compound “blocks the enzymes that cause joint destruction by stopping a key molecule known to cause inflammation.” Although these effects were demonstrated in both laboratory-grown tissues and in mice, the results are promising for humans.
Use A Supportive Device
People with arthritis will often avoid walking aids, which may make them feel old and frail. But the fact is that people who do so often walk less because they are either unsteady on their feet or afraid to place weight on a swollen joint. As such, avoiding these devices can make your condition worse.
Supportive devices are no longer limited to canes and walkers. People with knee arthritis can sometimes turn to a device known as an unloader brace, which selectively relieves pressure on the most damaged side of a joint. There are even rolling walkers that allow you to move more freely without the fits and starts of a standard walker.
While these newer devices won’t work for everyone, it may be worth speaking to your healthcare provider to see if they are the appropriate choice for you.
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Adjusting Workouts And Day
While exercise is important to treating knee osteoarthritis, certain physical activities will aggravate the knee joint. These activities should be avoided and substituted with exercises that exert less force on the knee joint.
For example:
- People who do high-impact activities, such as jogging and playing soccer, may want to try yoga, cycling, or swimming.
- Backyard gardeners may want to use raised planters, which require less kneeling and squatting.
If the treatment options described in this article do not adequately reduce knee arthritis symptoms, then a health care provider may recommend considering medications, therapeutic injections, or surgery.
See Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment
I Get Injuries Treated As Soon As They Happen
The most important recommendation to prevent arthritis is to have all injuries evaluated as soon as they occur. Repetitive trauma to a joint can result in arthritis, ballerinas get ankle arthritis, and weight lifters get back arthritis. To prevent cartilage and bone damage get quick treatment, physical therapy, appropriate exercise, lose weight and causal treatment. Anca Askanase, MD, rheumatologist and director of rheumatology clinical trials at Columbia University Medical Center, New York City. Watch out for these arthritis symptoms you could be missing.
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Stay Away From Msg If You Have Osteoarthritis
According to a 2020 paper published in Medicine and Pharmacy Reports, oxidative stress plays a big role in osteoarthritis. Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between pro-inflammatory molecules called reactive oxygen species and anti-inflammatory antioxidants in the body. In the case of osteoarthritis, ROS builds up in the cartilage and fluid surrounding joints, causing damage on a cellular level.
It makes sense, then, to stay away from anything that encourages oxidative stress. In a 2017 study published in the International Journal of Medical Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences, researchers found that monosodium glutamate promoted oxidative stress in the cartilage of rats, causing it to break down at a much faster rate. Although the experiment was on rodents, the study authors theorized that MSG could speed up the progression of osteoarthritis in humans.
According to Healthline, MSG is a highly controversial food additive used to enhance flavor. Although commonly associated with Chinese takeout, it’s found in a lot of processed foods, including chips, frozen meals, soups, and condiments. Although considered safe to use by the FDA, MSG has been blamed for increasing the risk for obesity, liver damage, heart disease, and nerve damage in animal studies.
Stop Withholding Info From Your Healthcare Provider
It’s tempting not to tell your healthcare provider everything, especially if you’re afraid you’ll have to go through unpleasant testing or have to change the treatment regimen you’re comfortable with.
But in order for your healthcare provider to have the best chance of helping you, he needs to know everything. Talk openly about what makes your condition better or worse, what concerns you have, and what you don’t understand.
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Do Certain Types Of Weather Make Arthritis Worse
Some people find that arthritis feels worse during certain types of weather. Humidity and cold are two common triggers of joint pain.
There are a variety of reasons why this might happen. People tend to be less active in rainy seasons and the wintertime. The cold and damp can also stiffen joints and aggravate arthritis. Other theories suggest that barometric pressure, or the pressure of the air around us, may have some effect on arthritis.
If you find that certain types of weather make your arthritis worse, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to manage your symptoms. Dressing warmly, exercising inside or using heat therapy may help relieve your pain.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. There are many types of arthritis, all of which can cause pain and reduce mobility. Some forms of arthritis result from natural wear and tear. Other types come from autoimmune diseases or inflammatory conditions. There are a variety of treatments for arthritis, ranging from physical or occupational therapy to joint surgery. Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and recommend the right treatment plan for your needs. Most people can successfully manage arthritis and still do the activities they care about.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/15/2021.
References
What Are The Parts Of A Joint
Joints get cushioned and supported by soft tissues that prevent your bones from rubbing against each other. A connective tissue called articular cartilage plays a key role. It helps your joints move smoothly without friction or pain.
Some joints have a synovial membrane, a padded pocket of fluid that lubricates the joints. Many joints, such as your knees, get supported by tendons and ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to your bones, while ligaments connect bones to other bones.
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How Is Arthritis Treated
Theres no cure for arthritis, but there are treatments that can help you manage the condition. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of the arthritis, its symptoms and your overall health.
Conservative treatments include:
- Medication: Anti-inflammatory and pain medications may help relieve your arthritis symptoms. Some medications, called biologics, target your immune systems inflammatory response. A healthcare provider may recommend biologics for your rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
- Physical therapy: Rehabilitation can help improve strength, range of motion and overall mobility. Therapists can teach you how to adjust your daily activities to lessen arthritic pain.
- Therapeutic injections: Cortisone shots may help temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in your joints. Arthritis in certain joints, such as your knee, may improve with a treatment called viscosupplementation. It injects lubricant to help joints move smoothly.
Ditch The Coconut Oil If You Have Osteoarthritis
The type of fat you consume can make a big difference in how you feel when you have osteoarthritis. In a study published in 2018 in Arthritis Care & Research, researchers followed over 2,000 individuals with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis for four years. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their eating habits and the researchers took X-rays of their knees at yearly intervals to measure the amount of space in their knee joints .
In the end, the study authors found that higher levels of total fat and saturated fat intake were associated with greater losses in joint space, while those who ate more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats didn’t lose as much space in their joints. Those who ate the least amount of saturated fat lost only 0.25 millimeters of space in their knee joint, while those who ate the most saturated fat lost 0.37 millimeters.
While you probably know that meat and dairy products are high in saturated fat, you might not realize that coconut oil is as well. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of the fat in coconut oil is saturated .
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Drink Plenty Of Water Especially If You’re Having A Gout Flare
Water is essential for life, and particularly critical for managing a gout flare-up. According to the Arthritis Foundation, individuals with a history of gout should generally aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses a day for good health, but should up that amount to 16 glasses a day if having a flare. The increased fluids help the kidneys flush uric acid from the body.
Medpage Today reported on research conducted by Dr. Tuhina Neogi regarding the connection between hydration and gout attacks. Through the use of an online survey, Dr. Neogi found that those who drank more than eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day had a 48 percent reduction in gout symptoms compared to those who drank only one glass of water daily. Those who drank five to eight glasses of water daily had a 43 percent reduction in risk, while those who drank two to four glasses reduced their risk by 18 percent.
Examining the results, Dr. Neogi concluded, “This suggests that dehydration may indeed be an important trigger for gout attacks, and that persons with gout should consider ensuring adequate water intake in addition to appropriate medical management as directed by their physician.”
Precautions To Prevent Infection
If you live with chronic illnesses that can make you more susceptible to poor outcomes from COVID-19, youve likely already been taking precautions to protect yourself. Of course, you already know the general guidance:
- Maintain a social distance of six feet or more from people outside of your household whenever possible.
- Wear face coverings when out in public and when you cant be socially distant.
- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
- Avoid large groups or situations when it will be hard to be socially distant.
- When spending time with others, being outdoors is safer than indoors.
But with record numbers of COVID-19 cases overtaking America and many parts of the globe and with experts saying things will continue to get worse before they get better we know many people in the CreakyJoints and Global Healthy Living Foundation communities are looking to protect themselves and their loved ones as much as possible.
Here are additional steps you can take to avoid contracting COVID-19 right now, based on the most recent guidance and research.
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