Arthritis

It can and does commonly, yes. In the case of Osteoarthritis, a glucosamine supplement daily can be a big help, but it doesn't work quickly - figure six months to a year, but the longer you use it the more helpful it is, trust me. For Rheumatoid arthritis, whatever your doctor prescribes is what will help most.

Rheumatoid arthritis in the elbow. This is a first hand account the first sign of RA in the elbow is simply pain and heat emanating from the joint. this usually doesn't last and you ignore it. as time wears on you note that the elbow tends to become tender when in use more and more often. In my particular case, while I was at work one of my work mates commented on the size of my elbow as it had swollen up to a ridiculous size. I went to see the doctor about it at this stage. the Doctor refer ed me onto a rhuematologist. who daignosed RA. I was immediately put on drugs that are intended to reduce the damage being done by the disease in other parts of the body as well. The elbow settled down for a while and all went well for a while, then swelling pain and heat started again in that particular joint. what happens is that the immune system decides that the material between the joints is undesirable and attacks it until there is nothing left leaving you with bone on bone as in osteoarthritis. If unchecked the joint eventually becomes useless and deformed, the bone becomes damaged and the muscles around that joint atrophy. In my particular case the joint along with the scar tissue around it will be removed and the joint will be replaced with a prostheses that hopefully will last for over 10 years without any further trouble. The upshot of it is If you can nip the damage in the bud with effective treament, by all means do so.

There are over a hundred different forms of arthritis and resulting from different causes ranging from injury to chemical imbalance as in the case of Gout, to wear and tear, Osteoarthritis, autoimmune disorder such as Rheumatoid arthritis, and arthritis caused by virus , bacteria and parasites. The exact reason for their occurrence and the cure for nearly all of them is not known. We have means of reducing pain and controlling inflammation and even modifying the immune system to reduce the damage being done. diet changes in the case of gout can help.

If at all possible people with average arthritis should wait as long as they can before starting pain medications. These medications can build up quickly in the liver and your doctor needs to motor you closely. Often the doctor will wean you back off certain medications to give your liver a rest and to stave off liver toxicity.

Some types of arthritis are genetic.

Some arthritis medications are given not so much in order to prevent pain but in order to prevent the inflammation especially in the case of inflammatory arthritis's like Rheumatoid arthritis from further damaging joints and other organs in the body, Leaving treatment to long can in fact lead to the damage to joints becoming so great that their replacement become necessary The medications recommended for arthritis can be risky if not dealt with carefully however the alternative can also be worse in most situations,

There is inflammation in your joints so if arthritis is not slowed then it can affect other organs and systems of the body including:

· Heart: A collection of fluid around the heart from inflammation is not uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis. This usually causes only mild symptoms, if any, but it can be very severe. Rheumatoid arthritis-related inflammation can affect the heart muscle, the heart valves, or the blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries).

· Lungs: Rheumatoid arthritis' effects on the lungs may take several forms. Fluid may collect around one or both lungs and is referred to as pleuritis. Less frequently, lung tissues may become stiff or overgrown, referred to as pulmonary fibrosis. Any of these effects can have a negative effect on breathing.

· Kidneys: The kidneys are not usually affected directly by rheumatoid arthritis. Kidney problems in rheumatoid arthritis are much more likely to be caused by medications used to treat the condition.

· Blood vessels: Inflammation of the blood vessels can cause problems in any organ but are most common in the skin, where they appear as purpura or skin ulcers.

· Blood: Anemia or "low blood" is a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Anemia means that you have an abnormally low number of red blood cells and that these cells are low in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen through the body. (Anemia has many different causes and is by no means unique to rheumatoid arthritis.) A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can occur from Felty's syndrome, a complication of rheumatoid arthritis that is also characterized by enlargement of the spleen.

· Eyes: The eyes commonly become dry and/or inflamed in rheumatoid arthritis. This is called Sjögren syndrome. The severity of this condition depends on which parts of the eye are affected. There are many other eye complications of rheumatoid arthritis that often require the attention of an ophthalmologist.

While osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is more likely to occur after age 35 it can happen as a result of traumasooner, Juvenile arthritis can occur in in children all the way down to baby's. JRA is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints. In even younger patients who are sexually active, it can be associated with an sexually-transmitted infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Patients with gonorrhea may also experience problems such as diffuse skin lesions. Another disease featuring arthritis and skin lesions is Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Gastrointestinal discomfort and other symptoms are also associated with this disease.

These are just a few of the reasons that younger patients may experience arthritis. There are many more!

Pistachios are rich in certain nutrients, so it certainly would not hurt anything to eat them. They are good for cardiovascular health, but do not appear to have any specific effect on RA.

Though in the past, diet has not been seen as having any effect on RA. but according to articles in Arthritis Today, as well as other sites, diet can have an effect on RA, if nothing else than to decrease (or increase) the symptoms. Some supplements can also be helpful. To go to the Arthritis Today site and read the articles, click on the Related Link below.

The exact reasons for this disease are not entirely understood. However

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most wide spread types of arthritis and is found most often to stast developing after the age of 45. I may also form as the result of a jury to a joint. Men and women are affected equally by this condition.

AO causes the breakdown of the cartilage between the joints. Cartilage is the material that covers the end of the bone at the joints to ensure smooth and effortless movement. In OA, this cartilage breaks down.

OA usually occurs in the fingers and weight-bearing joints; these include, knees, feet, hips and back.

Osteoarthritis is the result of changes in the cells of the cartilage resulting in a loss of elasticity. Over time this causes the cartilage to thin out and in some situation breakdown all together. This leaves the ends of the bone without its smooth covering, and the joint loses its easy mobility..

OA progresses slowly. For many people the symptoms will be mild and have little impact. OA rarely causes severe disability, but when it does surgery to replace joints is often highly effective.

Symptoms of OA vary. Most individuals remain essentially free of symptoms until the cartilage ceases to function properly. After that they may include, Pain, Swelling, and stiffness in the affected joint or joints.

To diagnose RA Your doctor will first assess your situation by checking the affected joints for outward signs of inflammation heat etc. then if he deems it necessary may order tests such as X-ray and blood tests joint fluid tests to exclude the possibility of other types of arthritis.

The management of this condition depends on the joints affected and the physique of the patient. And includes, Exercise, Education, Medication, Joint protection, and Healthy weight maintenance

Rheumatoid arthritis gives you a hot radiating pain accompanied by swelling of the joint or surrounding muscles. It can be lightly irritating or completely debilitating depending on the particular instance.

According to the John Hopkins arthritiswebsite, if it were true that ice cream makes arthritisworse "there would be a lot of unhappy people in the world."