At mere mention of arthritis, the description that will enter most people's minds will most probably be painful joints. In actuality, arthritis is a broad medical term that is utilized to refer to over a hundred conditions that are associated to joint aches and pain. The most common and popular types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to statistics, there are over 20 million people who are suffering from osteoarthritis in the United States. Meanwhile, only about 2 million have rheumatoid arthritis. However, since the symptoms of these two conditions have lots of similarities, many are actually misdiagnosing their joint problems. Even if the suggested treatments are almost the same for the two conditions, it is still advisable that you determine which type of arthritis you are really suffering from before you take any medications or undergo alternative medicine treatment.
To give you a preview of these two joint woes, read the descriptions below.
Osteoarthritis
1. Basically, osteoarthritis is brought about by the wear and tear of a joint. Injuries and the aging process are the most common culprits to the development of this problem.
2. The usual symptoms of this condition include pain and stiffness of the joint.
3. Sometimes you will also see that the problematic joint is enlarged or is swelling.
4. In osteoarthritis, the stiffness or difficulty to move your knees or affected joints gets worse as the day progresses.
5. The people who usually get this condition are older people and even athletes because of the wearing down of joints due to excessive use.
6. Generally, osteoarthritis triggers pain in the larger joints, such as the knees and the hips.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
1. Basically, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The problem with the joints is not due to excessive usage or wear and tear. The inflammation and damage to the joints and surrounding tissues are because of the misguided attack of the immune system of healthy tissues.
2. Aside from pain, tenderness and redness of the joints, other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include limited range of movement and extended morning stiffness. In some people, however, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and even fever are also apparent.
3. Since this problem is caused by the immune system, anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis, even young people. However, it usually begins at middle age and becomes so much worse as the patient ages.
4. Stiffness and pain of the joints commonly last for about 30 minutes after a long period of inactivity or rest, particularly in the morning.
5. In rheumatoid arthritis, symmetrical swelling is apparent. This simply means that both your elbows, hands and other extremities will swell and be affected by this problem.
6. In general, the joints affected by this condition are the ones that are closest to the base of parts like your fingers or hands. In fact, rheumatoid arthritis usually attacks smaller joints, particularly the ankles and the hands.
7. Early detection is imperative in this condition because in just 24 months, rheumatoid arthritis can already cause serious damage to the joints.
If you are suffering from either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, popping a pain medication may not be the only solution to reduce the tenderness and aches. Improving your diet, boosting your immune system and exercising regularly are all needed for you to be able to cope with your condition and prevent your joints from being damaged further. Moreover, you might need to take natural supplements to help protect your joints. However, it would be wise to seek doctor's advice before you take anything.
To help ease the arthritic pain, tenderness and stiffness safely and effectively, you may want to try Flexcerin.
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