What Causes Arthritis? Is it a Disease Or Disorder? And, Natural Remedies to Help Arthritis Pain

Many of us are affected by arthritis, or know someone who is.  Arthritis is a condition of moderate to severe pain that affects the joints, but what exactly is it that causes some people to get arthritis while others don't?

The quick and easy answer as to what causes arthritis is that we really don't know yet.  There's no one answer that explains every case.  There's no "arthritis disease" that you catch like a cold that causes you to develop symptoms.  Arthritis is simply a joint disorder that develops with time.  In fact, there are over a hundred types of arthritis and many of them are probably caused by different factors.

What we do know is that there are some risk factors that increase your chances or having a problem.  While they may not be the root cause of your arthritis, they could definitely be helping to further the problem along. 

One of the biggest risk factors associated with arthritis is age.  You know that as you get older, there's more wear and tear on your body.  Arthritis may not be caused specifically by wear and tear on the joints, but it will definitely speed up the process or increase symptoms.  That is why a large number of people over 65 have arthritis, regardless of the other factors.

Another factor that can increase your chances of developing arthritis is weight.  If you are overweight, you're going to increase the stress on your joints and will likely have more problems with arthritis.  Starting a diet and exercise plan now may reduce symptoms or slow the progress of the disease.

Joint injury is often a factor in developing arthritis.  Just like all the other factors, it's not a root cause; however, you're more likely to develop arthritis in a joint that has had a previous injury.  If you do injure yourself, be sure to care for it properly so it heals quickly and doesn't get damaged again.

Doctors aren't really sure how big a part genetics plays into the development of arthritis, but they do know it's related.  If your parents have arthritis, it's more likely that you will as well.  Although this doesn't mean that just because your parents had it, you will too.  By reducing the likeliness from other causes, you can reduce your risk. 

Many people associate arthritis with athletes and other physically active people.  While it would make sense that physical work would put more stress on joints and increase the likelihood of arthritis, studies really haven't shown this to be true.  While the risk of athletes developing arthritis is higher, this is associated with their increased chance of joint injury.  This means you can continue your daily exercise routine (it will probably even help), but always take precautions to avoid injury.

When most people think of arthritis, they're often thinking of osteoarthritis.  However, rheumatoid arthritis is a less common but very serious illness.  While symptoms can be similar the causes are not.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body is actually attacking itself and causing damage to its own joints. 

While you can't prevent arthritis or control all these factors, you can take steps to reduce them, keeping yourself pain free for longer. Here are some natural remedies to help control your arthritis pain.

Arthritis Hand Relief Bath

* 2 drops Rosemary

* 2 drops Chamomile in Jojoba

* 2 drops Juniper

* 1ml Evening Primrose Oil

Add 4-6 drops of mixture to warm water and soak for 15 minutes.

If skin needs nourishment, mix the essential oils in 5ml Sweet Almond Oil before adding to water.

Follow the hand bath with a soothing hand massage, to nourish and protect the skin.

Circulation and Painful Joints Bath

* 2 tbsp Almond oil

* 2 drops each of Lemon grass oil, Coriander oil, and Clove oil

Measure Almond oil into a small bowl, Slowly add all the oils. Mix ingredients and pour into running water.

This bath helps stimulate the Circulation and relive suffering joints and muscles

Gentle Arthritis Bath

* 15 drops Lavender

* 5 drops Clary Sage

* 10 drops Geranium

* 3 drops Ylang Ylang.

Place oils in bath under running water.Warm is sometimes better than hot.... Rinse thoroughly when finished.

Dee Braun, a single mom of 6, is a Certified Aromatherapist and natural health practitioner. Click now to visit Health or High Water at http://www.healthorhighwater.com/ where you'll find info on ways to improve your health using nutritional supplements to help battle the ravages of time, poor nutrition, toxins & stress as well as address many common health conditions.

** You are free to use/reprint this article as long as the Author information/bio AND any links within the article stay active and in tact!

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Arthritis - A Deadly Disease

Arthritis is the disease basically associated with the old people but the children may be affected by this disease. People of the age group 65 are mostly affected by arthritis in North America and they together constitute 70% of the total population. Women are at the major risk of getting affected by arthritis as compared to the men and this disease is more prevalent in the women of all ethnic races and cultures. According to an estimate about 46 million of people USA are suffering from this disease and the number increases every year. About one million people are admitted to the hospital just because of the problems they face because of arthritis.

Recital

All the persons suffering from arthritis complain the problem of extreme pain. The pain may be different according to the location and the individual. Rheumatoid arthritis is very worse in the morning and is characterized by stiffness. In the earlier stages the symptoms cannot be easily recognized. In the old individuals and the children pain may not be the major diagnostic feature as the old people move little and the children refuse to move the limb when it is paining. Important features of arthritis include speed and time of onset, pattern of joint movement, symmetry of symptoms, early morning stiffness, locking with inactivity, tenderness and other systemic factors. Physical examination and the radiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of the disease. Arthritis has been known from prehistoric times. Extra articular features of arthritis or joint disease include cutaneous nodules, oedema, ocular inflammation, diarrhea, bursitis, lymphadenopathy and urethritis. Blood tests indicate the presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF) and extractable nuclear antigen.

Malady

In USA arthritis is the major cause of disability among the individuals and 20 million people are dependent upon the doctors and the physicians for their survival. It has been found that the 50% of an individual's salary who is suffering from arthritis is lost in the treatment of arthritis. The ability of a person to remain active is lost completely. Some also suffer from obesity, high cholesterol and risk of heart disease. Depression may also be found in such individuals.

Indications

Apart from the type of arthritis the common symptoms are pain, joint stiffness and swelling and a persisting pain around the joints. Other symptoms include inability to walk and move hands, malaise and feeling of tiredness, fever, weight loss, poor sleep, muscle ache, tenderness and difficulty in moving the joints.

Types

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a disorder where the body starts destroying its own tissues for some unknown reasons. The attack is not only restricted to the joints but also to other parts of the body. The major damage is caused to the lining of the joints and the cartilage resulting in the erosion of two opposing bones. The joints of the fingers, knee, wrists and elbows are affected in the rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is having symmetry and causes severe deformity in few years. It basically affects the people of age group 20 or more. This disorder in children causes pain, fever, skin rashes and limitations on the day to day activities. Actual cause rheumatoid arthritis is not known till present but the scientists are very actively engaged in finding out the treatments as possible for this disorder. The drugs that are administered against rheumatoid arthritis include intravenous injections of either corticosteroids or monoclonal antibodies. Remicade is a drug which is presently being used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can be effective for short term only. Surgery can be done to replace the affected joint but there is no complete cure of the disorder. Other dangerous symptoms can also develop in later stages which include heart problems, gait abnormality and skin nodules.

Osteoarthritis

It affects the larger joints of the body like that of the back, hip or the knees. This is generally the result of the wear and tear of the joints. It begins in the cartilage and results in the erosion of two opposing bones. It starts with a minor pain which is experiences while walking and the pain becomes continuous during the night. The pain causes hindrance in the daily activity of the individual. It is basically a disorder very common among the old people especially the women of the age group 65. Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be prevented from becoming worse. Weight loss is the most common feature of this disease. Physical therapy of the joints may be helpful in getting some relief. Joint replacement may be of little help.

Severe Arthritis

Arthritis is a dangerous disease and in more intense cases it can result in severe deformities. The majority of the individuals suffering from the rheumatoid arthritis have deformed fingers. The deformity may also be seen in the wrist joint so it cannot be moved properly. Other problems include appearance of carpal tunnel syndrome due to nerve entrapment. In later cases the sensation of the fingers also gets lost. Infectious arthritis is another form of severe arthritis. It is characterized by appearance of sudden chills, fever and joint pain. This condition may be caused by bacteria. This disease can be easily diagnosed and prevented from becoming intense. Psoriasis is another form of arthritis. In this case first the patient develops skin problems followed by arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling. There is no cure for this disease and this occurs on a small scale. Lupus is a collagen vascular disorder that can be frequently found associated with arthritis. The symptoms of lupus include skin rash, extreme photosensitivity, hair loss, kidney problems, lung fibrosis and constant joint pain. Another problem that has been found associated with arthritis is gout which arises due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints leading to inflammation. The joints lose their activity and often swell.

Inhibition

Rheumatoid and the osteoarthritis are not curable but one can prevent himself from being affected by physical therapy, losing weight and eating healthy. The individuals who feel pain in the joints must immediately consult the physicians so that the treatment can be started as soon as possible in order to prevent the disorder from becoming intense.

Ministration

Once arthritis is diagnosed treatments are available for a number of symptoms that are frequently experienced. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are not curable. The treatments used against them can help in relieving pain for a short period but complete relief is not possible. Treatments include physical therapy, changing the lifestyle, orthopedic bracing, medications and dietary supplements. Arthroplasty also called joint replacement surgery can also be performed. Physical exercise has given better results in treatment of arthritis.

Medications

Physicians generally start the treatment with the use of drugs. The first choice of drugs is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen and tramadol are the general pain killers which are basically used. The drugs although effective are also associated with a number of side-effects like the abdominal pain, bleeding, liver and kidney damage and ulcers. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be used for prolonged periods without the prescription of the physician. Corticosteroids are presently being used for the treatment of arthritis. They help in reducing the inflammation and also prevent the joint damage. Corticosteroids are associated with a number of side effects like ulcers, hypertension, cataracts, diabetes, skin bruising, and weight gain. Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is generally used for the treatment for the rheumatoid arthritis as they are helpful in preventing the joint damage. The commonly used DMARDs are methotrexate, hydrochloroquineand minocycline. They are also having many side effects in the form of liver and kidney damage, bone marrow suppression and possibility of other infections.

Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide can be taken for getting relief from inflammation. These drugs make an individual more prone to other infections. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have been used for getting relief from inflammation and joint pain. They are also having some side effects as a person becomes susceptible to the risk of heart disease and other infections.

Occupational therapy and the physical therapy can help the people suffering from arthritis. Physical therapy can teach an affected individual how to relax the limb without damaging the joints. It can also provide splint and braces for the joints. Physical therapy also teaches how to drive the car, take bath and perform household work. Occupational therapy teaches how to reduce on the joints and perform the daily activities. Physical therapy also makes use of ice, heating pads and ultrasound guided massage therapy. Both these therapies help an individual to remain free from some of the difficulties of arthritis.

It can be concluded that arthritis is a very painful disease affecting the joints and there no complete cure for it only one can practice the use of physical and occupational therapy. Drugs can be helpful but are at risk and make an individual more prone to other infections.

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