| Arthritis is commonly associated with the aging | | | | earlier in life as a matter of normalcy; where people in |
| process, and this painful condition is though to affect | | | | their 40s are often diagnosed. Women too are likely to |
| as many as twenty percent of the people. Painful, it is | | | | suffer in greater numbers, and whilst theories as to |
| caused by swelling in the joints and bones. Though it | | | | why this would be exist, there is no conclusive proof |
| can affect young people, most often, it is the onset of | | | | reasoning. |
| old age that sees the condition develop. Here is a quick | | | | The outlook: Research continues across the world into |
| guide. | | | | a cure, though this has not been found and seems |
| The basics: As many as two hundred separate | | | | some way off. However, medication and treatments |
| conditions are recognized, though osteoarthritis is the | | | | through other means do prove capable of successfully |
| most common, affecting as many as ninety five | | | | managing the condition; easing pain, reducing swelling |
| percent of sufferers. The next most common is | | | | and so forth. Surgery can also be performed in some |
| rheumatoid arthritis, affecting approximately four | | | | cases. |
| percent of sufferers. All conditions have similar | | | | Treatment through medication: The most common |
| symptoms such as pain, swelling of the joints, and | | | | form of medication will be in tablet form. Analgesics |
| redness in the affected area. | | | | and both non steroid and steroidal treatments will most |
| Osteoarthritis: With this condition, sufferers will most | | | | likely be used in this regard. Lotions and creams can |
| likely experience difficulty in the hands, hips, knees or | | | | also be used. It is likely a combination of medications |
| spine. Caused by a gradual wasting away of the | | | | will be used over time. |
| cartilage (connective tissue), which bones need to | | | | Treatment through exercise: Sufferers will be |
| operate well, it leads to bones simply pressing and | | | | encouraged to exercise on a daily basis. Though |
| moving against each other instead. | | | | painful in many instances, certainly at first, it does help |
| Those affected: As part of the aging process in the | | | | manage the condition. To this end, physiotherapy is |
| majority, people over the age of fifty are the most | | | | also used, which is extremely effective to ease pain in |
| likely group to be affected. However, if an individual | | | | the affected area, and reduce stress and tension in |
| suffers an injury or other bone/joint condition, it could | | | | other parts of the body. |
| also develop. | | | | Treatment through surgery: Though the last port of call, |
| Rheumatoid arthritis: This condition often tends to be | | | | surgery can be scheduled in severe cases, and as and |
| more painful, more quickly, due to its aggressive nature. | | | | when medication becomes ineffective. Three options |
| Connected to the former condition, the body's immune | | | | exist in this regard: Joint fusion to prevent movement |
| system attacks the affected areas, resulting in faster | | | | (arthrodesis); Removal or addition of bone to improve |
| failure of the cartilage. As such, symptoms are likely to | | | | movement (osteotomy); Full joint replacement, |
| be worse and develop more suddenly. | | | | (arthroplasty). |
| Those affected: This condition can be suffered a lot | | | | |