| Did you know that low back pain is one of the earliest | | | | checked much sooner. |
| symptoms of arthritis? People over 60 arthritis is the | | | | More than 7 million Americans suffer from this type of |
| most common cause of low back pain. Osteoarthritis | | | | arthritis. In fact it is the most common type affecting 1 |
| and Rheumatoid Arthritis are the two most common | | | | in every 5 people in every age group. |
| forms of arthritis. Here are the main rheumatoid arthritis | | | | The most recognizable symptom of rheumatoid |
| symptoms. | | | | arthritis is the symmetrical way of the pain. Two hands, |
| Hand and feet joint stiffness in the morning is the main | | | | two knees, two hips, two ankles. In the hands it often |
| symptom. Often the stiffness will last for more than an | | | | affects the proximal interphalagneal and metacarpal |
| hour and the swelling and pain will last more than six | | | | phalangeal joints, wrists, and elbows. |
| weeks. Another common symptom is that rheumatoid | | | | One distinction between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid |
| is symmetrical so if it's your hands then both will hurt. | | | | arthritis is that the later can affect your entire body |
| Tiredness and fever are also a symptoms. Pea sized | | | | and it can make you feel tired and sick all over. The |
| nodules can sometimes be felt under the skin. | | | | body's immune system begins attacking the body |
| Anemia, fluid accumulation on the ankles and behind | | | | mistaking it's own tissue for an invasive body. |
| the knees, and loss of appetite may be symptomatic | | | | It sends special white blood cells combined with |
| of rheumatoid arthritis. In children chills, shaking, and a | | | | cytokines which are a toxic chemical to destroy the |
| pink rash can occur. | | | | foreign material. But the trouble is that foreign material |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is painful. How this occurs isn't | | | | is your own body materials. |
| really understood. It's known that cartilage itself doest | | | | The reason for this form of arthritis is still not |
| not cause the pain because there is no nerves to | | | | understood and research continues on. One very |
| transmit pain signals. It is caused by the irritation of the | | | | scary concern with this arthritis is its ability to affect |
| tissues around the joints. Treatment with NSAIDs helps | | | | your internal organs like skin, spleen, blood vessels, |
| reduce pain because it stops the production of | | | | heart, muscles, and lungs. And the damage causes is |
| prostaglandins. | | | | irreversible. |
| The type of pain rheumatoid arthritis causes can be a | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed by a rheumatologist |
| result of many conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic | | | | by establish at least 6 weeks of joint pain and |
| fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and injuries or | | | | inflammation combined with the symptoms. There are |
| infection. | | | | also some blood tests that can help. And MRI can be |
| How arthritis acts can be very unpredictable and very | | | | helpful too. |
| cyclic. It can stay for awhile then disappear only to | | | | Although there is no cure there are enough treatments |
| reappear. No matter how mild your symptoms if they | | | | available that combined correctly can provide relief and |
| last for more than 6 weeks they should be checked | | | | improved quality of life. There's no reason to suffer |
| by a doctor. If they are severe they should be | | | | anymore! |