| If you think you know everything there is to know | | | | affects over 40 million people in the United States and |
| about arthritis, think again. Although the disease has | | | | sends 750,000 to hospitals yearly. The US Centers for |
| been around for thousands of years, many myths and | | | | Disease Control and Prevention said the disease is |
| misconceptions about arthritis remain to this day. Just | | | | responsible for 44 million physician visits annually. |
| ask your friend, mom or neighbor for advice and you'll | | | | "The impact of arthritis on society is substantial. By |
| be surprised at the different answers you'll get. | | | | some estimates, the costs associated with arthritis |
| To help you understand the disease better and get | | | | may amount to $86.2 billion annually. The costs of |
| you back on the road to recovery, the makers of | | | | arthritis may be categorized into three groups: direct, |
| Flexcerin, the natural choice for safe and effective | | | | indirect and intangible. Direct medical costs, such as |
| arthritis pain relief, have assembled some of these | | | | physician (and other health professional) fees, charges |
| myths for your reading pleasure. | | | | for laboratory tests and X-rays, drugs, assistive |
| Arthritis is just simple aches and pains. False. Some | | | | devices, surgeries and other costs, are the most |
| people believe that the aches and pains of arthritis are | | | | obvious. However, a substantial part of the economic |
| part of the aging process and should be expected. | | | | burden comes from indirect costs, such as lost wages |
| This isn't true since the pain of arthritis can be so | | | | due to work disability. In addition, people experience |
| severe that it can disable you and prevent you doing | | | | intangible costs, such as the need for a spouse or |
| everyday activities like walking, getting dressed or | | | | relative to take time off from work to bring a patient |
| holding a fork. Some forms of arthritis can lead to | | | | to a caregiver, travel for medical care, or money spent |
| deformity and reduce your life expectancy. | | | | to remodel the home to meet the needs of a person |
| "Conversely, some elderly people never develop | | | | with arthritis, and many others," said the Arthritis |
| arthritis. Many forms of arthritis or musculoskeletal | | | | Foundation. |
| conditions are self-limiting and get better without | | | | Arthritis is always painful. False. While arthritis is |
| specific treatment. Others, such as rheumatoid arthritis, | | | | generally characterized by joint pain and inflammation, |
| may be quite serious and may affect the body's | | | | the disease can take years to develop and not |
| internal organs as well as the joints," according to the | | | | everyone feels pain. Since the disease can progress |
| Arthritis Foundation. | | | | at different paces and in different ways, there's no |
| Arthritis is not a serious medical problem. False. Arthritis | | | | telling how much pain you'll feel. |