Arthritis Guide: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and More

What is Arthritis?

Although it sounds like it is one disease, Arthritis is only an umbrella medical term that covers over 100 different conditions that have one thing in common: inflammation. Arthritis is a chronic, debilitating, and sometimes, a devastating disease that affects mainly the joints, hip, knee, spine, fingers, toes, and other parts of the body, too.
The word “arthritis” comes from the Greek “arthr,” meaning “joint,” and – its meaning “pertaining to,” “inflammation.”
You may think that well, and inflammation is not a big deal, but, in fact, it is. If left untreated and unattended, inflammation may damage the joints, leading to immobility and even disability.

There are two big category groups for Arthritis conditions:

• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Inflammatory Arthritis (IA)

Arthritis causes the cartilage that covers the bones of a joint to wear away. Increased levels of uric acid in the joints, infections, and other conditions such as psoriasis or lupus can cause different types of Arthritis.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

There are many signs and symptoms of Arthritis. These symptoms may come and go or have different degrees of manifestation, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. They also may remain the same for many years, may get worse or reverse over time. Here are some of the most prevalent indications of Arthritis.

• Swelling, Redness, & Tenderness

  You notice that your joints begin to swell, get red, and tender. Not a good sign. If it’s not going away within 4-6 weeks, and you didn’t visit your doctor yet, you should know this is a sign of Arthritis.

• Stiffness

  One of the early signs of Arthritis. It is worse in the morning after you wake up. The stiffness can last a couple of minutes or a couple of hours, and it decreases as time goes by. It can also happen during the day when you rest or sit for a more extended period.

• Clicking, Grinding and Popping Sounds

  You’ll notice these sounds in your knuckles, joints, toes, etc. (due to deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the two bones of the joint. Since the cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, causing this sounds in your joints)

• Muscle Aches and Pain

  This pain can range from mild to severe. More intense when you wake up in the morning and the evening, as well as when you move

• Reduced Range of Motion and Difficulties Walking

  This reduction happens due to pain and stiffness. You can’t move your hands, fingers, knees, joints the way you used to. Your joints become stiff and won’t allow you to move completely, causing pain.

• Joint Instability, Locking Joints and Buckling

  You’ll notice a sudden lack of movement or your knees give out.

• Fatigue and Sleep Problems

  It appears in the early stages of Arthritis when the joints are inflamed. It is a sign that your body reacts to inflammation and other consequences of Arthritis. You might also have trouble and sometimes unable to fall asleep due to pain.

• Mood Problems

  The lack of energy caused by fatigue affects emotions and mental state. Your relationships, libido, focus, productivity, creativity, and joy suffer.

• Lack of Appetite and Weight Loss

  Both are connections to fatigue. Sometimes, you are so drained of energy that you lose your desire to eat as you would rather sleep and rest.

More Severe Arthritis Symptoms

In time, as Arthritis progresses, there is a “second wave” of symptoms that appear as a result of the first ones. They include:

Your body, joints, knees, hips, and hands become so stiff that you lose your flexibility completely. You can’t walk, lift things, raise your arms and legs, bend forward or backward, turn your head, and so on. The ability to perform simple activities like cooking, cleaning, or driving becomes impossible.

Muscles become weak because you don’t move and exercise enough due to the pain and stiffness of your joints.
Your muscles and your whole body loses their physical tonus and strength, making it difficult to climb stairs, grab things, etc. There is also a possibility of an increased risk of falls and fall injuries.

Permanent joint changes will happen. Things like bone spurs, where bone growth around the joints, or knobby finger joints, which is deformation of the joints, when cartilage wears out, and the body grows more bone to compensate. The fingers, toes, and joints start to look deformed or bumpy. “The claw feet” is an example.

All these symptoms have a dramatic impact on your quality of life. Unable to move around, you risk to gain weight and become obese, see an increase in cholesterol levels, develop heart diseases, and get depressed. Symptoms may also affect other organs such as the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys, and skin.

Types of Arthritis

Did you know that there are over 100 different types of Arthritis? Various factors cause them, and, contrary to what you thought, they are not only related to old age? Arthritis comes with swelling, stiffness, and pain in the joints. How many forms of joints aching can be? Let’s find out together.

Ten Most Common Forms of Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis

  Osteoarthritis is the most spread form of Arthritis. It appears when the cartilage (the semi-hard, rubbery tissue that buffers and protects the end of the bones that form a joint) wears away. The bones rub against each other, causing inflammation, swelling, pain, and reduced mobility.

  In time, the affected joints may lose strengths, the spine loses its lengths, and the pain becomes chronic. The symptoms may become severe and affect the quality of life. Osteoarthritis usually appears in the joints that are most used, such as the spine, knees, hips, wrists, the base of the thumb and the big toe.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

  The second most common form is Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA, which occurs mostly in women. When young people under 16 years old are affected by this type of Arthritis, it is called juvenile inflammatory Arthritis.

  It is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the soft lining of the joints. People who suffer from other autoimmune diseases, such as Lupus, Hashimoto, or Multiple Sclerosis, are at higher risk of developing this type of Arthritis, too. It appears mainly in the hands (wrists and fingers), and it can even lead to bone malformations.

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

  Also called Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or JIA can be caused by immunodeficiency and may cause permanent damage to the joints of the children under the age of 16. It manifests as an inflammation of the joints, fever that comes and goes, limping with no injury, swollen, stiff, painful joints, and swollen lymph nodes. It is more common in girls.

  Some forms of Juvenile Arthritis may cause eye inflammation, and if it left untreated, it might lead, in time, to cataract, glaucoma, and, unfortunately, even blindness. Because it happened during childhood, JIA can influence the children’s skeletal development and growth. The cause is it unknown (that’s precisely what idiopathic means – “of unknown origin”), and it is considered an autoimmune disease when the body starts to defend against itself.

• Gout

  Gout is the third most common form of Arthritis, also called Metabolic Arthritis. It is caused by accumulations of high levels of uric acid in the blood that remain into the joint tissue as crystals. Fever or an impact can make the crystal migrate into the soft tissue of the joint that will lead to inflammation, swelling, and pain.

  Joints affected by Gout become swollen, red, hot, and painful. The skin around this area appears shiny and peels off. Usually, men can get Gout starting with their 20s, while women after menopause.

• Spondyloarthritis

  Spondyloarthritis is an umbrella term for several conditions. In Spondyloarthritis, the connective tissues, looking like cords that join ligaments and tendons to the bones, get inflamed. Ankylosing Spondylitis the joints of the spine get inflamed, and the body creates more mineral calcium that is typically used by the body to form strong bones.

  In this inflammatory condition, calcium is produced in excess, causing the bone to grow more than it needs to. The extra bits of the bone in the spine cause pain during the last part of the night, swelling of the back in the morning that lasts 1 hour after you wake up, and stiffness in movements. Ankyloses Spondylitis happens more often to men in their 20s-30s.

• Septic Arthritis

  It is an infectious form of Arthritis, caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis), fungi (Histoplasma, Coccidiomyces, Blastomyces, Candida Albicans), or viruses (herpes, hepatitis, mumps, HIV, adenovirus, etc.). The infection from one part of the body migrates through the blood towards joints (usually a knee or hip).

  Also, the infection may come from food poisoning with Salmonella and Shigella or from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus are the most common bacteria that infect the joint in adults, seniors, and children alike. Children and older people are at a higher risk of developing Septic Arthritis, as well as adults with a weak immune system and other serious diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

• Fibromyalgia

  Statistics estimate that about 2% of the American population suffers from fibromyalgia. What is specific to this form of Arthritis is that you may experience abnormal pain. Pain such as having a strong reaction to something that others don’t experience as painful at all. Other symptoms include tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, pain in the jaw, sleep problems, fatigue, memory and thinking problems, and digestive problems. The causes are unknown, but it usually appears after a traumatic or stressful situation, injuries, infections, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obesity.

• Sjogren’s Syndrome

  Sjorgren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that destroys the tearing and salivary gland. The mouth and eyes become dry, as well as the nose, throat, and skin. You may experience the loss of taste, difficulties in swallowing and eating, mouth sores and pain, thick saliva, speaking problems, as well as swelling of the joints and pain. It can also affect the lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, digestive organs, and nerves. Commonly, it occurs in adults between 40 to 50 years old, and the most affected are women.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

  Another severe autoimmune disease, called Lupus, triggers the immune system to attack its cells in the body, causing general inflammation and damaging tissues. It flares up and appears most frequently in women. SLE manifests as swelling, inflammation, pain in the joints, fatigue, skin rashes, and fever. It affects the joints, organs like the brain, lungs, kidneys, also the skin, blood vessels, and tissues. The cause remains unknown.

• Psoriatic Arthritis

  People who suffer already from psoriasis (an autoimmune skin disease that manifests as red, dry, scaly, rough patches of skin) may develop Arthritis on top of that. Sometimes, the joint problems may appear before the indications on the skin. The symptoms are common to Arthritis, including swelling, warmth, stiffness, and pain. The specific signs are:

  • swollen, sausage-like fingers or toes, sometimes developing in some deformities
  • pain in the back of the heel or the sole of the feet
  • lower back pain (a form of spondylitis)

  Psoriatic Arthritis may affect any part of the body, on one or both sides of the body, can be mild or severe, it may come and go in flares. It gets worse over time, but there are periods of remission. Unfortunately, modern medicine has no cure for it.

Analysis and Diagnosis

Now you know the symptoms of Arthritis, causes and risk factors, and the most common types of Arthritis. It’s time to discover how to diagnose and what are the treatment options for this palette of diseases called Arthritis.

Since you detected symptoms that tell you that you might have some form of Arthritis, the first step to take is to go to your doctor. You will get a first physical exam of the problematic joints, and then, if it’s the case, your doctor will send you to a specialist.

Or you may go directly to a rheumatologist first, to speed up the process, should the symptoms you experience are severe, and the pain is unbearable. They will be able to make blood tests and other scans that will reveal a precise diagnosis.

Doctor Examination

Your doctor will ask you a few questions about your condition.

• The degree of pain and stiffness that you experience
• For how long you’ve had it
• What activities are challenging to perform (if any) due to this pain and lack of mobility
• How much is affected your mobility

Then, your doctor will inspect your affected joints. They’ll be checking the following

• Swelling of the joints
• Tenderness level in the joints
• Mobility level in your joints
• Sounds in your joints like grating, cracking, or popping
• Stability level in your joints (especially knees)

Top Tests to Diagnose

To have an accurate Arthritis diagnosis, you’ll need to have a test. Several exams will help determine your diagnosis. Below are the top five tests.

• Blood Tests

  To check different types of antibodies like RF (Rheumatoid factor) and ANA (antinuclear antibody) that will determine what form of Arthritis you have (if any).

• X-Rays

  These are images that show your bones and cartilages. The doctor can see small indications of Arthritis-like bone spurs, excess bone (calcium) deposits, and narrow spaces between bones.

• MRI

  Using radio waves and a magnetic field, the doctors obtain much more detailed images of your bones and cartilages than X-rays. The doctor will recommend it when you have already done X-rays, and they are inconclusive. In an MRI image, the doctor will be able to see subtle tears and strains in the tissues that surround the affected joint.

• CT Scan

  Similar to the MRI, a CT scan shows detailed images of the bones and cartilages.

• Joint Fluid Analysis

  There is a rather not pleasant procedure to check for an infection in the joint fluid. The arthrocentesis procedure is invasive – the doctor will make a puncture and insert a needle inside the joint to take a sample of the synovial fluid. The lab will then test the sample for possible infections, the level of inflammation. This test determines if it’s Gout, Septic Arthritis, or Osteoarthritis.

How Do You Get Arthritis?

Arthritis has one name but many faces. There are over 200 types of Arthritis that have different causes, depending on the variety. Some seem to have an explanation or several factors combined, while others have no reason and are very unpredictable.

Top Reasons

Here are the top six leading causes of developing various types of Arthritis.

• Cartilage Wears Out

  One of the most common causes of Arthritis is a breakdown of the cartilage in the joints. This breakdown happens when the cartilage (a flexible connective tissue) that protects the bones of the joints wears out.

  Typically, the cartilage is partially hard, rubbery, slick, flexible, and it coats the ends of the bones in the joints. Its role is to absorb the shock created by your moves. It also facilitates the bones to move smoothly against each other and work together as you move your body.

  When the cartilage wears and tears, nothing buffers and protects the bones anymore. The bones become rough and pitted, and begin to rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation, irritation, and restricting the movements.

  Infections or more injuries in the already vulnerable and affected joints can extend the damage.

• Autoimmune Disorders

  Rheumatoid Arthritis is different from the other types of Arthritis, as it’s an autoimmune disorder. That means that the immune system goes havoc and begins to attack its own body, by damaging the tissues in the joints. It merely treats the soft lining of the joints as an enemy of the body, and it targets it. The synovial fluid that used to lubricate the joints builds up inside the joint and causes swelling, inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

  If it progresses, it destroys the cartilage and even the bones of the joint.

  It’s unclear what triggers this reaction of the immune system against the body itself.

• Infections

  Bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause Arthritis. This type is called Septic or Infectious Arthritis, and it affects larger joints in the body, such as the knee or hip. Usually, it only affects one joint, but there are cases when it may affect multiple joints.

  The pathogen agent (bacteria, virus, or fungus) migrates from the infected area of the body through the blood into the joint. It can also be caused by an open wound or a knee surgery, for example.

  The most common Septic Arthritis is caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus that enter into the bloodstream and relocates into the joint, leading to joint inflammation and pain.

  Viruses that can trigger Infectious Arthritis are Hepatitis A, B, and C, Herpes, Parvovirus B19, Adenovirus, Mumps, HTLV-1, and Coxsackie.

  Fungi that can lead to Septic Arthritis are Histoplasma, Coccidiomyces, and Blastomyces. They progress slower than bacterial infections.

  Did you ever imagine that a sexually transmitted disease could lead to a type of Arthritis? I surely never did. Infections like chlamydia and fungi can also trigger reactive Arthritis.

• Metabolic Dysfunctions

  Metabolic disorders in the body, such as accumulation of high levels of uric acid in the joints, because the kidneys can’t filter it anymore out of the blood to eliminate it through urine. Sharp crystals of urate crystals get in the soft tissue of the joints, causing inflammation and Gout, which is a form of Arthritis.

  Other metabolic residues that build up in the body produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and certain enzymes that lead to the degradation of cartilage.

  Vitamin D deficiency, associated with obesity, triggers cartilage loss leading to Osteoarthritis.

• Injuries

  Arthritis can follow an injury such as torn cartilage, dislocated joints, and ligament injuries.

• Old Age

  Not even modern science and technology advances can stop us from getting old. The elixir of youth is not here yet, so we all get old, and our bodies degrade gradually. One of the consequences is Arthritis (specifically, Osteoarthritis).
  Although Arthritis can happen at any age (remember that even kids and teens have it), aging is one of the most frequent causes of Arthritis. The risk of developing any Arthritis grows with age.

  Statistics show that:

  • 30% of people between 45 and 64 years old have Arthritis
  • 50% of people over 65 years old develop Arthritis

  Why? Simple. As we grow old, our body slows down its processes and functions. Regeneration (or remodeling) of the bones is one of them. Our bones go through a constant process of bone formation and reformation. With age, this process slows down, and the loss of bone tissue does not replenish at the same speed as the bone loss. Thus, our bones become less dense and more fragile.

  The cartilage also goes through a degenerative process with age. The water content decreases in our cartilages, and they shrink, lose elasticity and flexibility.

  The cartilage becomes brittle over time, and since it cannot repair itself as it used to, it keeps wearing away, tearing, and breaking down. The joints become inflamed and painful.

  Usually, this type of Arthritis appears in the wrists, neck, lower back, knees, and hips.

  Another factor that adds up is the lack of physical activity. More than 90% of Americans never exercises regularly. The most sedentary people are those over 50 years old.

Top Risk Factors

Here are the top five leading risk factors for developing various types of Arthritis.

• Genetics

  Osteoarthritis and other types of Arthritis are passed on through genetic heritage. If your parents or grandparents had it, the chances are that you might have it, too, at some point. Or not. It’s a little bit like a lottery here. You don’t know for sure, but you can take preventive steps in this direction.

• Aging

  As you know, there are two things in life that we cannot escape: old age and taxes. Sometimes, aging comes with an increased risk of developing diseases such as Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Gout.

• Gender

  statistics show that women are more predisposed to have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis than men, while men have Gout.

• Injuries

  as having a bone injury wouldn’t be enough, Arthritis may come later on the vulnerable ground of such a health problem.

• Obesity
  The excess weight pressing on your joints, especially ankles, hips, spine, and knees, leads to an increased risk of getting Arthritis at one point or another.

Treatment Options

Living with Arthritis is not easy. Modern medicine says there is no cure for it. The options given to you are the only palliative, designed to reduce the pain level, stabilize the joint damage, and improve the quality of life of the people who have any Arthritis.

Education and Support

Helping people who have Arthritis by educating them on all the aspects of their disease, what to expect, how to improve the condition, how to minimize the suffering, and how to help themselves live with minimal damage.

Support groups, either online or in-person, are excellent sources for education, support and to find the right resources for their condition.

Medication

Depending on the type of Arthritis, there are several types of medicine available.

• Anti-inflammatory Drugs

  Corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-rheumatic treatment, and biologics.

• Analgesic Drugs

  To reduce the pain.

• Immunosuppressant Drugs

  To suppress or reduce the strength of the immune system in the case of autoimmune types of Arthritis such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Psoriatic Arthritis, when the immune system attacks and damage its joints.

• Biologic Drugs

  It is a new class of medication called biologics or biopharmaceuticals. They are composed of a combination of living cells and tissues using recombinant DNA technology through chemical synthesis.

• Antibiotic Drug

  In the case of an infection based Arthritis, there are prescribed specific antibiotics to kill the microbes that produced it. They can be administered orally or intravenous – if the disease is severe, and the doctors want to act faster and more effectively on the infection.

• Menthol or Capsaicin Creams and Ointments

  To reduce swelling and pain in the joints by blocking the transmission of pain signals in the joints.

Drainage of the Synovial Fluid

When the fluid that lubricates the joints is massively infected, and antibiotics don’t work fast enough. The doctor might recommend and perform drainage of this contaminated fluid. The infected synovial fluid can be absorbed with a syringe. Then the joint is irrigated and cleaned.

If this procedure cannot be carried on for various reasons, then it is necessary to perform open surgery to drain the joint.

Physical Therapy

In most cases of Arthritis, doctors recommend physical therapy to exercise the joints and reduce stiffness and mobility limitations.

There are several types of physical therapy:

• Physical Therapy (PT)

  Specific exercises for each joint, and each form of Arthritis, PT can fit each individual’s needs. PT activities are usually done at a PT facility, like in a hospital or recovery clinic, but can be completed at home too.

• Therapeutic Massage

  You can seek professional massage from a licensed masseur, or you can massage yourself the painful joints with a cream or a massage tool. Not all types of Arthritis can benefit from this treatment – it’s advised not to massage an infected joint until the infection is gone. The massage reduces the pain and stiffness, improves mobility in the joints, relaxes, and promotes sound sleep at night. It can be Swedish massage, reflexology, Shiatsu, myofascial release (relieving pain from the connective tissues around the muscles and nerves), deep tissue massage, and more.

• Warm Water Therapy

  Physical exercises performed in a pool with warm water or thermal warm water works even better. Exercises are done easier in the water, as there is less pressure on the body and joints, and the warmth allows the muscles, nerves, and joints to relax and release pain.

• Hot and Cold Therapy

  Heat and cold therapy are useful to relieve the pain and inflammation in your joints. Apply successively a cold, then a warm compress on your joints several times a day.

Surgery

This procedure is usually done to replace hips and knees when none of the previous treatments haven’t worked, and the replacement is inevitable. A new, artificial hip or knee will replace your damaged joints. If the fingers or wrists are severely affected, surgery is performed to fusion the joints. The end of the bones in the joints are locked together, so they don’t move and increase damage to allow them to heal and fuse.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy helps people who have Arthritis have a better life. It consists of practical advice on how to do daily tasks like cooking, walking, cleaning, gardening, etc. It also helps with choosing tools and devices that help protect the joints as much as possible.

Alternative Therapies and Remedies

Many people with Arthritis choose to go further than medicine has to offer and explore alternative therapies for Arthritis that give them more benefits.

Here are the top natural, complementary health approaches to treating Arthritis are.

• Acupuncture

  Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of treatment, which uses skinny needles at specific particular points in your body. Its principles are the same as reflexology. That a particular spot on the body is the projection of an organ or gland within the body. Stimulating these projection points with needles also stimulates the organ or part of the body.

  These points of energy sit on some lines of energy in your body, called meridians. Sometimes, the energy is blocked, and so, it doesn’t circulate freely, leading to the lack or excessive accumulation of energies in certain areas, which will lead to diseases. When specific points of energy alongside meridians in your body are unblocked, this helps to release pain, reduce inflammation, improve mobility in the joints, or improve your sleep.

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

  Electrical stimulation is a pain relief method that uses electrode-pads placed on your joints that send subtle, adjustable electrical currents to the area.

  This procedure activates a complex neuronal network that reduces pain and fatigue and triggers the brain to produce beneficial neurotransmitters such as endorphins.

• Red Light Therapy

  Red and near-infrared light have been scientifically proven to reduce pain and reduce Arthritis symptoms in hundreds of well-documented studies in the last three decades. Never heard of it? Let me tell you about it.

  Red Light (or low laser) therapy is a natural, non-invasive, pain-free, and chemical-free method. It sends concentrated wavelengths of natural light to your skin, cells, and joints that are safe and has therapeutic effects. The red light helps your body regenerate and heal itself. It’ll reduce pain and inflammation, increase the range of motion, restore the cartilage in the joints and meniscus tears, module the immune system response, and reduce excess node bones in fingers and hands.

• Meditation

  Research demonstrates that meditation is a powerful tool in health, as well as in developing our cognitive functions and balancing our emotions. The biological changes are measurable during trials, and this suggests that meditation influences in a beneficial way our mental and physical health.

  Many studies that included hundreds of participants have researched the effects of meditation and mindfulness on people suffering from various types of Arthritis, and the results are very encouraging. They report improvements in managing the symptoms, reducing pain and inflammation, supporting a positive mindset and outlook in life, decreasing fatigue, helping with insomnia, and so on. It even improves the immune markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis, thus reducing the progression of the disease.

• Deep Breathing

  Pain comes with shallow breathing and tension. This pain adds up to the already stressful situation. Learning to breathe deeply, slowly, from your belly will help you relax, reduce pain and inflammation, and harmonize your emotions.

  Breathing exercises are another way to manage Arthritis naturally and with no costs.

• Aromatherapy

  Essential oils are beneficial because they go directly through the nose into the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center of command. Because of that, you feel the effects of the oils immediately.

  Aromatherapy can be used effectively on various forms of Arthritis to relieve pain, reduce anxiety, stress, and depression, uplift the mood, and relax.

  You can also use certain essential oils to rub on the aching joints to reduce pain, swelling, and improve mobility. Be careful, as not all types of Arthritis can use essential oils topically (for example, Psoriatic Arthritis).

  Essential oils for topical use are lavender, camphor, frankincense, eucalyptus, ginger, clove, peppermint, juniper, turmeric, myrrh, and orange. Always dilute with carrier oils such as sesame oil, castor oil, olive oil, almond oil, or avocado oil for topical application.

• Baking Soda

  A recent study showed that drinking daily a “cocktail” of water and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), you can reduce the inflammation in your body. It works because it alkalinizes your blood. The immune cells stop producing inflammation and, instead, start to work on lowering it. That’s excellent news for Rheumatoid Arthritis and other types of autoimmune conditions.

• Chondroitin and Glucosamine

  Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) and Glucosamine Hydrochloride (GH) are two chemicals that are naturally in cartilage. CS blocks certain enzymes that wear the cartilage and facilitates the shock-absorbency in the joints, while GH has a role in growing and repairing the cartilage.

  Studies show that taken together, CS and HG to treat knee Osteoarthritis is as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs. They help in reducing pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints without having their side effects.

• Epsom Salt Bath

  Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, a naturally occurring mineral used in pain relief for centuries. Its name comes from the bitter saline spring in Surrey, England.

  Our skin absorbs Magnesium and Sulfate quickly, and recent studies confirm that they have many health benefits, including relief from Arthritis. It reduces inflammation, relaxes muscles and nerves, flushes out toxins, soothes aches and pains, heals wounds and skin problems, releases stress, and so on.

  Add Epsom salt in your bath or a warm soak for your hands and feet, especially when you feel pain.

• Magnesium

  Did you know that magnesium is used by our body to make stronger, denser healthy bones?

  Our body contains magnesium. It uses it in over 300 various chemical processes, but it doesn’t produce it. We take magnesium from our food, especially from fruits and veggies. Since our diet consists mainly of processed food, most people (especially women) have a magnesium deficiency.

  Magnesium relaxes muscles and nerves endings, soothes pain, helps bones to mineralize, reduces stiffness and inflammation in the joints, and helps you sleep better.

  You can eat more food rich in magnesium such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, green and black beans, peas, chickpeas, asparagus, avocado, figs, banana, raspberries, most nuts and seeds, salmon, mackerel, tuna, chlorella and spirulina, whole grains, raw cacao and dark chocolate, etc.

  Also available are magnesium supplements, usually in the forms of a capsule or oil. The body can easily absorb the oil through the skin.

Recommended Lifestyle Changes

Arthritis is not curable, modern medicine says. You can only learn to live with it and keep the pain and stiffness in control. They can only recommend anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, creams, and physical therapy. What else is to do? What are the recommended lifestyle changes that you need to do to have a manageable life while dealing with Arthritis?

Here are the top recommended lifestyle changes to treating Arthritis:

A Healthier Diet

Changing your diet is an essential step in managing your Arthritis and reducing its effects. Keep in mind that some foods trigger inflammation, while others cut it.

A Mediterranean Diet is the perfect choice as it is rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, olive oil, fish, beans, and whole grains. The Mediterranean diet keeps inflammation at bay and replenishes your joints with many nutrients, minerals, and vitamins.

• Foods to Eat with Arthritis

  • Cold-Pressed, Unrefined Oils

    Focusing on oils with anti-inflammatory qualities due to the high content of omega-3 fatty acids: fish oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, nuts oil, and avocado oil.

  • Whole Grains

    Generally, a gluten-free diet is recommended: wheat, buckwheat, quinoa, oats, brown rice, wild rice, etc.

  • Garlic

    Decreases inflammation, strengthens the immune system, reduces the risk of Osteoarthritis.

  • Ginger

    Reduces the pain in the joints, blocks the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body, decreases the levels of inflammatory markers.

  • Broccoli and Cruciferous Foods

    Reduces inflammation, blocks the production of specific cells that develop Rheumatoid Arthritis.

  • Walnuts

    You should be nuts about nuts if you have Arthritis because they reduce inflammation linked to joint problems like Arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the symptoms of Arthritis and joint pain.

  • Berries

    Pack your shopping bag with berries and include them in your daily diet as they contain high amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals that reduce inflammation. Pick any berry you like: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries – whichever you like. They are all good for you if you have Arthritis. Throw them in your morning smoothies or juice, eat them as they are with honey on top, or put them generously on your healthy whole grain pancakes.

  • Spinach

    Maybe you won’t be as tough and resilient as Popeye the Sailorman, who was eating at least one can of spinach in each episode. However, studies show that the essential antioxidants and nutrients in this dark green veggie decreases inflammation and stops the progression of Osteoarthritis.

  • Grapes

    Abundant in antioxidants, grapes contain Resveratrol that reduces the levels of inflammatory markers linked to Arthritis. It also blocks the formation of new Rheumatoid Arthritis cells and prevents the thickening of the joints.

• Foods to Avoid with Arthritis

  • White Flour

    These increase inflammatory processes in the body, so it’s better to avoid them at all costs.

  • Grilled or Fried Food

    Fried, grilled meat and vegetables increase inflammation. Studies show that AGE, a toxin that appears in fried, grilled, destroys essential proteins in your body, which results in an inflammatory process. Instead, it is healthier to steam or bake your veggies and meals.

  • Sweets

    Candies, cakes, sodas, artificially sweetened products increase inflammation. Instead, replace honey (which has anti-inflammatory properties) or other healthy alternatives to sugar that is a trigger of inflammatory types of Arthritis such as Gout.

  • Dairy Products

    This is because they contain a protein that irritates the tissues around the joints. It’s advised to avoid these products if you have Arthritis. Many people who have Arthritis switch to a vegetarian or even a vegan diet with no animal products.

  • Meat

    Meat is high in unhealthy fats and calories that are then transformed by the body in substances that cause inflammation. It gets worse if you fry or grill meat, the because of the high-temperature AGE toxins form, and then they trigger inflammation in the body.

  • Salt and Artificial Preservatives

    Many processed, fast-food type products contain excessive amounts of salt and artificial, inflammatory preservatives that harm your joints. Reduce salt intake and avoid products containing additives.

  • Alcohol

    Doctors recommend people suffering from Arthritis to avoid drinking alcohol, especially beer, as they increase the levels of uric acid (the purine component) that leads to Arthritis. Plus, if you’re taking medication for Arthritis, it can interfere with them.

Physical Activity and Exercises

A sedentary lifestyle combined with obesity, a poor diet, and other inflammatory triggers can lead to or can accelerate the progression of Arthritis. All doctors will recommend various types of exercises and physical activities to keep your joints moving and reduce the effects of Arthritis on them.

• Walking

  Doctors recommend walking at least 30 minutes a day, even if the joints ache a little, but in the long run. This activity will help you reduce the symptoms of Arthritis, including stiffness.

• Gardening

  Don’t stop from this activity if you have Arthritis, know that it is perfect for you. It keeps your joints moving and keep stiffness away.

• Aerobics

  Yes, even seniors can do aerobics if it’s the case. It decreases inflammation, reduces the swelling in the joints, improves the flexibility and motion range over time.

• Dancing

  You can have fun with Arthritis, as well. It keeps you flexible, moving, and reduces inflammation. Plus, having fun releases significant anti-inflammatory, mood-boosting neurotransmitters in the brain that will make you feel good and reduce your pain.

• Swimming

  When you swim, especially if the water is warm, it’s perfect for your joints.

• Yoga

  Yoga is beneficial for Arthritis, studies show. Some types of yoga, such as Lyengar yoga or Hatha yoga, use gentle body postures that allow your body to relax. These yogas also restore your energies, reduce pain and inflammation, increase flexibility, boost the mood, and increase the overall quality of life of the people with Arthritis.

• Tai Chi or Qi Gong

  These are low-impact exercises with slow, gentle, harmonious movements of the whole body, like a slow dance with no music. You can be any age to do it. It improves Osteoarthritis symptoms such as flexibility, balance, mobility, restores your energy levels, reduces pain and stiffness, and helps with sleep.

Weight Loss

Obesity or excess weight puts enormous stress and pressure on your joints, especially your supportive joints such as ankles, knees, and hips. Putting in place new habits that include a healthier diet, exercising, and general lifestyle will improve your Arthritis condition.

Good Sleep

Sleep is vital for our health. Your body and mind rest during the night, to wake up fresh and replenished the next morning. When you have Arthritis, your sleep suffers as well. Because of the pain and inflammatory processes in your joints, you can’t sleep and get rest. As a result, the inflammatory processes increase, your mood gets worse, and the pain increases as well.

If you use other previously mentioned lifestyle changes, your body and mind will be relaxed, and you should be able to sleep better. In turn, this will help to decrease your Arthritis symptoms and pain.

Herbal Remedies

Devil’s Claw, Boswellia, frankincense oil, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and green tea have significant anti-inflammatory properties.

Stats on the Disease

Know that you’re not alone. Statistics made public by CDC from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) revealed that between 2013-2015, no less than 54.4 million people of all ages, sexes, races, and from various geographical areas were affected by Arthritis.

Almost half of the 54 million people with Arthritis have limited mobility. This statistic means that it interferes with their social activities such as going out, shopping, social events, family and religious gatherings, and with their working ability, too. 1 in 25 working people can’t perform their job well due to Arthritis, and 1 in 4 of the people affected by Arthritis have work limitations. This percentage increased already by 20% over time.

• Even children, teens, and young people can develop Arthritis.
• Data shows that Arthritis occurs more among women and people of old age.
• People who have Arthritis are 2.5 times more likely to fall and suffer an injury than those without Arthritis.
• There’s a connection between the lack of physical activity and heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity, Arthritis can, unfortunately, lead to other unwanted health problems.
• 50% of people suffering from heart problems and diabetes have also Arthritis.
• 30% of people diagnosed with obesity also have Arthritis.

Final Arthritis Tips

Here are a few final tips to better manage and reduce the symptoms of Arthritis in life:

Stay Focused and Organized

Pay attention to the signs, how and when they occur, with what intensity, what increases them, what decreases them, etc. Keep track of all changes in your body so you can tell your doctor and manage your disease better.

Take your medication and treatments on time, every time – this will help you reduce the pain and inflammation, and improve the quality of life.

Be Active

Not just sometimes, all the time. You can walk or bike to the market, do gardening in your yard, swim, or do yoga. Try to do some activity every day to keep your joints moving. Also, any action will keep your mind away from pain and discomfort.

Enough Rest

Get enough during the day and night – your body needs rest more than ever. But balance both things, do some activity, then rest a little bit. Let your joints rest from the effort. Don’t overwork them.

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h2″ question-0=”What is Arthritis?” answer-0=”

Arthritis is an umbrella medical term that covers over 100 different conditions that have one thing in common: inflammation. Arthritis is a chronic, debilitating, and sometimes, a devastating disease that affects mainly the joints, hip, knee, spine, fingers, toes, and other parts of the body, too. ” image-0=”” headline-1=”h2″ question-1=”What are the two category groups for Arthritis conditions?” answer-1=”

• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Inflammatory Arthritis (IA)

” image-1=”” headline-2=”h2″ question-2=”What are the most common forms of Arthritis?” answer-2=”

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
• Gout
• Spondyloarthritis
• Septic Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Psoriatic Arthritis

” image-2=”” headline-3=”h2″ question-3=”What tests are used to diagnose Arthritis?” answer-3=”

• Blood Tests
• X-Rays
• MRI
• CT Scan
• Joint Fluid Analysis

” image-3=”” headline-4=”h2″ question-4=”How Do You Get Arthritis?” answer-4=”

• Cartilage Wears Out
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Infections
• Metabolic Dysfunctions
• Injuries
• Old Age
• Genetics

” image-4=”” headline-5=”h2″ question-5=”What medications are used to treat Arthritis?” answer-5=”

Depending on the type of Arthritis, there are several types of medicine available.

• Anti-inflammatory Drugs
• Analgesic Drugs
• Immunosuppressant Drugs
• Biologic Drugs
• Antibiotic Drug Menthol or Capsaicin Creams and Ointments

” image-5=”” headline-6=”h2″ question-6=”What food should I avoid with Arthritis?” answer-6=”

• White Flour
• Grilled or Fried Food
• Sweets
• Dairy Products
• Meat
• Salt and Artificial Preservatives
• Alcohol

” image-6=”” count=”7″ html=”false” css_class=””]