Try bending over to touch your toes. Can you do it? A Brazilian researcher conducted a major study on flexibility and how it relates to life expectancy. The study found that people with stiff joints are more likely to die early than those with healthy joints. Considering arthritis is a disease that causes damage to the joints, effective treatment of the condition goes beyond just pain relief. If this is not a strong reason to consider getting involved in National Arthritis Week to #SupportArthritis and raise #ArthritisAwareness from October 7th to 13th, I don’t know what is.
World Arthritis Day is celebrated within the week of October 12 each year to increase awareness about arthritis. Doctors and supporters organize activities and campaigns to educate people about the different types of arthritis and the importance of early diagnosis.
What age do you get arthritis?
The most common complaint I hear from my arthritic clients is that not many realize that arthritis is not just an older person’s disease. It can happen to anyone at any age and can severely affect their quality of life. So, let’s take a look at all the different types of arthritis and treatment options and hopefully help raise funding and awareness for the millions of Americans living with it.
Is arthritis a disability?
Many people have heard of arthritis, but they might not know how it affects lives. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. The Arthritis Foundation aims to spread awareness by sharing lesser-known facts about arthritis. Their goal is to help more people understand how seriously arthritis can affect lives, as shown by the real-life statistics below.
There are over 200 types of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) that typically affect the joints, but they can also impact muscles, tendons, and internal organs. Joint pain from RMDs often leads to difficulties in moving and sometimes limits the range of motion. Some RMDs cause visible signs of inflammation, like swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joints.
Common RMDs among older adults living in the community include osteoarthritis, general low back pain, and pain from previous fractures. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 10% of men and 20% of women over 60 experience symptoms of osteoarthritis.
How to get involved with National Arthritis Week 2024?
First, learn about arthritis. Spend some time understanding the different kinds, their symptoms, and how they affect people’s lives. Next, share what you learn. Use social media to post facts, articles, and personal stories about arthritis to spread awareness.
Supporting arthritis charities is also important. Consider donating or volunteering with groups focused on arthritis research and support. You can also advocate for better healthcare policies to make sure people can get early diagnosis, treatment, and support services.
Organizing fundraising events is another way to help. Lastly, if you know someone with arthritis, offer your support, understanding, and help when they need it.
When sharing your support for National Arthritis Week 2024, use hashtags like #ArthritisAwareness and #SupportArthritis to connect with others who are involved.
Basic Facts About Arthritis
Approximately 1 in 4 adults and many children in the U.S. have been told by a doctor that they have arthritis or a similar illness. Many people think arthritis only affects older folks, but that’s not true. In fact, about two-thirds of arthritis patients are 65 or younger. Arthritis costs the U.S. account for over $300 billion each year in medical costs, lost wages, and other expenses. Most people with arthritis also have other health problems, like heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, which can make their health even worse.
The CDC shares some surprising facts about arthritis. In the U.S., nearly 26 million people with arthritis can’t do everyday activities like walking, doing chores, or participating in work or social events. Arthritis affects more adults in rural areas where the aging of the population is more pronounced than in cities, with 1 in 3 people affected. Over half of these individuals say arthritis limits them. Also, 1 in 3 adults with arthritis don’t exercise, have fair to poor health, and experience severe joint pain.
Understanding Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that is characterized by swollen and tender joints. The main signs are joint pain and stiffness, often worsening as people age. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage, the smooth tissue covering bones at joints, wears down. Rheumatoid arthritis is when the immune system attacks the joints, starting with the lining around the joints.
Different types of arthritis need different treatments, but the main goals are to ease symptoms and help people have a better life.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis, often known as degenerative arthritis, is the most widespread form of arthritis. With osteoarthritis (OA), the cartilage in the joints wears down, causing the bones to rub together, which leads to joint pain and inflammation. This can result in bone damage and the development of bone spurs. Common symptoms are joint pain, stiffness in the morning, difficulty moving, and worsening disability. To diagnose OA, a doctor will review the medical history and perform a physical exam. They might also order X-rays or other imaging tests and may take a fluid sample from a joint to check for infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue. People with RA often experience symptoms like stiffness in the morning and joint pain, usually affecting the same joints on both sides of the body. Over time, this can lead to joint deformities. RA can also affect other body parts, such as the heart, lungs, eyes, and skin. It’s common for people with RA to also have Sjögren’s syndrome, which causes very dry eyes and mouth.
To diagnose RA, there isn’t a single test that can confirm it. Doctors usually review the medical history, do a physical exam, and may use X-rays or other imaging tests. Additional tests might include checking for rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, blood counts, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. These tests help determine if there is an autoimmune response and inflammation in the body.
Juvenile arthritis (JA)
Juvenile arthritis (JA) affects around 300,000 kids in the United States, according to the Arthritis Foundation. JA is a term that covers different types of arthritis in children, with the most common one being juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), previously called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
JIA tends to start in kids under 16 years old and can cause muscle and soft tissues to tighten, bones to wear down, changes in growth patterns, and joints to misalign. Signs of JIA include months of aching joints, swelling, stiffness, tiredness, and fevers.
There are also less common types of JA, such as juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile lupus, juvenile scleroderma, Kawasaki disease, mixed connective tissue disease, and spondyloarthropathies. One type, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), is an autoimmune condition that attacks where tendons and ligaments connect to bones. AS mainly affects the spine and pelvis, causing joint pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back, but it can also impact other joints.
Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis that happens when urate crystals build up in your joints. This can occur if you have high levels of uric acid in your blood, increasing your chances of getting gout. Around 3.9% of American adults have gout, with 5.9% being men and 2% women. Factors like age, what you eat, drinking alcohol, and family history can influence your risk.
Gout can be very painful. It usually affects the joint at the base of your big toe, but it can also impact other joints. You might notice redness, swelling, and pain in areas such as your toes, feet, ankles, knees, hands, or wrists. Gout attacks can start suddenly and become very intense in just a few hours. These attacks may last for several days or even weeks, and gout can get worse as time goes on.
Infectious and reactive arthritis
Infectious arthritis is when an infection gets into one of your joints, causing it to hurt or swell. This infection can come from bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi and might start elsewhere in your body before spreading to your joints. People with this type of arthritis often also have a fever and chills.
To find out if you have these conditions, doctors can run tests using your blood, urine, and fluid taken from the affected joint.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often affects the fingers, making them look swollen and pink, similar to sausages. It can also cause small dents in the fingernails. This painful condition doesn’t just stop at the fingers; it can affect other joints and might even spread to the spine, causing damage similar to a condition called ankylosing spondylitis. If a person has psoriasis, they are more likely to develop PsA.
Treatment Options for Arthritis
Treatment for arthritis aims to ease symptoms and enhance joint movement. Patients might need to try different treatments or combinations to see what works best for them.
Medications for arthritis vary based on the type. Common ones include:
- NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium help relieve joint pain and inflammation. They also come as creams or gels to rub on joints.
- Counterirritants: Creams with menthol or capsaicin (from hot peppers) can be rubbed on sore joints to block pain signals.
- Steroids: Medications like prednisone reduce inflammation and slow joint damage. They can be taken as pills or injected into joints.
- DMARDs: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs help slow rheumatoid arthritis progression and prevent permanent joint damage.
Physical therapy can also help improve movement and strengthen muscles around joints. Sometimes, splints or braces are useful.
If other treatments don’t work, surgery might be an option:
- Joint repair: Joint surfaces can be smoothed or realigned to reduce joint pain and improve function, often done arthroscopically.
- Joint replacement: Replaces damaged joints with artificial ones, usually hips and knees.
- Joint fusion: Used for smaller joints, like those in the wrist, ankle, and fingers, it involves fusing bones into one solid unit.
The Importance of Flexibility and Exercise
You can take steps to deal with arthritis symptoms and make changes in your lifestyle to help lessen joint pain and stiffness and boost both joint movement and mood.
Arthritis symptoms can often be eased with some simple steps. Losing weight can help because extra pounds put more pressure on joints that bear weight. Dropping some weight can improve movement and help prevent more joint problems. Exercising regularly is also beneficial since it keeps joints flexible. Activities like swimming or water aerobics are great because the water supports your body, reducing strain on your joints. Using heating pads or ice packs can also help soothe joint pain and stiffness.
Assistive devices like canes, shoe inserts (I have been using these since my 20s!), walkers, and raised toilet seats can make daily activities easier and help protect your joints. These tools can support you by improving your ability to move around and complete everyday tasks more comfortably.
Alternative medicine
Some of the most hopeful alternative treatments for arthritis might be worth considering. While a lot of alternative treatments lack research, these therapies tend to get good feedback from my nutrition clients:
- Acupuncture: Uses thin needles placed on the skin to reduce various types of pain, including joint pain.
- Glucosamine: Supplement with mixed study results; sometimes works better than placebo for osteoarthritis pain, especially for moderate to severe knee pain.
- Chondroitin: This may offer minor relief from osteoarthritis pain, but studies are inconsistent.
- Fish Oil Supplements Might reduce arthritis symptoms; it is important to consult a doctor as they can affect medication efficacy.
- Yoga and Tai Chi: Involve slow, stretching exercises to increase joint flexibility and improve range of motion.
- Massage: Gentle rubbing and kneading of muscles to boost blood flow and warm up joints, offering temporary pain relief; inform the therapist about arthritis-affected joints.
- Curcumin: A good quality curcumin may reduce the joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Don’t just start adding turmeric powder to everything, as the active curcumin is hard to absorb. Instead, go for a high dose and high-quality curcumin supplement.
On a final note, support can be helpful for those suffering from arthritis by finding resources and a community that “gets it.” Arthritis.org offers such resources and services via their connectgroups page.