Arthritis is a very common degenerative disease that affects older people. It is a disease that affects the joints. It can happen in more than one joint, mostly of the limbs. It is typically considered to be a geriatric disease, i.e. a problem that affects only older people, but this is not a hard and fast rule. Women are known to suffer from arthritis more than men.
Arthritis – Usual Symptoms
The pain in the joints is the most prominent symptom of all kinds of arthritis. When these pains begin to happen, people are not able to move their joints. Also, the joints become hardened and it is very difficult to have any kind of flexibility in them. The joints may also be accompanied by redness in the area in most people.
Very severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis can cause fevers and breathing problems. Some people also expect rapid losses in their weight.
Treatment of Arthritis
Treatment of arthritis is best done medically, through a course that extends for a few weeks and sometimes even months. Since arthritis is a chronic condition, the treatment needs to be planned meticulously. The initial meeting with the doctor is about explaining the condition and making them understand all the facts that pertain to the case such as other health problems, other medications, lifestyle traits and the like.
A few tests and diagnoses may be conducted in the initial stages too. The common tests are those of urine, blood and the synovial fluid, which is the fluid present in the joints. Depending on the results of these tests, medications are planned out. If the condition is too severe, even surgeries may be planned.
There are also various herbal methods for the treatment of arthritis. People prefer these methods because of their noninvasive nature. There are no complications associated with such treatments. Acupuncture is also popularly used for arthritis treatment in various parts of the world.
