Identifying Inflammatory Arthritis Conditions
By definition, ANY kind of arthritis refers to inflamed, painful joints, like the hips, hands and knees. But there are over 100 kinds of arthritis, so, (with apologies to George Orwell) doctors have decided that some inflammatory arthritis is more inflammatory than others. Let us look on them and then take some aspirin. Rheumatiod Arthritis (RA)
This kind of inflammatory arthritis seems to be a disease of the immune system. Currently, it is not known why you get it, but at least it can be treated. You don’t have to be a senior citizen to get RA. RA is a bit greedy â€" it tends to settle down in more than one part of the body. You need to see the doctor at once for RA. The earlier it is treated, the better off you will be. You will most likely have to take some blood and x-ray tests at a hospital to help your doctor determine the best plan of action for you. RA is often treated with medicines and more medicines; gentle physical therapy; relaxation techniques like meditation; diet changes and sometimes neck braces or a cane to help you walk. Only in severe cases is surgery required, such as a hip replacement. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) If the pain is mostly coming from your back, you could have this hard to pronounce kind of inflammatory arthritis. It makes your back and pelvic joints constantly swollen and unhappy. Again, it is not sure why people get AS, but it is treatable. The diagnostic tests and treatments are the same as for Rhematiod Arthritis. You will most likely be advised to take up swimming or water walking as a form of physical therapy, as these exercises help best for AS sufferers. And, the sooner you go to your doctor; the better off you will be in the long run. Systemic Lupus Eurythematosis (SLE) One day, someone is going to name their child after this. But until that day, SLE is another treatable kind of inflammatory arthritis brought about by an autoimmune disease. If you have cancer or AIDS, you can often get SLE. The body doesn’t seem to recognize its own cells and attacks them. The treatment is with power medicines, physical therapy and most often surgery. Bone grafts are scary sounding, but highly successful surgeries that can make the body stop attacking itself. As with all kinds of inflammatory arthritis, they do not go away by themselves. They will always get worse if you ignore it. So, be sure to see your doctor when you get strange pains or stiffness. |