Arthritis actually means “joint inflammation” and there are over 100 related conditions or forms of disease. Left untreated, it can become advanced, resulting in joint damage that is irreversible. If you suspect you have arthritis, early detection and treatment are vital.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although both have similar symptoms, both have different causes. When joints are overused or injured, osteoarthritis can develop. The cartilage protecting and cushioning the joint wears away, resulting in the bones rubbing painfully against each other. This seems to be more common in the knees, but is also found in the hips, spine and hands. By the time pain is felt, a lot of the cartilage will already have been worn away.

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There is a general misconception that arthritis is an age-related medical condition that afflicts only senior citizens or the elderly. This may be true for osteoarthritis, the most common type of joint disorder that usually affects adults of both sexes in their middle ages. But what most people don’t understand is that there are other types or causes of arthritis.

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Pain is something that everyone needs to learn to deal with since it is a fact of life.

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How joint pain and the destruction of cartilage are related is not yet fully understood. Cartilage itself does not cause pain because there are no nerve structures in cartilage to transmit pain signals. Most likely, the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the irritation of other tissues in and around the affected joints. This irritation may be caused by chemical-messenger substances, such as prostaglandin E2, that are associated with the disease process. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain because they inhibit the production of prostaglandins.

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Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the US. 20% of arthritis sufferers are unable to perform vital life activities such as working or housekeeping because of their condition. Arthritis sufferers endure more days in severe pain, experience more days with limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more difficulty performing personal-care routines than people without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, arthritis can also have a negative effect on mental health. Some forms of arthritis also make your body age faster.

The Definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, known as Still’s disease in children, is a condition that causes inflammation of joints and associated pain, swelling and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the body’s own immune system to attack joint tissue, breaking down collagen, cartilage, and sometimes bone or other organs. This chronic disease affects people differently and fluctuates over time, often marked by symptoms that improve only to re-emerge later. In some cases rheumatoid arthritis is mild and lasts only a few months (this kind of rheumatoid arthritis is called type 1), while in others the disease becomes progressively complicated by disability and other health problems, lasting many years (this is called type 2 rheumatoid arthritis).

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Tylenol Arthritis Pain is a drug which has been developed for temporary relief of arthritic pain and inflammation. It contains the active ingredient Acetaminophen, and this is the generic name for the drug.

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An early diagnosis will be effective in managing and treating arthritis, so it is a good idea to check with your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms.

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It is a proven fact that heat helps relieve the pain of arthritis. With this in mind, a thermal material has been developed that holds the body’s heat within a specified area. For those suffering from swollen and painful joints, the arthritis relief gloves now being produced can give them a much wider range of motion and greater flexibility and reduce pain.

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Hip arthritis is generally caused by wear and tear of the hip joint- the protective cartilage in the joint wears away to expose the bones, which then rub against each other, causing pain and further damage.

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There’s no doubt that gout can be an extremely painful and distressing condition. Gout is traditionally treated with NSAIDS or anti- inflammatories. Allopurinal is often prescribed as it can inhibit the formation of arthritis causing uric acid within the body. However, this medication can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and inflammation of the blood vessels. Other prescription drugs can also have adverse side effects, such as nausea, weakness, thinning of bones, bruising and abnormal bleeding. Many are not considered safe to take long term.

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