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.
Common Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis is mostly characterized by a sharp, often unbearable, pain in the joints. It becomes very difficult for the person to move those particular joints. Along with the pain, the joints can also become stiff and there can be swelling in the region. In some people, the symptoms are more visible, because the region becomes red.
Very severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis can cause fevers and breathing problems. Some people also expect rapid losses in their weight.
Treatment of Arthritis
Arthritis is treated with a systematic medical program in most cases. The medical officer will first look into the physical condition of the patient and also at other factors such as ! their lifestyle, other medical conditions present in them, the medications taken for those, and such. Then a proper medical routine will be planned out. A few discussions between the patient and the doctor happen in the initial stages, during which the doctor understands what the best approach for the treatment would be.
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.
However, mild cases of arthritis can be cured by the use of herbal oils and lotions which are quite easily available online. These are completely non-invasive methods, meant only for topical application. Being herbal, they show no side effects and are very effective methods of treatment. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure also have their own ways of controlling and treating the arthritic condition.
