Arthritis affects over 10 million people in the UK, with 1 in 6 people living the pain, fatigue and immobility that it can cause. Navigating this condition is challenging, especially considering there are over 100 types of arthritis that can affect an individual. However amongst these, the 2 most prevalent kinds of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In this blog post, we’ll take a further look at what causes these two kinds of arthritis and what treatment options are available to alleviate any uncomfortable and uneasy symptoms.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of the joints that results in symptoms such as stiffness and pain. There are over 100 kinds of arthritis but the most common kinds are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting those mostly in their mid 40s or older and mainly women. It occurs when cartilage which is the hard, slippery tissue that covers the end of the bones where a joint is formed begins to break down. It becomes rough, thins down, resulting in the tendons and ligaments to work harder. When cartilage is lost, it means the bones also begin to rub against each other which can lead to the bones to be forced out their usual position.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis however is a diseases when the immune system begins to attack the joints. It affects those between 30-50 years old and affects mainly women. The outer cover of the joint is the first area that is affected, this can then spread across the joint areas causing symptoms such as inflammation and swelling. These symptoms may cause the joint’s shape to change and the cone and cartilage to begin to break down.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of arthritis include the following:
- Pain in the joints that keeps returning
- Tenderness or swelling in the joints
- Warmth & redness in the joints
- Difficulty moving 1 or more joints normally
Treatments
Treatment methods ultimately depend on what kind of arthritis you are suffering with and how severe your condition is. There isn’t a cure for arthritis but the goal with treatments is minimise as much pain as possible, any inflammation and ensure your joints are functioning in a healthy way.
Heat & Cold
The easiest way to reduce any symptoms of inflammation or pain is by using moist heat from either a warm shower or bath. It can relieve symptoms such as stiffness and even encourage any tissue that been damaged to recover and heal. A cold compress however works by constricting the blood vessels of muscles, this in return reduces blood flow and ultimately reduces inflammation.
Massages
By lightly massaging the affecting area, you are increasing blood flow and in result, also loosening the muscles around the joins. This can increase an individual’s range of motion and ability and generally feel good whilst reducing issues like pain or swelling.
Lifestyle changes
Making small lifestyle changes can be highly beneficial in managing arthritis long term. This includes maintaining a healthy diet and exercising as frequent as you can. By doing this, you are reducing your risk of gaining weight which can add more stress on joints in the hip and knee area. Stretching regularly can also aid in keeping the joints flexible.
NSAIDs
Nonstreoidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are ideal to treat and manage symptoms like pain and inflammation. This includes; naproxen, aspirin and ibuprofen. These are all medication that can be taken orally, however NSAIDs can be applied topically too through a pain relief gel.
Here at Be Well we have a range of NSAID based products that can aid in easing your arthritis symptoms. Fill out our quick and easy consultation form to begin your process.