The odds of getting arthritis are pretty high in the modern time that we live in, as one in four people will get arthritis somewhere in their life. As it is quite a common disease, educating yourself on it will never be a waste of time. Either because you might get it yourself later in life, or because you might know someone who has it, and thus allow you to have a better perspective of their disease.
What is arthritis?
Before discussing the disease in more detail, it is crucial to understand what it is to begin with. It is a condition where one or more joints are inflamed to the point where they cause chronic pain and makes the stiff and swollen, which often limits motion. The moment where this occurs is unpredictable.
There are many variations of arthritis
It is a common misconception to think that arthritis is a single disease. There are over a hundred different types of this disease, as well as rheumatic conditions that are related to it. For example, if you happen to have osteoarthritis, you might have to visit a hip arthritis doctor, as it can affect the hips and knees, back, and shoulders.
Diagnosing the correct variation of arthritis is very important because it will determine the course of treatment. Some variations can be cured, such as Lyme arthritis, but most of them do not have a cure. For the incurable variants, therapy helps manage the pain, controls the symptoms, and slows down the progression of the disease.
Difference between a normal hip joint and one affected with arthritis
It does not affect only old people
Another common misconception is that arthritis affects only older people, but that is far from the truth. If a person tends to overuse their joint and wear it down due to repetitive motions, one can get this disease even at a younger age. While it is true that the most commonly affected age is over sixty-five, people under that age can get arthritis as well.
Early diagnosis is essential
Due to all kinds of variations of the disease, discovering its existence and diagnosing the correct variation is of most importance. This is because delaying diagnosis and treatment makes the symptoms worse, which will make them harder to treat.
The symptoms are a good indication that you should check things out with a rheumatologist. If you feel pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, or have decreased range of motion in some of your joints, make sure to go for a checkup. If the rheumatologist suspects arthritis, they will have to inspect things with a unique technique.
For example, if you might have hip arthritis, the doctor will perform hip arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive procedure where the doctor will use an arthroscope to check the inside of the hip joint. In some conditions, they are also treated arthroscopically.
Sometimes treatment requires trial and error
Because everyone responds differently to medications, one can expect a couple of different medications to be tried out to see which one gives the best results. If one medication works excellent on someone, it might not work great on you, and vice versa. If you happen to be getting the first treatment that is not showing success, do not worry, as the next option might be the best option out there.
Arthritis causes a lot of emotional damage
Living with chronic pain is very difficult, and various emotions are involved in the process. Resentment, anger, isolation, depression, and fear are just some emotions that a person with arthritis can be experiencing, and physical limitations are not the only thing that the disease is about.
Of course, physical limitations are the central part of the disease, as many patients with arthritis can no longer do various tasks that they could have done with ease in the past. Tasks such as bending, walking, climbing the stairs, cooking, taking care of their hygiene are all inconvenient and sometimes impossible to do, which causes one’s mental state to go through various emotions.
Dealing with emotional damage with a chronic disease can sometimes be overwhelming
Movement is encouraged
While moving certain joints affected by arthritis can sometimes be difficult and painful, it is encouraged, as it is much better than leaving those joints immobile. Going for a short walk or a ride on the bike every day is something that a person with arthritis should try and get used to.
Final word
Acquiring the proper knowledge about not only arthritis but other common conditions can often help you connect with someone on an emotional level. It can also help you support their situation, as you will understand it better. Of course, you will also help yourself by getting the motivation to undergo a checkup if you recognize that you have specific symptoms of a common disease.