September 10, 2008
Arthritis – A Life Long Condition?
INTRODUCTION: Arthritis is defined as the presence of swelling, the presence of effusion (The escape of fluid into another part), or the presence of 2 or more of the following signs: limited range of motion (ROM), tenderness, pain on motion, or joint warmth. It is a chronic disease that will be with you for a long time and possibly for the rest of your life and is diagnosed through a careful evaluation of symptoms and a physical examination.
Arthritis is one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in North America and is a major cause of lost work time and serious disability for many people. It is not just an old person’s disease. The two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune problem that occurs when the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium (cell lining inside the joint). It appears to have been described in paintings more than a century before the first detailed medical description of the disease in 1800 by Landre-Beauvais. The malady can be difficult to diagnose early because it can begin slowly with subtle symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis often begins in middle age and is most common in older people.
TREATMENT: Treatment options include medications, reduction of joint stress, physical and occupational therapy, and surgical intervention. Treatment decisions require careful consideration of the risks and benefits.
Treating rheumatoid arthritis may involve: Lifestyle changes, Medicine, Surgery, Regular doctor visits as well as Alternative therapies. The goal of treatment in this chronic disease must be two-fold: to alleviate the suffering of the patient here and now, and to prevent the future destruction of the joints and resulting handicap if the disease is left unchecked.
RISK: The risk of first developing the disease (the disease incidence) appears to be greatest for women between 40 and 50 years of age, and for men somewhat later. It is important to recognize that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have an increased risk of developing lymphoma as a consequence of their autoimmune disease, independently from any potential medication effects.
It is important to understand that rheumatoid arthritis is itself a risk factor for non-Hodgkins lymphomas. A modest increase in the risk of serious infection was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients in clinical trials treated with anakinra in combination with DMARDS and other TNF inhibitors, compared to a placebo with DMARDs (2 % versus 1%).
CONCLUSION: Arthritis is a term that groups together over 100 rheumatic conditions and other related problems that cause stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints of the body. It is exploding in an aging US population and is one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in The United States. Arthritis is a chronic disease that will be with you for a long time and possibly for the remainder of your life.
Filed under Arthritis by Richard H Ealom
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