One of the more usual kinds of inflammation of the joint, Osteoarthritis, can have differing causing from person to person. Various individuals inherit cartilage that is defective or have abnormalities of their spine when they are born that puts added weight and stress on one of their joints, resulting in both spine inflammation and back pain. Others have gained weight and developed the disease as a result of the increased pressure.

Knee and hip osteoarthritis are especially prevalent in overweight individuals. Injuries contribute to the development of this disease in athletes and young people, and the knees and spine are commonly affected areas in this case. Joint overuse increases the risk of developing the disease too, particularly in the hand and knee regions. Regardless of the particular cause, the Arthritis Foundation reports that there are things you can do that will help with your pain as well as slowing any progression of this disease, which afflicts close to 21 millions people in the United States alone.

Some people feel uncomfortable with taking medicine and have always disliked even taking Tylenol for a headache. There are some alternative treatments for osteoarthritis patients that are more natural for the body. Some of the more recent medical research shows that supplements which are natural, such as chondroitin as well as glucosamine, might provide relief from pain as well as assist in stimulating a persons body to reconstitute some cartilage, especially for people who suffer from knee arthritis.

Some people also use methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) for arthritis but the jury is still out as to their effectiveness. Acupuncture and bioelectric therapy have also been used to calm nerves and release a relieving flow of natural endorphins. Supportive devices like canes, crutches or braces can remove some of the pressure as well.

It can be disappointing to learn that your weight has caused osteoarthritis and that you now need to lose some weight to take the burden off your joints, even though you're suffering pain in your knees, hips, spine or shoulders. Regardless of how challenging of might be to you mentally to begin, your body will start to feel a little better as you exercise. Psychologically, you will have a better feeling about yourself as well as being more in control. Gradually, you will discover that you will get higher levels of mobility as well as additional ease at completing your daily tasks. Low impact exercises, such as swimming, biking or walking, are recommended.

For people with knee pain, strengthening exercises with light weights for the quadriceps are encouraged. Range-of-motion flexibility exercises that include stretching are very common in physical therapy sessions. Forget about aerobics or jogging, and avoid overdoing it. If the joints in your body hurt too much for a duration of more than 2 hoursm then you have exerted yourself too much. Prior to as well as after doing exercise you can attempt using heat/cold pack to assist in lowering instances of pain or redness. Braces, rest breaks, decreasing your speed or duration and reducing your weight can modify the level of intensity to give you the ideal workout.

You may be wondering, "When is surgery necessary for osteoarthritis pain?" If you have tried medication, lifestyle changes and other treatment options, then further action may be required. If you find that you can't participate in your everyday activities and the chronic pain is impeding your life and making you more sedentary, then resist!

Think about surgery like an arthroscopy, that clears out cartilage that is broken (anything except knee). joint replacement therapy (knee or hip), or joint fusion. Often surgery is not recommended for younger patients because they may need a new hip or knee replacement later in life. Surgery is also one of the more immediately expensive options, so it may not be for everyone. Nevertheless, for indivduals who have chronic pain, going through surgery can be the only path to aquiring more mobility as well as a better quality of life.

To learn more go to Arthritis Pain and at Lumbar Arthritis

When you are young, it’s hard to imagine a day when opening a jar of peanut-butter or walking from the house to the car can result in excruciating pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory joint pain, can sneak up on us as we age, yet it can even affect children. While there’s no treatment, there are ways of managing the pain of arthritis and preventing further damage.

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: joint pain, joint swelling and joints that are tender to the touch. Whether you have red puffy hands, firm bumps of tissue beneath the skin on your arms, or morning stiffness that lasts at least thirty minutes, you may have some level of the disease. Often, sufferers feel tired, lose weight and sense changes in wrists, hands, ankles and feet at first. In later stages, the elbows, shoulders, knees, hips and the jaw and neck can also be affected. Signs and symptoms of pain may flare up and then alternate with periods of relative remission.

Doctors say there are some factors that may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, women are more likely than men to develop the disease. Most arthritis sufferers are between 40 and 60. While it’s not a disease that you can directly inherit, there may be a predisposition throughout genealogy. Smoking cigarettes and eating too much red meat may also be contributing factors. If you have persistent discomfort and swelling in various joints on both sides of your body, then be sure to see your doctor.

There are many medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/NSAIDs (like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin and Aleve) can provide pain relief and reduce inflammation. Steroids/Corticosteroid medications (like prednisone and methylprednisolone) reduce swelling and pain, in addition to slowing joint damage. These are intended for short term use only. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs/DMARDs (like Plaquenil, Ridaura, Azulfidine, Dynacin and Rheumatrex) are used to limit joint damage over time. Immuno-suppressants (like Arava, Imuran, Neoral and Cytoxan) are aimed at taming your immune system, which has been disrupted by the disease. TNF-alpha inhibitors (like Enbrel, Remicade or Humira) reduces morning stiffness and tender joints within 1-2 weeks, helping to prevent long term damage. Kineret, Rituximab or Orencia may be prescribed if other treatments fail, as these injected pain management drugs provide stronger medication for chronic pain sufferers, yet also pose greater risks of side effects. Your health care practitioner will assess your unique case and offer the best individualized solution for you.

To learn more go to Arthritis Joint Pain and at Rheumatoid Arthritis