What you may not know about Arthritis

Everyone has heard of it, and many people may be living with it, but what exactly is arthritis? As the leading cause of disability in the US, affecting more than 50 million adults and 300 thousand children, arthritis is a serious disease that plagues people’s wellbeing. Commonly affecting the major joints of the body and involving inflammation, stiffness, swelling, and pain, there are over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. People of any age, race, and sex can be affected by some form of arthritis. Some of the more major forms of arthritis include: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Gout, and Juvenile Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and is a degenerative form that is caused by wearing away of the cartilage surrounding joints, leading to bone on bone contact which is incredibly painful. Previous injury, age, a family history, and being overweight are all common factors that increase chances of being affected by it.

RA is when your immune system attacks healthy joint synovium and causes inflammation and pain typically on both sides of the body. RA most commonly affects middle-aged women, and is typically accompanied by morning joint stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes.

Gout causes sudden and severe joint pain typically in the big toe, but can spread to other joints in the foot and ankle. It is caused by the buildup of uric acid (excess can’t be filtered out by the kidneys) and forms painful crystals in the joints. It is 3x more common in men than in women.

Lastly, juvenile arthritis is an umbrella term for any type of arthritis that affects children under the age of 18. There is no direct understanding of why children can be affected by arthritis, but it is important to note that this disease is not just age related.

If you’ve never been diagnosed with arthritis, it is important to be aware of some of the common signs and symptoms that can be related to arthritis. Morning joint stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes is usually associated with some form of arthritis, paired with joint swelling that lasts more than 3 days and 3 or more times per month. Being aware of your body and how things are feeling is crucial to your health, and the correct identification of arthritis is important since being caught early and managed can help reduce joint damage. Always consult a licensed medical professional in the case that you may be dealing with long-term joint pain and unusual stiffness.

Is there a cure for arthritis? Unfortunately, there is no “cure” for arthritis, but there are many ways to manage it and live a productive and healthy lifestyle! One of the greatest “cures” for arthritis is regular exercise and following a healthy diet. Working with a personal trainer who understands your needs is a great way to get back on track to feeling and moving better. Utilizing effective stretching and strengthening movements like a pigeon stretch, bodyweight exercise, and lower intensity forms of cardio are all great things to include in a program for someone with arthritis.

It is important to note that each day can be very different, and sometimes flare-ups can affect how someone with arthritis may be feeling that day and limit what exercise they can do. This is very mentally and physically debilitating, which is why it is important to involve other people in your exercise journey to help stay positive and in the right train of thought.

Working with a nutritionist can also be very helpful, as those with arthritis must be very careful to avoid foods that cause inflammation (there’s a lot!) and be mindful of their weight, as being overweight does put excess stress on the joints. A big focus on eating foods rich in omega 3s, fruits and vegetables, and avoiding excess oil and salt are big nutritional recommendations for someone with arthritis looking to help decrease their inflammation.

Overall, having arthritis is not a condemning sentence, as with the proper input of exercise, nutrition, and mindfulness, people with arthritis can live a healthier and more fulfilling life doing the things they enjoy!