In Greek, ‘arthro’ means joints while ‘it is’ means inflammation. Join the two together and you get ‘arthritis’ which is inflammation of the joints which is the place where two different bones of our body meet. Bones are the framework of our body and the joints connect the bones. They are protected by cartilage which acts as a cushion between the bones. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage breaks or in case of extreme wear and tear owing to injury, disease, excess physical activity and age.
Symptoms
The arthritis symptoms vary from warmth and redness to limited functions of the joint and even creaky joints. Generally, symptoms include swelling, deformity, joint pain and muscle stiffness, loss of appetite, unexplained loss of weight, fever, crepitus (creaky or snapping joints) and exhaustion. In arthritis people generally experience pain in the joints of spine, knee, hips and hands. The affected area and the area around it become hot, red and swollen. The joints become stiff for hours making it impossible to move from place for some time. A crackling noise is heard when they get up from chair or get out of the bed. There may or may not be pain along with crackling. As the condition progresses people become weak and they find it difficult to move or even stand up. They become exhausted easily and grow weak since they lose appetite. In worst cases, patients suffer from an onset of fever.
Treatment
The arthritis treatment largely depends on the type and the extent of its seriousness. Consulting a doctor for correct diagnosis and treatment is hence recommended. Generally, treatment includes applying alternating cold and hot packs, altering the current lifestyle and diet patterns, regular exercises, and medications. It is necessary to follow the medication and exercise regime religiously in order to minimize the symptoms of arthritis. Surgery maybe performed in extreme cases.
