Arthritis is a common disorder that mainly affects older people but can develop in men, women, and children of any age. Common arthritis symptoms are pain in joints, inflammation, difficulty in moving, and stiffness. There are several types of arthritis, and each type of arthritis may need different treatment. Living with arthritis is complex and disruptive, but by following some ways and therapies, you can conserve your energy, protect your joints, accomplish daily tasks more efficiently, and adapt to lifestyle disruptions. In this blog, you will go through the arthritis symptoms, causes, treatment options, and strategies to reduce the pain of arthritis.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis affects your joints due to inflammation or degeneration of your joints. Arthritis primarily affects the joints of the feet, hands, hips, and lower back.

What are the types of arthritis?

There are significant types of arthritis as given below:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Gout
• Lupus

What are the causes of arthritis?

Arthritis may be caused due to following reasons as given below:

• Wear and tear of a joint from overuse
• Age over 50 years
• Injuries or accidents
• Obesity
• Autoimmune disorders
• Genes or family history
• Muscle weakness

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis symptoms take a long time to develop but sometimes occur suddenly. Arthritis symptoms vary from one type of arthritis to another, but the most common arthritis symptoms are:

• Pain
• Redness
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Warmth
• Decreased range of motion
• Joint deformities
• Crepitus in the joints
• Popping while bending
• Muscle inflammation around joint
• Scraping feeling in the knees

There are some more general arthritis symptoms except them such as:

• Low-grade fever
• Inflammation of the eyes and mouth
• inflammation of the heart muscle and blood vessels
• Low red blood cell count

How is arthritis treated?

Arthritis treatment involves the reduction of pain and more damage to joints. Common arthritis treatment options include:

• Medications and supplements
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Nutrient-rich diet
• Regular exercise
• Weight loss, if needed
• Mobility assistance devices, such as canes or walkers

 What are the ways to live better with arthritis?

There are some ways to live with arthritis while keeping physically and mentally strong. Self-management strategies and activities to manage arthritis are given below:

i. Keep moving

Avoid sitting for a long time. When working on the screen, get up and stretch your arms after every 30 minutes. Do the same while watching TV or reading books.

ii. Avoid stress

Avoid activities that put more pressure on your joints, such as picking up a heavy thing when you’ve arthritis.

iii. Discover your strength

Find out your stronger joints and muscles to work out or pick up heavy things. This strategy will reduce the stress on the infected hand.

iv. Plan ahead

Simplify your life as much as possible by eliminating unnecessary activities from your life. It’ll not only save you time, but it’ll ease your life when you have arthritis.

v. Pay attention to your emotions

Living with arthritis can lead to depression and anxiety. To manage depression, develop a network of family and friends who raise your spirits and help you keep active.

vi. Take Action

It is natural to be upset or worried after being diagnosed with arthritis. But those who live successfully with chronic diseases accept their diagnosis as soon as possible to make plans and take actions to manage their condition.

v. Learn techniques to help manage your pain

There are many techniques you can use to deal with the pain of arthritis. What works for one person may not work for another, so you may have to try different techniques until you find what works best for you.

Conclusion

Arthritis is a common disease that affects your joints. Arthritis is caused by many factors such as obesity, overage, muscle weakness, or family history. Common arthritis symptoms are pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and inflammation. Five kinds of arthritis are common in people of all ages. Arthritis can’t be treated entirely. Instead, its symptoms, such as pain, can be controlled by medications, supplements, exercise, therapies, etc. There are simple strategies and ways to overcome the pain and live with this chronic disease by accepting it.