Arthritis Is The Number One Cause Of Physical Disability

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Arthritis Is The Number One Cause Of Physical Disability

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

The term “Arthritis” refers to more than 100 different types of diseases which all cause pain, stiffness, and inflammation in the joints of affected people. Joint pain is Prevalent in all forms of arthritis. Every type of arhritis can vary by degree of seriousness, pain, degree and duration of joint pain.

The two most prevalent types of arthritis include Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, in which joint cartilage is destroyed. In other cases of Osteoarthritis, the patient experiences bony outgrowth, also known as bone spurs and also loss of cartilage particles.

Osteoarthritis affects mostly aged people, from 55 years and older. That is why most people say it is an ‘aged disease’ of the joints. Hands, feet, spine, hips and knees of the afflicted are the most common places to find Osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients experience white blood cells in the synovial membrane dividing, growing and multiplying. They produce inflammation of the joint capsule and synovial membrane, a decrease in space in the synovial cavity, stiffness and joint pain. If there are no arthritis treatments or relief, this may lead to cartilage destruction.

Apart from these types of arthritis, another type of arthritis that commonly affects people is “Inflammatory Arthritis”. This type of arthritis causes very severe inflammation in the joints and the tendons of the victims.

This is mostly characterized by the swelling and inflammation of the synovial membrane - thereby causing severe pain and stiffness in the joints of the victims. Inflammatory arthritis makes the joint look red and warm when touched. Sufferers need relief from the constant pain of arthritis.

Arthritis treatment is therefore very important, especially in a country like the United States where Arthritis is the number one cause of physical disability. 43 million Americans suffer from arthritis in one form or the other, thats a staggering 16 percent of the total population of the united states.

It is not only adults who need relief through arthritis treatments, but also children. In the United States, about 300,000 children suffer from one type of arthritis related disease or another. Children, being very susceptible to pain, need arthritis relief and treatment more than ever before. Adults on the whole can endure more pain than children, that is why relief from arthritis is needed as soon as the problem starts for children.