Growing old is one of the inevitabilities of life. We learn to accept this as a fact of life and try our best not to think about it. Instead, we live our lives to the fullest by chasing our dreams or realising that we’re already living the dream. But despite our positive attitude towards life, it doesn’t take long until old age creeps up on us and starts to inhibit our lives. There are many conditions that affect those who are within their senior years. Be it mental conditions, physical ailments or a combination of both, we have to learn how to take care of our elderly loved ones.
One of the most difficult conditions to cope with is arthritis. It’s misunderstood and people often refer to it as a joint condition that limits your mobility. While somewhat true, it’s not the whole picture. To help you get a better understanding of arthritis, here is some advice and information to take on board when dealing with loved ones who are suffering from it.
Types of Arthritis
There are actually around a hundred different types of arthritis, with the three most common ones being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
This is the most common form of arthritis. It’s characterised by joint pains that occur as a result of old age. Usually, the joints that hurt the most are the ones that were used most frequently during someone’s earlier years. However, this type of arthritis can also occur as a result of obesity. The extra weight means the joints have to work harder to keep the body standing, causing pain in places like the knee, hip and spine.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis usually include deep pains and trouble carrying out daily activities. Pain might occur in various joints, and they are usually swollen or difficult to use. Rheumatoid arthritis is actually a type of autoimmune disease, meaning your own immune system attacks the joints in your body and causes pain and swelling. This can lead to severe pain and damage to the joints if left untreated.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Lastly, psoriatic arthritis is common in people who have the condition psoriasis, which is an inflammation of the skin. This skin condition usually causes dry red and white patches of inflamed skin. Common places include joint areas such as the back of the elbows and knees. Due to the inflammation of the skin, this eventually leads to pains in the joints where psoriasis is common. It’s unknown what exactly triggers the inflammation, but there are ointments and therapy sessions available to treat it.
Treating Arthritis
Arthritis treatments vary depending on the condition, which is why it’s important to first diagnose the type of arthritis before trying any medicine. Some types of arthritis, such as gout, can usually be treated with something like Caruso’s gout relief tablets. However, types such as osteoarthritis usually require a combination of lifestyle changes, medication and therapy.
Final Words
Hopefully this brief article has shed some light on arthritis. The term is too often used to describe any kind of joint pain and this can lead to a misdiagnosis or a bad recommendation. Make sure you identify the type of arthritis that your elderly loved one is suffering from before you make unnecessary changes to their lifestyle.