USF-COM
Department
of Family Medicine
Patient Education Information on...
Index of
Patient Education Topics
Why is arthritis important?
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Arthritis is a condition that affects some 400 million Americans, one in
seven individuals, so it costs the economy about $64.8 billion in medical
care and lost wages
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It is the #1 cause of limited movement in this country often affecting
everyday activities such as walking, dressing, and bathing. Arthritis
continues to be one of the most prevalent chronic health problems we face.
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How do I know if I have Arthritis
Arthritis is a disorder which can affect anybody, including people of all
ages, races,and both genders. Commonly, we think of the elderly when
discussing arthritis; however, it even affects 285,000 children in the
USA alone. Many professional athletes have even fallen victim to
this disabling disease. Arthritis take an especially heavy toll on
females who account for two-thirds of those with the disease.
Warning Signs may include:
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joint pain
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swelling
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stiffness
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difficulty moving
More systmeic symptoms may also be present such as:
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fatigue
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malaise
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low grade fever
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Disease associated with Arthritis
There are over 100 specific causes of arthritis. The most common
type is osteoarthritis, affecting as many as 10% of our population.
Other forms of the disease include:
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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juvenile arthritis
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ankylosing spondylitis
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systemic lupus erythematosis
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scleroderma
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psoriatic
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polymyalgia rheumatica
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gout
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pseudogout
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infectious arthritis
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Lyme disesase
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tendinitis
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bursitis
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Reiter's syndrome
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Sjogren Syndrome
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many more
The rest of this website will briefly describe some of the most common
forms.
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Osteoarthritis (OA)
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Again, this is the most common type.
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It generally affects those over 45 years of age.
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It is also known as degenertive joint disease (DJD) because there is a
gradual loss of cartilage, or cushoin, at the ends of bones in affected
joints.
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Eventually the bones begin to rub on top of each other, producing pain
and occasionally disfigurement of the joint itself.
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OA can be the result of normal "wear and tear" to a joint, or may follow
joint injury.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
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RA is a serious autoimmune disease. This means that the patient's
immune system has produces chemicals called antibodies that attack it's
own joint lining.
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This chronic inflammation produces deterioration of the joint, pain, and
limited movement.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
SLE is another severe autoimmune disease.
SLE not only affects the joints, but also affects various other organs
and other connective tissues throughout the body. For example, the
kidneys, the brain, and the skin can all be affected.
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Gout
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Gout is a disorder in which the body accumulates too much uric acid.
Uric acid is a substance which can crystallize in the fluid within the
joint.
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This can produce severe pain in small joints such as in the big toe.
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Fortunately, gout can be completely controlled with a proper diet and medications.
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What can I do?
One of the main goals in the treatment of arthritis is pain management.
General steps to avoid pain include
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Regular exercise program -- maintain joint flexibility and
muscle strength. Avoid heavy, "jerky", movements which may strain
the muscles or further damage the joints. Even brief exercise sessions
a couple of times day can be effective. Specific questions and concerns
about exercise should be addressed with your doctor.
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Joint protection techniques -- some have success with canes,
walkers, or splints which may help decrease forces on some joints if used
properly.
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Weight loss -- this is important because it can reduce the
force that the body puts on the weight-bearing joints (hips, knees, spine).
Weight loss through regular exercise is ideal because it keeps the joints
flexible and the muscles around the joints strong
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Application of heat and cold -- many patients also find success
with hot or cold compresses to areas where joint inflammation is the most
bothersome. This can be done shortly before and after exercise.
A typical routine may involve the application of a warm compress for about
15 min. prior to exercise, followed by a cold compress in a similar fashion
after exercise.
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Medications -- may be necessary for pain control, to decrease
inflammation, and in treating some of the specific causes of arthritis.
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Aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are over the counter (OTC) medicines
which help to decrease inflammation.
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OTC pain killers such as acetominophen (Tylenol) may help to relieve some
joint pain.
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Keep in mind that is is important to tell the
doctor all of the medications you are taking for symtom control, including
OTC preparations.
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Also keep in mind that even OTC medicines are
capable of producing side effects like stomach irritation.
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If symtpoms of stomach irritation become too severe
or you notice blood in the stool (including black, tarry stools), the dosage
may need to be decreased or the medication may need to be discontinued
altogether.
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Your doctor may also place you on a prescription
medication based on the type and severity of your arthritic condition.
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Rest
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Where can I find information about arthritis?
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Arthritis-http://wlake.com/sky/asmp.html
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Arthritis Foundation - http://www.arthritis.org/
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Elfstrom Arthritis & Rheumatology - http://www.elfstrom.com/arthritis/index.html