Arthritis (Arthritis)
Arthritis, also known as arthritis, is a joint condition that involves inflammation / inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis is found in over 100 different varieties and forms, among other things rheumatic arthritis (RA), septic arthritis or Psoriasis arthritis - and the word arthritis is thus often used as an umbrella term for inflammation of joints - including in the hands and fingers. We recommend the use of compression gloves (link opens in new window) for you who are bothered with stiff fingers and sore hands.
Osteoarthritis (joint wear due to trauma, age or infection) is also considered a form of arthritis, although it does not involve inflammation in the same way as other arthritis. Arthritis most commonly affects weight-bearing joints, but can theoretically affect all joints. Feel free to contact us on Facebook or YouTube if you have questions or suggestions. Further down in the article, you will find two exercise videos that are suitable for you with arthritis.
TIP: Many people with osteoarthritis and arthritis like to use specially adapted compression gloves (link opens in new window) for improved function in hands and fingers. These are especially common among rheumatologists and those who suffer from chronic carpal tunnel syndrome. Possibly there is also toe pullers og specially adapted compression socks if you are bothered by stiff and sore toes - possibly hallux valgus (inverted big toe).
Affected by chronic pain - or maybe you just have questions about pain? Join the Facebook group for free «Rheumatism and Chronic Pain - Norway: Research and News»For the latest updates on research and media writing about chronic pain and rheumatic disorders. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.
Also read: 9 Tips for Better Sleep with Fibromyalgia
Definition of Arthritis (Arthritis)
The word arthritis comes from Greek arthro, which means joint, and itis (Latin) which means inflammation. If we add the two words we get the definition arthritis.
Symptoms of Arthritis (Arthritis)
The symptoms and the clinical picture will depend on what form of arthritis it is - and which joint or joints are affected. But here are some symptoms that can be seen in a variety of forms of arthritis:
Dysfunction / impairment (Use of hands, knees and ankles may be difficult for certain arthritis)
Swelling (Often there may be swelling or swelling around inflamed joints)
Pain (Almost all forms of arthritis have varying degrees of muscle and joint pain)
Stiffness in joints (Inflammation of the joints can cause joint stiffness and reduced movement)
aching ("Work" is a symptom that is often reported by people with arthritis / arthritis)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the hand - Photo Wikimedia
Other symptoms that may occur include:
Anemia (Low blood percentage)
movement Difficulties (Walking and general movement can be difficult and painful)
Diarrhea (Often associated with intestinal inflammation)
Bad condition (Often a secondary effect due to lack of movement / exercise)
Bad sleep (Reduced sleep quality and awakening is a fairly common symptom)
Poor dental health and gum problems
Changes in blood pressure
Fever (Inflammation and inflammation can cause fever)
Reap
High CRP (Indication of infection or inflammation)
High pulse
Cold hands
Itching
Low metabolism (eg in combination with Hashimoto's thyroiditis)
stomach Problems (Inflammation processes can contribute to stomach problems and abdominal pain)
Less flexibility (Less mobility in joints and muscles)
period cramps (Arthritis may be affected by hormonal factors)
Dry Mouth (Often associated Sjögren's disease)
morning Stiffness (Many forms of arthritis can cause stiffness in the morning)
Muscle weakness (Arthritis can lead to muscle wasting, muscle damage and decreased strength)
Overweight (Often a secondary effect due to inability to move)
Back pain
Dizziness (Dizziness can occur in a variety of forms of arthritis and joint conditions, which can be secondary to tight muscles and stiff joints)
Intestinal Problems
fatigue
Exhaustion (Due to ongoing processes in the body, people with arthritis can often feel exhausted and very tired)
Rash
Weight Loss (Involuntary weight loss may occur in arthritis)
Soreness and hypersensitivity (Increased tenderness of touch that should not really be painful can occur in arthritis)
Eye Inflammation
Taken together or alone, these symptoms can lead to a significantly reduced quality of life and functioning
It has also been noted that many people affected by arthritis often also have increased incidence of the following diagnoses to varying degrees:
Celiac Disease
Heart disease
Lymphatic disease and lymphoma
Ulcer
Osteoporosis / osteoporosis
Psoriasis
Mental health problems
Urinary infection
Treatment of Arthritis (Arthritis)
Unfortunately, there is no direct cure for arthritis. The treatment is primarily aimed at reducing the inflammation in affected joints - and ensuring optimal function in muscles, tendons and joints, so that irritation and the actual cause of the inflammation can be minimized. If the arthritis is due to systemic rheumatoid arthritis, it is important that you consult with your GP regarding the best use of anti-inflammatory drugs in relation to both dosage and which drug to use.
In addition to medication, focus is also on inflammation-reducing diet, adapted exercise and physical therapy. Did you know that exercise can work directly anti-inflammatory (anti-inflammatory)?
Given that arthritis especially affects weight-bearing joints, we have chosen to show two videos here that target knees and hips. If you are more affected in other areas, then we remind that we have videos too hands, shoulders, back og neck.
Video: 6 Exercises against Osteoarthritis in the Knees
Video: Strength Training for the Hips with Elastic
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Recommended Self-Help for Rheumatic and Chronic Pain
- Compression Noise (such as compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles or specially adapted compression gloves against rheumatic symptoms in the hands)
Click on the image to read more about compression gloves.
- Mini tapes (many with rheumatic and chronic pain feel that it is easier to train with custom elastics)
- Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)
- Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)
- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.
Other treatments may include:
- Electrical Treatment / Current Therapy (TENS)
- Electromagnetic processing
- Physical treatment and physiotherapy
- Low-dose laser treatment
- Lifestyle changes
- Chiropractic joint mobilization and chiropractic
- Dietary advice
- Cold treatment
- Medical treatment
- Operation
- Support of joints (eg rails or other forms of joint support)
Sick leave and rest
- Heat treatment
Electrical Treatment / Current Therapy (TENS)
A large systematic review study (Cochrane, 2000) concluded that power therapy (TENS) was more effective in pain management of knee arthritis than placebo.
Electromagnetic treatment of arthritis / arthritis
Pulsed electromagnetic therapy has proven effective against arthritis pain (Ganesan et al, 2009).
Physical treatment and physiotherapy in the treatment of arthritis / arthritis
Physical treatment can have a good effect on affected joints and can also lead to increased function, as well as improved quality of life. Adapted exercise and movement are recommended on a general basis to maintain the joint's health and the person's overall health situation.
Here's another exercise program adapted to those with rheumatism and arthritis:
VIDEO (In this video you can see all the exercises with explanations along the way):
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Low-dose laser treatment
Studies have shown that low-dose laser (also called anti-inflammatory laser) can act as an analgesic and improve function in the treatment of arthritis. The quality of research is moderate - and larger studies are needed to be able to say more about efficiency.
Lifestyle changes and arthritis
Helping to keep one's weight, exercising properly and not least eating right can be very important for the quality of one affected by arthritis. Eg. then increased weight and overweight can lead to even greater stress for the affected joint, which in turn can lead to more pain and poorer function. Otherwise, those with arthritis are often advised to stop smoking tobacco products.
Joint mobilization in arthritis / arthritis
Adapted joint mobilization has shown that joint mobilization performed by a chiropractor or manual therapist also has a proven clinical effect:
“A meta-study (French et al, 2011) showed that manual treatment of hip osteoarthritis had a positive effect in terms of pain relief and functional improvement. The study concluded that manual therapy is more effective than exercise in the treatment of arthritis disorders. "
Dietary advice for arthritis
Given that this is an inflammation (inflammation) in this diagnosis, it is important to focus your food intake on anti-inflammatory food and diet - and not least avoid pro-inflammatory temptations (high sugar content and low nutritional value). Glucosamine sulfate in combination with chondroitin sulfate (Read: 'Glucosamine sulfate against wear?') has also shown an effect against moderate osteoarthritis of the knees in a larger pooled study (Clegg et al, 2006). In the list below, we have divided foods that you should eat and foods you should avoid if you have arthritis / arthritis.
Foods that fight inflammation (foods to eat):
Berries and fruits (e.g., orange, blueberries, apples, strawberries, cherries and goji berries)
Bold fish (eg salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines)
turmeric
Green vegetables (eg spinach, cabbage and broccoli)
Ginger
Coffee (its anti-inflammatory effect can help fight inflammation)
Nuts (eg almonds and walnuts)
Olive oil
Omega 3
tomatoes
To conclude a little about food that should be eaten, one can say that the diet should be aimed at a so-called Mediterranean diet, which has a high content of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and healthy oils. Such a diet will of course have many other positive effects - such as more control over weight and a generally healthier everyday life with more energy.
Foods that stimulate inflammation (foods to avoid):
Alcohol (e.g. beer, red wine, white wine and spirits)
Processed meat (e.g. non-fresh burger meat that has gone through several such preservation processes)
Brus
Deep fried foods (eg french fries)
Gluten (many people with arthritis react negatively to gluten)
Milk / lactose products (Many believe that milk should be avoided if you are affected by arthritis)
Refined carbohydrates (eg light bread, pastry and similar baking)
Sugar (High sugar content can promote increased inflammation / inflammation)
The mentioned food groups are thus some of those that should be avoided - as these can aggravate the arthritis and arthritis symptoms.
Cold treatment and arthritis (arthritis)
On a general basis, it is recommended to treat colds in the symptoms of arthritis. This is due to the fact that cold calms down inflammatory processes in the area.
Compression noise and compression supports
Compression causes increased blood circulation to the treated area. This circulation can lead to less inflammatory reactions and increased function in the affected joints. We especially recommend compression gloves (the link opens in a new window) - as they are shown in the image below.
Compression gloves - pressure here to read more about them via DinHelsebutikk
Read more: This is how Compression Clothing can help in the fight against Rheumatoid Arthritis
Massage and arthritis
Massage and muscle work can have a symptom-relieving effect on tight muscles and stiff joints.
Medication and arthritis / arthritis medications
There are a number of medications and medications that are designed to treat arthritis and arthritis symptoms. The most common procedure is to start with the drugs that have the least negative side effects and then try stronger medicines if the first ones do not work properly. The type of medication used varies depending on the type of arthritis / arthritis that the person is afflicted with.
Common painkillers and medicines come in pill form and as tablets - some of the most commonly used are paracetamol (paracetamol), ibux (ibuprofen) and opiates. In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a so-called anti-rheumatic drug called Methotrexate is also used - this simply works directly against the immune system and leads to a later progression of this condition.
Arthritis / arthritis surgery
In certain forms of erosive arthritis, ie arthritic conditions that break down and destroy the joints (eg rheumatoid arthritis), it may be necessary to replace the joints if they become so damaged that they no longer function. This is of course something you do not want and which should be a last resort due to risks of surgery and surgery, but which may be extremely necessary in certain cases. For example. Prosthetic surgery in the hip and knee is relatively common due to arthritis, but is unfortunately no guarantee that the pain will go away. Recent studies have cast doubt on whether surgery is better than just training - and certain studies have also shown that adapted training can be better than surgery. In some cases, cortisone may be tried before going to the drastic surgery.
Sick leave and arthritis
In the emerging phase of arthritis and arthritis, it may be necessary to report sick and rest - often in combination with treatment. The course of sick leave will vary and it is impossible to say anything specific about how long an arthritis sufferer will be on sick leave. NAV is the organizing body together with the sick notifier. If the condition worsens, this can lead to the person not being able to work, becoming disabled, and then dependent on disability benefit / disability pension.
Heat treatment and arthritis
On a general basis, cold is recommended in the treatment of symptoms of arthritis. This is due to the fact that cold calms down inflammatory processes in the area - heat can work on the opposite basis and give an increased inflammatory process towards the affected joint. That being said, it is often recommended to use heat on nearby muscle groups for symptom relief of tight, sore muscles. Of course, this does not mean that arthritis and the south do not go hand in hand - but the effect of warmer areas aimed at arthritis and arthritis probably works on many levels that contribute to increased physical and mental well-being.
Help for Self Help with Rheumatism
We recommend joining your local rheumatism team and joining the Facebook group for free «Rheumatism and Chronic Pain - Norway: Research and News»For the latest updates on chronic pain and rheumatic disorders. Here, members can also get help and support - at all times of the day - through the exchange of their own experiences and advice.
- Other questions we have received regarding Arthritis / Arthritis:
Breastfeeding and Arthritis
Questions: I am a woman of 27 years with proven arthritis. Ever wondered if it was dangerous for my baby to breastfeed her?
Hi, no, it is not dangerous for your child, but it is of course relevant if you have been put on medication that may affect your child. Always consult a doctor if you are unsure. The fact that you have arthritis does not affect breast milk. Breast milk is the way your baby ingests the most useful of nutrients and immune-boosting building blocks, so by stopping and breastfeeding, you unfortunately take away a lot of important nutrients from an essential part of your baby's upbringing. Forms of arthritis are unfortunately genetically determined, so there is a chance that you have passed on this gene to your child - but this is not known until recently.
Children and Arthritis
Questions: Can arthritis also affect children?
Hi, yes, it can. Certain forms of arthritis can affect children under 18, and are then called juvenile arthritis. The most common form of such arthritis is called idiopathic (unknown origin) juvenile arthritis, but there are also several other forms of arthritis that can occur in children.
Pregnancy and Arthritis
Questions: 24-year-old woman with arthritis. I am very worried about getting pregnant, as I hear that this often goes beyond the pelvis and lower back. Even at a young age, there has been occasional back pain, and I'm simply not sure if I should get pregnant - because I wonder if pregnancy can ruin my back.
Hey, it's always incredibly boring when arthritis strikes at a young age. Unfortunately, we have no grounds for commenting on your individual case, but we know that most joints with arthritis have very successful pregnancies and pregnancies. You are right that there may be an increased incidence of pelvic and back problems, but specific exercise combined with customized joint treatment (eg chiropractor or manual therapist) can reduce the symptom picture and ensure that the function stays fine throughout pregnancy. We also recommend training / exercises aimed at strengthening hip stability (read more and see examples here) and knee strength. Otherwise feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions or similar.
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