Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. Alternative names Joint inflammation causes, involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint , like when you walk. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation) and stiffness.
Joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including:
1. Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Taking Glucosamine and chondroitin form the building blocks of cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such supplements, may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit. However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to try and many patients find their symptoms.
2. Bromelain
Can be found in Pineapple, very useful to reduce inflammation, pain and swelling in joints and muscles.
3.Omega 3 fatty acids
Get Omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, flax seed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.
4. Turmeric
This spice known as healing compound which reduces inflammation in joints and pain. Turmeric boiled in milk has very much effective for arthritis.
5.Ginger
Ginger tea once a day to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in joints which related to arthritis. Ginger oil massage regularly on affected area reduces the pain, stiffness and inflammation.
6.Selenium
Get selenium from Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts. It reduces the inflammation and pain in joints.
7. Gaba
Gaba is known as the natural tranquilizer which produced in our brain. It helps to keep us from stress which may cause for arthritis.
8.White Gourd Juice
White gourd juice reduces swelling and pain of arthritis. You can add milk in it too. Use it daily to cure from arthritis.
Prevention for Arthritis
Joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including:
- An autoimmune disease ( the body attacks itself because the immune system believes a body part is foreign)
- Broken bone
- General “wear and tear” on joints
- Infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses)
- Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is treated or the infection has been cleared.
- Being overweight
- Previously injuring the affected joint
- Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint (baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk)
- Arthritis can occur in men and women of all ages. The ratio of affected people in the world is almost 1 out of every 8 people.
- Adult still’s disease
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Fungal infections such as blastomycosis
- Gonococcal arthritis
- Gout
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
- Other bacterial infections ( nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
- Scleroderma
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Tertiary Lyme disease
- Tuberculous arthritis
- Viral arthritis
Symptoms
If you have arthritis, you may experience:
If you have arthritis, you may experience:
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Reduced ability to move the joint
- Redness of the skin around a joint
- Stiffness,especially in morning
- Warmth around a joint
Signs and Tests for Arthritis
First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or another musculoskeletal problem is the likely cause of your symptoms.
Next, a thorough physical examination may show that fluid is collecting in the joint. (This is called an “effusion.”). The joint may be tender when it is gently pressed, and may be warm and red (especially in infectious arthritis and auto-immune arthritis). It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some directions. This is known as “limited range or motion.”
In some autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe, untreated rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They often include blood tests and joint X-rays. To check for infection and other causes of arthritis (like gout caused by crystals), joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle and examined under a microscope. See the specific types of arthritis for further information. Treatment of arthritis depends on the particular cause, which joins are affected, severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan.
If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis. However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and discomfort and preventing further disability.
Best Tips and Exercises for Arthritis
It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle changes without medications should be used in addition to lifestyle changes. Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle aid bone strength. Your exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:
First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or another musculoskeletal problem is the likely cause of your symptoms.
Next, a thorough physical examination may show that fluid is collecting in the joint. (This is called an “effusion.”). The joint may be tender when it is gently pressed, and may be warm and red (especially in infectious arthritis and auto-immune arthritis). It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some directions. This is known as “limited range or motion.”
In some autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe, untreated rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They often include blood tests and joint X-rays. To check for infection and other causes of arthritis (like gout caused by crystals), joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle and examined under a microscope. See the specific types of arthritis for further information. Treatment of arthritis depends on the particular cause, which joins are affected, severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan.
If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis. However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and discomfort and preventing further disability.
Best Tips and Exercises for Arthritis
It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle changes without medications should be used in addition to lifestyle changes. Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle aid bone strength. Your exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:
- Low impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)
- Range of motion exercises for flexibility
- Strength training for muscle tone
A physical therapist can apply heat and cold treatments as needed and fit you for splints or orthotics (straightening) devices to support and align joints. This may be particularly necessary for rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical therapist may also consider water therapy, ice massage, or trans cutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS).
The rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8-10 hours per night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from the flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:
Avoid holding one position for too long.
Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.
Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.
Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7 days.
Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidant like Vitamin E & D. These are found in fruits and vegetables.
The rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8-10 hours per night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from the flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:
Avoid holding one position for too long.
Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.
Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.
Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7 days.
Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidant like Vitamin E & D. These are found in fruits and vegetables.
8 Best Natural Home Remedies for Arthritis
1. Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Taking Glucosamine and chondroitin form the building blocks of cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such supplements, may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit. However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to try and many patients find their symptoms.
2. Bromelain
Can be found in Pineapple, very useful to reduce inflammation, pain and swelling in joints and muscles.
3.Omega 3 fatty acids
Get Omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, flax seed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.
4. Turmeric
This spice known as healing compound which reduces inflammation in joints and pain. Turmeric boiled in milk has very much effective for arthritis.
5.Ginger
Ginger tea once a day to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in joints which related to arthritis. Ginger oil massage regularly on affected area reduces the pain, stiffness and inflammation.
6.Selenium
Get selenium from Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts. It reduces the inflammation and pain in joints.
7. Gaba
Gaba is known as the natural tranquilizer which produced in our brain. It helps to keep us from stress which may cause for arthritis.
8.White Gourd Juice
White gourd juice reduces swelling and pain of arthritis. You can add milk in it too. Use it daily to cure from arthritis.
Prevention for Arthritis
- If arthritis is diagnosed and treated early, you can prevent joint damage. Find out if you have a family history of arthritis and share this information with your doctor, even if you have no joint symptoms.
- Take care not to overwork a damaged or sore joint. Similarly avoid excessive repetitive motions.
- Excess weight also increases the risk for developing osteoarthritis in the knees and possibly in the hips.