National Arthritis Awareness Month

May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. An opportunity to learn about the 100+ different types of Arthritis, their symptoms, causes, and treatments.

Getting a proper diagnosis and finding a treatment plan starts with education. Arthritis affects each person differently, so treatment plans can vary greatly from person to person.
 
Categorized as the inflammation of one or more joints, Arthritis causes stiffness and pain in the joints it affects. There are over 100 forms of arthritis impacting over 50 million Americans.

​Arthritis worsens joints over time and often leads to disability due to pain, swelling and difficulty with movement.

The two most common forms of Arthritis are Rheumatoid Arthritis which affects 1.3 million adults in the U.S. and Osteoarthritis which affects 32.5 million adults in the U.S. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage between joints to break down over time while Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes one’s immune system to attack the joints.

​There are many risk factors that can lead to someone developing Arthritis. Men are more likely to develop another form of Arthritis known as Gout, while women are more likely to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

The likelihood of developing many forms of Arthritis increases with age and family history can factor in heavily as there are several types of Arthritis that are genetic.

​Additionally, if you’ve suffered a previous injury to any joint, you’re more likely to develop Arthritis in that joint. There are also several types of Arthritis where the cause of development is unknown. 

While there is no cure for Arthritis, there are a variety of ways to treat and manage this condition.

​Common over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen are often recommended to help manage pain.

Hot and cold treatments have also proven helpful for many living with Arthritis. It is recommended to switch between the two and focus on cold treatments when there is swelling.

​Other treatments include immobilizing the joint utilizing a splint to limit movement and allow the joint to rest and massage to increase blood flow. ​

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