Medical Condition - Arthritis

Arthritis - Medical Description

Arthritis means “inflammation of a joint or joints” of your body. The area around the joint becomes inflamed, causing pain and stiffness, which can last a very long time and lead to tissue damage. Some types of arthritis can affect other parts of the body like the skin and internal organs.

Arthritis is the most common disability in the USA. There are over 100 types of arthritis that can be mildly painful to completely debilitating. Over 20 million people have severe limitations in function on a daily basis because of arthritis.



The most common types of arthritis include:

• Osteoarthritis - The most common type of arthritis. It usually comes with age and most commonly affects the fingers, back, knees and hips. These are called the weight bearing joints. Osteoarthritis is sometimes followed by an injury to a joint. It occurs when the cartilage that covers the end of the bones gradually wears away. Without cartilage the bones begin to rub against each other. This results in friction that leads to pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis is sometimes called the degenerative joint disease. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis it is the disease of the elderly and 30% of females have some degree of osteoarthritis by age 65.


• Rheumatoid arthritis - Considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the tissues of the body. In severe cases the attack may not be only with the joints but to many other parts of the body, like the skin, eyes, lungs and nerves. This can lead to severe deformity in later years. Rheumatoid arthritis mostly occurs in people 20 years old and older.


• Gout - Gout is a painful condition that occurs when the body cannot get rid of a natural substance called uric acid. This acid forms needle-like crystals in the joints that cause swelling and severe pain.

Medical Symptoms

The main symptoms of arthritis are pain and swelling of the joint, but other symptoms found in arthritis include:

• Stiffness
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Warmth
• Fever
• Weight Loss
• Fatigue

Some risk factors in arthritis

• The risk of developing arthritis increases with age.
• Arthritis is most common in women than men.
• Being overweight puts a lot of stress on the weight bearing joints most common in osteoarthritis.
• A lot of heavy lifting can cause stress on the joints.
• Repetitive movements can cause stress on the joints.

Medical Diagnosis

To diagnose arthritis the doctor will do a physical exam. X-rays or an MRI can be taken as well. In some types of arthritis, urine and bloods test may be necessary to rule out other diseases and to establish which type of arthritis is present.

Medical Treatment

The treatment of arthritis may include medication for inflammation, physical therapy, heat/cold compresses, braces or splints, and surgery. Your treatment plan may involve more than one of these options depending on the type of arthritis diagnosed.

Recommended Product Relief Solutions

• Biofreeze Pain Relief Gel, Roll-On or Cryospray - In large or small sizes.
• Bionic Gloves - Independent testing with the National Arthritis Foundation showed Bionic gloves improved the torque, pinch and grip of people who suffer from arthritis.
• Car Caddie Helping Hand - Helps you get in and out of your vehicle with ease.
• Moist Heat Aromatherapy Warming Mittens - Soothing heated gloves.
• Parabath Paraffin Therapy System - Provides soothing moist heat to warm joints, tissue and skin.
• Thermoskin Arthritis & Repetitive Motion Gloves - Provides warmth & even compression to decrease inflammation.
• Stander Security Pole with Curved Grab Bar - A very useful tension mounted floor to ceiling assistive device that can help you stand up or sitdown.
• Contour Cloud Memory Foam Mattress Topper - Pressure studies prove that your body weight is more evenly distributed with our matress topper so you wake up with much less pain or pain-free.
• Thermophore Arthritis Moist Heating Pad - The moist heat heating pad doctors recommend most.

Health Resources - Helpful Websites & Articles

• All Flared Up: An Arthritis Blog
• The Arthritis Library
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior - Bringing encouragement & info to fight RA
• Arthritis Today - From the Arthritis Foundation
• Arthritis Today - The Tin Mom Blog
• Cat's Claw - Rainforest Plant Kills Cancer Cells and Provides Hope for Arthritis Relief
• Learn how to Relieve Arthritis Joint Pain with Apple Cider Vinegar
• The Arthritis Trust of America - Dedicated to eradicating rheumatoid disease from the earth