Buy Nurenex
for Arthritis
About Arthritis
Research & Publications
Clinical Trials
Products
& Services
In the News
Contact Us
Home |
Arthritis
is a disease that involves inflammation of one or more joints. ("Arthr"
refers to joints, and "itis" to inflammation.)
Joint inflammation is the body's reaction to various disease
processes. These include mechanical injury to a joint (including
fracture), the presence of an infection (usually caused by bacteria or
viruses), an attack on the joints by the body itself (an autoimmune
disease), or accumulated "wear and tear" on joints.
With
some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or
destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. This is
considered arthritis. There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis with
many different possible causes.
Osteoarthritis is the most common variety of arthritis in the United
States. This arthritis often results from years of accumulated "wear
and tear" on joints, and tends to occur in the elderly in hips, knees,
and finger joints.
Arthritis can occur in males and females of all ages. About 37 million
people in America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out
of every 7 people. In people over 55 years of age, women are more
likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. Other risk factors for
osteoarthritis are obesity, a history of trauma, and various genetic
and metabolic diseases.
Some of the diseases that cause arthritis
include:
-
Osteoarthritis
-
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
-
Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
-
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
-
Gout
-
Scleroderma
-
Psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis)
-
Fungal
infections such as blastomycosis
-
Ankylosing spondylitis
-
Reiter's syndrome/Reactive arthritis
-
Septic
arthritis
-
Adult
Still's disease
-
Tertiary Lyme disease (the late stage)
-
Tuberculosis (tuberculous arthritis)
-
Viral
infections (viral arthritis)
-
Gonorrhea (gonococcal arthritis)
-
Other
bacterial infections (non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis)
Patients
with arthritis may suffer from the following symptoms:
-
Joint
pain
-
Joint
swelling
-
Early
morning stiffness
-
Warmth
around a joint
-
Redness of the skin around a joint
-
Reduced ability to move the joint
-
Unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness that occurs with joint
pain
TREATMENT:
There
are many different kinds of arthritis. Treatment varies, depending on
the particular cause, how severe the disease is, which joints are
affected, to what degree the patient is affected, and the person's
age, occupation, and daily activities.
Treatment may focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the
arthritis. However, the cause usually is NOT curable. Treatment
therefore aims at reducing pain and discomfort and preventing further
disability. It is critical to follow the prescribed therapy.
The
symptoms are treated as necessary. They may be helped with simple
modifications in daily activities, along with adequate rest and
appropriate forms of exercise. For
example, low impact aerobic exercise (such as swimming) significantly
relieves joint strain. In other cases, more extensive therapies are
needed. Treatment usually consists of exercise, heat or cold
treatments, methods to protect the joints, various medications, and
possibly surgery.
MEDICATIONS:
Medications to reduce joint pain
and joint swelling may include
acetaminophen, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressive drugs (drugs that slow
the immune system).
-- recommended by the American College of
Rheumatology as the first line treatment for osteoarthritis. Taken
in doses of up to 4 grams a day, it can provide significant relief
of arthritis pain without many of the side effects of the drugs
discussed below. However, do not exceed the recommended doses of
acetaminophen or take the drug in combination with large amounts of
alcohol, because these pose risks for liver damage.
Aspirin and NSAIDs -- are available over-the-counter, and are
often effective in combating arthritis pain. Though these
medications can be prescribed in stronger doses by physicians, they
may have many side effects. Therefore, they should not be taken in
any amount without consulting with your health care provider. The
most dangerous side effects of NSAIDs are the formation of stomach
ulcers, bleeding from the digestive tract, and kidney damage.
Patients with kidney or liver disease, or a history of
gastrointestinal bleeding should not take these medicines without
consulting their physicians.
New
prescription medications -- drugs, such as Celecoxib and
Rofecoxib, treat arthritis pain in a fashion similar to traditional
NSAIDs. However, they seem to cause less stomach irritation and
confer a lower risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Because
these drugs can still effect the digestive tract and can be toxic to
the kidneys, they should be taken under careful medical supervision.
Oral
glucosamine and chondroitin -- these form the building blocks of
cartilage, the substance that lines joints. They are available at
health food stores or supermarkets without a prescription. Early
studies indicate that these compounds are quite safe and may improve
symptoms relating to arthritis.
Corticosteroids (or "steroids") -- are medications that suppress
the immune system and symptoms of inflammation. They are commonly
used in severe cases of osteoarthritis, and they can be given
orally, by injection, or occasionally injected directly into an
affected joint. Steroids are used to treat autoimmune forms of
arthritis but should be avoided in infectious arthritis. Steroids
have multiple side effects, including upset stomach and
gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, thinning of bones,
cataracts, and increased infections. These risks are most pronounced
when steroids are taken for long periods of time or at higher doses.
Close supervision by a physician is essential.
A number
of other immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat autoimmune diseases
that cause arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and
lupus. Rheumatoid arthritis traditionally has been treated with drugs
that modify the immune system, such as gold salts, penicillamine, and
hydrochloroquine. More recently, methotrexate has been shown to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis
and improve the patient's quality of life. Methotrexate itself can be
highly toxic and requires frequent blood tests for patients on the
medication.
The most
recent breakthrough in rheumatoid arthritis has been the development
of so-called "anti-biologics" that target individual molecules to
reduce inflammation. Such medications, including etanercept (Enbrel)
and infliximab (Remicade), are administered by injection or vein
(intravenously) and can confer dramatic improvements in the patient's
quality of life.
SURGERY
AND OTHER APPROACHES:
In some
cases, surgery to rebuild the joint (arthroplasty) or to replace the
joint (such as a total knee joint replacement)
may help maintain a more normal lifestyle. The decision to perform
joint replacement surgery is normally made when other alternatives,
such as lifestyle changes and medications, are no longer effective.
Normal
joints contain a lubricant called "synovial fluid." In joints with
arthritis, this fluid is not produced in adequate amounts. A
relatively recent approach is to inject arthritic joints with a
manmade version of joint fluid known as hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc). This
synthetic fluid may postpone the need for surgery at least temporarily
and improve the lifestyle of arthritis patients. Many studies are
evaluating the effectiveness of this type of therapy.
* Excerpts
compiled from
A.D.A.M., Inc. |
|