Introduction
Although common in the elderly, arthritis pain is more than just age-related wear and tear of the joints. There are many forms of arthritis and it can occur in children and young adults as well. Women and people who are overweight are more likely to develop these joint diseases.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an informal term for over 200 types of joint diseases. It means inflammation of the joints and can affect a single or multiple joints.
Symptomatically, arthritis ranges from mild to severe. Furthermore, the condition may take years to progress or may worsen rapidly, causing symptoms within a short period of time. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most commonly occurring forms.
Osteoarthritis arthritis
This is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis damages joint cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion between the two bony surfaces in a joint. It prevents friction, absorbs shock, and protects the underlying structure from wear and tear.
Cartilage damage causes the bones to grind directly on each other, causing pain and restricted motion. The wear and tear can happen gradually, with aging, or suddenly after a trauma or injury. Osteoarthritis also causes inflammation of the joint lining.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. The body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule. The capsule is a tough connective tissue membrane that encloses the structures within a joint. In rheumatoid arthritis, the inner lining becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease can progress and eventually destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Symptoms of gout include:
- joint pain
- swelling in and around the knee joint
- softness
- stiffness of joints
- movement restrictions
- Pain during weight bearing activities, such as walking, lifting, standing etc.
- occasional warmth and redness around the joint
- In RA, you may experience fatigue and low stamina.
When to see the doctor?
Early diagnosis of arthritis can help protect your joints and prevent further damage through lifestyle modifications and treatment. If you experience any symptoms, consult your doctor immediately to ensure proper treatment.
What are the risk factors for gout?
The following factors may increase your risk of developing gout:
- A family history of arthritis may increase your chances of developing joint disease.
- Aging can increase the risk of arthritis like osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis.
- Women are more likely to get arthritis than men.
- Previous joint injury can exacerbate degenerative changes within the joint, increasing the risk of arthritis.
- Overweight or obese people put more pressure on the joints.
What is the treatment of gout?
Often, management of arthritis requires a multidisciplinary approach involving orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and physical therapists. You may also consider lifestyle and diet modification, as weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for arthritis.
Exercise therapy
Regular exercise can help improve your joint condition by developing flexibility. Exercising specific muscles can also protect your joints. Strong muscles can bear the load and avoid overloading the affected joints. Exercise can also help you maintain your weight.
Bodyweight exercises can improve bone density. Experts also recommend swimming and other water-based exercises. They are easy to perform, take pressure off joints and strengthen muscles.
Medicines
Medicines can help manage your pain and reduce inflammation in your body.
Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics help control pain. Your doctor may also prescribe a menthol- or capsaicin-based gel that you can apply to the skin along the joint to relieve pain.
If your arthritis symptoms are due to an autoimmune disorder such as RA, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These drugs will suppress your immune system.
Surgery
In severe arthritis with structural changes in the joint, surgery may be the only option. Your surgeon will replace the joint with an artificial one so that you can live a pain-free life. Joint replacement is a common procedure for arthritis of the hips and knees.
In severe arthritis of small joints (such as the hand and wrist), your doctor will perform a joint fusion. In this surgery, your doctor will move the bones of your joint into a certain functional position.
Regardless of the type of surgery, you will need physical therapy and rehab to regain your functions.
Arthritis Pain - What to Use - Hot compress or Ice Pack?
Warm compresses and ice packs are both convenient ways to relieve pain. They are cheap, easily available, and have no side effects. Also, you can place these packs on the painful area to get local benefits.
So which should you use – a hot compress or an ice pack? and when to use them?
During the early stages of healing, known as the inflammatory phase, there will be redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. You need to protect your joints and injured area from further damage. Cold therapy can help you do this. This can cause the blood vessels to constrict and narrow, thereby reducing the flow of the inflammatory infiltrate to that area.
The inflammatory phase lasts for a few days. Avoid the use of heat during this step. Heat increases blood flow to the injured area and increases swelling.
A hot compress increases the temperature of the skin and soft tissues. This allows the blood vessels to dilate, allowing more blood to flow to the area. The heat also increases the metabolic rate and movement of oxygen and accelerates tissue healing. It can help relieve muscle spasms and improve flexibility. Hot packs are better during the later stages of treatment when the tissues are healing.
Chronic osteoarthritis responds better to heat. However, for an acute episode with swelling, ice packs may be a wiser choice. In the end, try the one that suits you best.
Conclusion
Gout comes in many forms and has various causes. The treatment for each type of arthritis varies according to its cause. Exercise, medications, and lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for gout management. You can apply ice packs in the early stages, where the pain is due to swelling. Chronic pain, where tissue is undergoing healing, responds better to heat therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long should you use a hot pack for arthritis pain?
For mild to moderate pain, applying a hot pack for 15-20 minutes is sufficient. In case of back pain, you may need to apply it for longer, about 30 minutes.
Who Should Avoid Hot or Ice Packs?
For people with a lack of thermal sensibility, that is, they cannot recognize or feel temperature sensations, it is best to avoid these treatments. Both high and low temperatures can damage the skin when sensory nerves are not working properly.
Does the effect of heat therapy for arthritis pain last long?
The effects of heat and cold therapy are temporary. Depending on your pain level, you may need to reapply for continued pain relief.
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