By Susan Oderwald
Senior Life
Susan Oderwald
Arthritis is so common that we all have some experience with it, either personally or with loved ones. As a result, we tend to assume we know what arthritis is. But unless you have really delved into the subject, chances are you are only superficially informed or misinformed about the depth and breadth of this disease category.
Arthritis is not a single disease or condition. It can happen to young people, older adults and everyone in between. It can be the result of injuries, wear and tear or a disease process.
Because we think of arthritis as a part of normal aging (and it is), that does not mean you should ignore symptoms or fail to talk with your doctor about changes in your arthritis. Nor should you just self-diagnose your arthritis.
Arthritis can be just wear and tear from aging (osteoarthritis). But that is not the only cause. There are several diseases resulting from autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis. There is even infectious arthritis, where a viral or fungal infection can travel to a joint or joints in the body and cause inflammation and pain. Finally, there is metabolic arthritis or gout, where the body has difficulty breaking down purines, resulting in painful uric crystals building up in joints – usually the big toe.
Arthritis symptoms range from mild to debilitating pain. It can be chronic, or people can experience flareups. Keep in mind that you may experience different types of arthritis at the same time, so talking with a doctor about treatments, medications and therapies to manage your arthritis can be multi-tiered.
Most of us will develop some type of arthritis during our lifetimes. It starts to become more common as we edge into our 50s but can start earlier or later in life. There are many ways that arthritis can be managed, from simple exercise to medications to full joint replacements. Getting treatment can make a huge difference in the quality of your day-to-day life.
One problem with arthritis (osteoarthritis in particular) is that the very thing that tends to help – movement – is the thing we tend to do less of when we are experiencing pain and stiffness. I heard one physical therapist describe this as “motion is lotion,” meaning that as we move, our body produces fluids to lubricate the joints and smooth things out. It is why you may be stiff getting up in the morning but feel better as the day wears on.
Finally, because arthritis is a basket of diseases with varying root causes, it is important not to ignore pain or inflammation. This may especially be true if you are “too young” for arthritis, or it comes and goes. Talk with your doctor so you specifically understand the arthritis you are experiencing and develop a tailored plan that addresses your specific needs.
Most of us will have to live with arthritis at some point, so learning as much as we can and adopting lifestyle changes that help is key to feeling better. For more information, visit the Arthritis Foundation at arthritis.org.
Susan Oderwald is care director at the Always Best Care Senior Services Milford Office. She can be reached at Soderwald@abc-seniors.com or 203-877-1377.