A thief steals your possessions just as arthritis steals
your joint mobility. Generally referring to inflammation
throughout the body’s joints, the word arthritis refers to a
compilation of over 100 different types of arthritis and not
just one single condition.

Known as rheumatic diseases, arthritis and its cousin
diseases can invade the body and destroy your health. It
can rob you of your mobility and your ability to enjoy basic
daily activities.

Arthritis causes the joints and surrounding structures, such
as tendons and muscles to become horribly inflamed which
leads to pain. Your body’s natural reaction to an injury or
illness is to respond with inflammation. With this
protective response, your body can respond with pain,
swelling and redness in the joints.

Of all of the different types of arthritis, the root cause
varies among them all. But the one thing most often found
to be in common is the fact that arthritis often attacks the
muscles, the joints and the connective tissues of the body.
Another interesting battle of arthritis is that this disease
moves from exacerbation to quiet and then back again. It is
one of the frustrating parts of this condition. One day you
are living quietly with the disease seemingly under control
and then the next day, you are battling raging joint pain
that stalks you like a nighttime intruder.

With arthritis, it is important to remember that you do not
need to give up just because of this diagnosis. It is a
known fact that you are going to have to be vigilant to
maintain the highest level of health possible, but with
active life style management you have a shot at reaching
that goal.

Don’t settle for less than the best life that you can live
even if you have been diagnosed with arthritis. Many
diagnosed enjoy a full and active life after making some
adjustments and adaptations to life.

While there are many arthritis resources available to assist
you, the Arthritis Foundation is one of the best available
on today’s market. Designed to provide you with the tools
and resources you need to better manage your arthritis and
your life, the Arthritis Foundation is such a valuable
resource to anyone fighting arthritis.

Yes, there is not currently a known cure for arthritis, but
there are definitely better treatment options available on
today’s market. Researchers continue to search for the
precise reason why arthritis develops in the first place as
well as continuing to search for even more improved
treatment options for those currently battling the disease.

While it may seem that arthritis is a dirty rotten scoundrel
invading your life and taking control, the fact is that with
today’s medical advances and your decision to actively
manage your life and condition will give you a leg up on
taking back control of your life.

So make a decision today to get more involved in your
treatment plan. Show arthritis who is in charge!

The year is 2008. I turn 43 towards the end of October. I wake up in the mornings in pain. And I wonder: Arthritis?

Of course, the first thing that enters my mind is the revelation that I do not really know what arthritis is. I know it has something to do with inflamed joints … but what is that? And why do joints become inflamed? The minute I google it I find over a hundred rheumatic diseases and conditions that may affect not only the joints but muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. Damage can be done to the skin, organs and eyes.

I sit still in awe.

I have often thought that rheumatism or arthritis is an old-age sickness. It’s not. I look at my symptoms just to get a head start. I am tired. I ache. I even have sore eyes. Sometimes I’m over-stressed and depressed – ever so slightly depressed … nothing major. My fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and feet ache constantly. I wake up stiff and in pain every morning. Sometimes I even wake up several times during the night because of the pain. Now even though I have no idea what is wrong with me, I realize I need two things: I need to visit my doctor. And I need to look at what I’m eating. Yes, I cannot ignore the fact that I work long hours, exercise irregularly and have a problem being over-weight. I know that as much as my diet is deficient of vitamins C and D, my lifestyle needs modification.

I discover online that weight loss can reduce joint pain. A diet that includes calcium-rich foods like the dark green vegetables, fresh fruit and fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) can help not only reduce weight but also pain. Eliminating meat, milk products, and vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers is also an effective way to inhibit the inflammatory process. Of course, being effective for some, this doesn’t guarantee that I will feel better. Exercise obviously is just as important.

I don’t think there is a medical drug that can cure the detrimental effects that arthritis has on the body, because most of what I read is solutions to reduce pain and inflammation. The drugs and treatment available provide relief but when one thinks of all the side effects of drugs, and the price, where exactly does the solution lie?

The good thing about arthritis is that it’s not a major cause of death like heart disease or cancer. The only pitfall is pain. The swelling and tiredness strangely enough can be handled. Pain on the other hand is a whole new ball game. The biggest future dampener: knowing that I can become immobile and dependent on help from (hopefully) family members.

One of the articles I wrote for Ezine was ‘Mind over Matter’. And I still believe we are what we think. If I allow the pain to affect me mentally, I surely will only feel pain and allow it to control my life. And that’s not viable. Being over-worked and stressed to the limit, I realize the importance of rest. So, positive thoughts and more rest seem to be an immediate solution. Well, both are possible. It’s not as if I have to save money or go out and buy a whole supply of fresh fruit and vegetables before I can achieve anything.

Positive thoughts require a realistic view of my situation. I need to slow down and listen to my body. I need to adapt not only physically but also mentally to my limitations. And it won’t help at all to feel frustrated or anxious about the situation.

I think the greatest gift of all, to whatever it is I’m dealing with, is the fact that I have such a supportive family. I always refer to my husband as my pillar of strength. Having the love, sympathy and support of both him and my children helps me through each day.

One day at a time sometimes becomes one hour at a time. And I’m only beginning with my tribulation. This is but the start of something. Yes, I’ve been suffering for perhaps more than a year now. But, I do realize it’s getting worse. And as an example, I would like to encourage everyone out there who seems to be going through a similar thing, to visit their doctor as soon as possible. I always wait almost until everything is unbearable. That’s not the way to go about life.

I remain positive as I know that the advances made in the medical field can, in the long run, prove to bring an end to a lot of the symptoms arthritis sufferers suffer. I look at my mother who has been suffering for almost ten years now. Her fingers are distorted and stiff. Yet, she persists in endurance. She’s my hero!

Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of the more common forms of arthritis affecting about 0.5% of the population. It affects men more often than women in a ratio of about 2.4-5:1. The disease is categorized as a “spondyloarthropathy”… a type of arthritis that preferentially affects the spine. It usually starts in the sacroiliac joints- the joints that join the pelvis to the low back- and spreads upwards to involve the rest of the spine. Peak age of onset is between 15 and 30 years.

Typically, a patient will complain of stiffness in the low back or neck or both that is worse with rest and better with activity. Often, a young person will pursue sports as a way to relieve the pain they have! Stiffness during the day after inactivity is also common. Other joints affected include the hip, knee, wrists, shoulders, elbows, and ankles. Typically, patients will have not only joint symptoms but they will also have enthesopathy… meaning inflammation at points where tendons connect to bones. Fatigue is a very common symptom. Occasionally low grade fever, appetite loss, and weight loss may be seen.

Patients will sometimes present with the extra-articular (outside of the joint) symptoms. Examples include inflammation of the eye, lungs, and rarely, the heart. The most common extra-articular symptom is eye inflammation which occurs in about 40% of patients and must be diagnosed and treated aggressively. Blindness is a dreaded complication.

The physical exam will show limitation of range of motion in the low back. Chest expansion is also restricted since many patients with AS will have limited ability to expand their lungs due to involvement of the thoracic spine.

Occasionally, women with AS will have more symptoms in the neck than the low back.

Laboratory testing will show abnormalities that indicate the presence of inflammation. Patients with AS will also have the genetic marker HLA B27 in about 90% of cases.

Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging will show the presence of inflammation in the sacroiliac joints. Inflammation of the tendon insertions at different affected joints will also be evident.

Treatment goals consist of relieving pain and stiffness as well as maintaining function.

A comprehensive program consists of a combination of anti-inflammatory medicines to help with symptoms as well as disease-modifying therapy to slow down the rate of progression. Examples of anti-inflammatory drugs are drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Naprosys), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), and celecoxib (Celebrex). Disease-modifying drugs that are used extensively for this condition are sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) and methotrexate. Biologic therapies like etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humnira), and infliximab (Remcade) are considered important for inducing remission. A solid program of physical therapy to help with range of motion is also mandatory.

For patients with suspected eye disease, close supervision by an experienced ophthalmologist is also recommended.

Patients with far-advanced disease may suffer complications including compression of the spinal cord (cauda equina syndrome), and fractures of the neck. In particular, care should be exercised in preparing patients with AS for surgery. Intubation (placing a breathing tube into the airways) for general anesthesia carries the risk of inadvertent spine fracture.

Surgery is reserved for far advanced cases that have not responded to medical therapy.

The clinical course and prognosis is highly variable and also highly dependent on the rapidity of diagnosis and the effectiveness of therapy.

Weakness, dysfunction, and irregular formation of the hip joints, also known as Dysplacia is a growing concern amongst virtually every breed of dog. Particularly in larger breeds, weak and displaced hip joints are common. Hip Dysplasia is a congenital, or inherited condition that is usually impossible to detect it younger dogs. While more common in males than females, certain breeds tend to have a higher risk. German shepherds and retrievers will have a much higher risk for developing this condition.

The symptoms while difficult to detect in younger pups, will begin showing signs at about the one-year mark. Some of the symptoms will include difficulty getting up from a laying position, trouble climbing stairs, inability to stand straight to prolonged periods, and difficulty walking straight. Some dogs with this condition are able to overcome naturally when the leg muscles and tendons start to increase in strength and their ability to hold the hip joint in place.

Since this is a congenital condition, dogs affected by weak joints are normally not fit for breeding. Though it is still likely that they can live full and healthy lives whilst overcoming this disability. Golden Retrievers in particular will experience this condition, especially later in life. Some will not even begin to show signs and till about four to five years old. Because the ball and socket joint do not fit together properly, the resulting friction can eventually cause pain and severe arthritis.

A common result will be to develop arthritis and severe inflammation of the hip joint in their older years. Veterinarians can prescribe certain medications as to reduce the pain and swelling and add to your dogs quality of life. Options for surgery are also available, but should only be considered for extremely serious cases. For many breeds, particularly the larger breeds the signs that they are in pain will not be obvious. Your only clue will be to observe and notice how they move and how easily they are able to make simple motions such as standing up from a laying position.

There are some circumstances, such as rapid and irregular growth which can contribute to the severity of Displacya. Keeping control of their weight and general fitness is essential to combat the debilitating effects of this condition. Frequent veterinary checkups and consultation will be required. With proper checkups, medication, and therapy, your dog can live a long and fulfilling life.

Spondyloarthopathy is a long word referring to a group of autoimmune inflammatory forms of arthritis that may affect the spine. Examples of diseases that fall into this category include Ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis (Reiter’s disease), juvenile spondyloarthropathy, and the arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Factors these diseases have in common are:

o They affect the sacroiliac joints and the spine

o Other joints including the fingers and toes may become inflamed

o Increased family history of the disease

o Lack of rheumatoid factor

The HLA-B27 gene is markedly associated with this set of conditions. This is detected through blood testing.

The back pain associated with spondyloarthropathy has a few distinguishing features that separates it from mechanical back pain due to degenerative arthritis.

Inflammatory back pain cause extended morning stiffness- at least an hour or longer. The pain from inflammatory causes tends to come on after midnight and in the early morning. Exercise improves inflammatory back symptoms but makes mechanical back pain worse. The peak age of onset is usually 12-40 years for inflammatory spine disease and 20-65 years for mechanical.

One major distinguishing characteristic is the presence of enthesitis. This is inflammation where the tendons meet the bone.

Other areas that this type of arthritis may affect include the eyes (iritis), lungs (restrictive lung disease), heart (aortic valve disease, heart block), gut (inflammatory bowel), and skin (psoriasis).

Peculiar sausage shaped swelling of the fingers and toes can also occur. This is called dactylitis.

The inflammatory spondyloarthropathies are a progressive debilitating form of arthritis. The diagnosis must be established as early as possible so that aggressive treatment can be instituted. This group od disorders can be controlled and often may be put into sustained remission.