Arthritis: Causes and Treatments

Arthritis, a condition affecting the body’s joints, is a condition that can and does affect men and women of all ages. Otherwise known as joint inflammation, arthritis occurs when the cartilage between your joints breaks down. Because the cartilage was responsible for absorbing shock and preventing friction, your bones may begin to rub together and cause you pain upon movement, stiffness, and sometimes swelling.

The Main Causes of Arthritis

Believe it or not, there are over 100 different forms of arthritis and they can be caused by a wide variety of diseases. While most people believe that arthritis is a condition that simply comes with age, nothing could be further from the truth.

Some forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, occur because the body’s autoimmune system is not functioning properly. The autoimmune system identifies a part of the body, in this case cartilage, as a foreign body. It attacks what it believes to be foreign, much as it would if it were fighting a viral or bacterial infection, and eventually causes the formation of a painful arthritic condition.

Arthritis has several other common causes as well. Regular wear and tear on the joints, from activities like running, jogging, and many sports activities, can cause arthritis to form slowly over time. Broken bones that heal improperly or a general viral or bacterial infection can also cause arthritic conditions to develop.

Treating Arthritis

The type of treatment you undergo will depend on the type of arthritis you have developed. If you develop osteoarthritis, commonly associated with the aging process, your doctor is likely to prescribe you some sort of pain medication while urging you to change your lifestyle to prevent further damage.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, you will likely be given a corticosteroid drug to help battle your immune system while at the same time reducing pain and inflammation. Drugs of this nature can often be filled at an internet pharmacy or in a local store. You may find that filling your prescriptions online is a better option, especially if you need to purchase drugs to control your symptoms on a monthly basis.

Whatever the cause, know that your symptoms are treatable. You may have to make some serious changes to your lifestyle and adapt to using some different medications, but it is possible to live a pain-free life. Talk to your physician today about how to best treat your arthritic condition.

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