Causes, Symptoms, Diagnostic Tests, New Alternative Treatments of Arthritis Essay

Definition and Description of Arthritis

Arthritis simply stands for the swelling joints in the human body. There are many incidences of arthritis (Coates, 2010). A joint refers to an anatomical position in which two or more bones meet (Angelillo, 2009).

Notably, there are approximately several kinds of arthritis. Healthcare providers regard arthritis to be a mere soreness of a joint (Eustice & Zashin, 2007).

However, public health definition of arthritis is more general. It is inclusive of approximately one hundred rheumatic complications.

These conditions exclusively attack the joints (Katz, 2005). The tissues surrounding these joints may also be affected. There are notable differences in the pattern and severity of the symptoms.

• Rheumatic complications frequently present with pain (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011). In addition, the conditions might be associated with rigidity. Particularly, this may be eminent within and around the joints.
• Some rheumatic complications may also affect the immunity system of the body (Bjorklund, 2010).
• Different internal organs within the body system including the immunity system may also be affected (Eustice & Zashin, 2007). Public health endeavors to analyze the occurrences of arthritis within the general population.
• There are critical diagnosis procedures set within clinical settings. This helps the clinicians to assess and determine the types of arthritis complication (Coates, 2010). Arthritis is the main complication that may affect the entire human skeletal system.
• Arthritis causes severe disability among individuals with approximately fifty years in age (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011). This trend is largely notable within the industrialized nations. It is imperative to observe that arthritis never occurs as solitary complication.
• Many forms of arthritis have been identified (Busija, Buchbinder, & Osborne, 2009). Osteoporosis remains to be the most prevalent type of arthritis. Osteoporosis predominantly affects the elderly persons. It is important to examine the various or potential causes of the arthritis condition in human beings. It is important to understand the physiology of the human joints (Fox, Taylor, Yazdany, & Brewer, 2011). This because it would enable individuals to better comprehends the processes that occur whenever an individual suffers from any kind of the complication.

A joint refers to the anatomical juncture on which a specific joint moves. This movement process normally occurs on a particular bone. The ligaments present in the bone area are very important (Busija, Buchbinder, & Osborne, 2009).

This is because they assist to clutch the bones together. Notably, these ligaments appear like the elastic bands. They have eminent basic functions:

• They help to position the bones within the right places.
• Furthermore, their rotation is important in the operation of the skeletal system.
• Their contraction helps in initiate the joint movements (Lacaille, White, Backman & Gignac, 2007).
• The cartilages are also very important elements in the physiology of the human skeleton system. They cover the surfaces of the bone. The process helps to prevent the bones from fractioning straight against one another.

Generally, the cartilage covering enables the joint to operate smoothly without any pain or hardship. A capsule plays a significant role. It helps to surround the whole join of the bones (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011).

There is a significant space in the joint or bone cavity. It contains the synovial fluid that has a very basic role in enhancing the movement process of the whole joint and bone.

The fluid assists in the nourishment of the joint. The nourishment process also helps the cartilage (Gignac, Sutton & Badley, 2007). The synovium assists in the production of the lubricating synovial fluid.

The victims are likely to suffer from diverse symptoms. These depend on the kind of arthritis that has affected the particular individual.

There are different kinds of complications that related with the instances of occurrence of arthritis (Busija, Buchbinder, & Osborne, 2009).

• Some clinical assessments have reported the wearing off of the cartilage and deficiency of the vital fluids (Mayer, Brogan & Sandborg, 2006).
• Apart from this, there is a general sense of autoimmunity realized by the entire body.
• There might also be instances of severe infection.

Many factors that compromise an individual’s health might also arise (Coates, 2010). Generally, arthritis is a medical complication that has increasingly become prevalent. It is important to examine some of its features, management and prevention strategies.

Common Experiences of Those Living With Arthritis (280)

Individuals suffering from arthritis undergo many experiences. The events in the daily lifestyle of patients might be appalling:

• Of significance is always their inability to undertake some physical processes (Eustice & Zashin, 2007).
• The rheumatoid arthritis causes severe pain. This condition might also result into swelling, stiffness and redness of the affected joints of the human body (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011).
• Other conditions that have been associated with the complication include tenderness, as well as deformity of several affected joints in the entire body (Busija, Buchbinder, & Osborne, 2009).
• Those living with arthritis undergo intensive pain. This originates from the main affected joints in the body.
• They are also unable to walk properly.
• Furthermore, their capacity to handle heavy physical or manual tasks is reduced significantly (To & Petri, 2005). These patients face several challenges in accomplishing daily activities.
• Most victims of arthritis have suffered the deformity of their hands. Their feet are also deformed due to this complication (Clough, 2006).

The ability of these individuals to access adequate support is critical. Particularly, this is appropriate from those persons around them (To & Petri, 2005).

They need to move around, carry on their duties and take care of their hygiene. Some of these people have reported cases of severe discrimination and prejudice.

Most of the affected people are not likely to access important social services (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011). This occurs only when they receive an appropriate support from their caregivers.

The caregivers are mostly the relatives, close family, friends or neighbors. Others have also been admitted in support centers. In these centers, they are able to access basic psychosocial and physical assistance.

The assistances are always from trained and devoted caregivers (To & Petri, 2005). Medical personnel are also actively involved. They have characteristically gnarled fingers. A part from this, their fingers also possesses the bumps (Eustice & Zashin, 2007).

These bumps are normally referred to as nodules. Some may also suffer fused wrists. Due to this deformity, there movement capacity is potentially compromised (Gignac & Cao, 2009). These categories of patients are also highly susceptible to other common infections.

This is especially when they are not adequately cared for or attended (Busija, Buchbinder, & Osborne, 2009). Some of the infections that these categories of patients have suffered from include water and hygiene related complications.

The Appropriate Self-Management Activities

The concept of self-management in arthritis has increasingly grown popularity. The process involves taking charge of an individual’s life (To & Petri, 2005). In this process, people learn to adopt strategies to enable them live with their conditions (Crow, 2007). This is important for an individual’s emotional as well as physical wellbeing.

• The process may be life transforming.
• The process also encourages a platform whereby an individual is likely to admit that they suffer from arthritis (Clough, 2006).
• Self-management has enabled most people suffering from arthritis to prevent the likelihood of the complication to control their lives.

The victims have to undergo thorough counseling procedures (Kobayashi, Yasui, Ishimaru, Arakaki & Hayashi, 2004). This enables them to develop the appropriate resilience to deal with the condition at personal or individual level.

Individuals must note that assuming the obligation of arthritis management remains important (To & Petri, 2005). Indeed, it is highly liberating.

Powerful initiatives to regain the locus of control of an individual’s life are vital. This is regardless of the number of years that a person has suffered from arthritis condition.

Affected individuals must be able to access appropriate education on the personal managment of arthritis. At personal level, this process may minimize the workplace stresses and depressions (Clough, 2006).

The support centers provide critical measures for individual development and management. Weight loss is one of the appropriate self-management activities for arthritis patients. The overweight individuals are more likely to suffer from the effects of arthritis.

Obesity has been indicated as a basic factor leading to the occurrence of arthritis (O’Keeffe, Tom & Farewell, 2011). Therefore, individuals must practice undertakings aimed at reducing their weight. Individuals are encouraged to conduct regular physical exercises (Eustice & Zashin, 2007).

Diet considerations are critical for arthritis patients. These processes interlink to reduce the weight of individuals. There are several initiatives in the management of arthritis. Individuals must observe these practices (Crow, 2007).

Useful Community Services to Engage With

Living with this condition might be very challenging for most victims. However, the victims must recognize the importance of engaging in constructive community services (AIHW, 2007).

There are notable psychosocial impacts of arthritis amongst various victims.

• Engagement of the victims in group therapy sessions is critical. The group therapy sessions are some of the communal services that have contributed to positive coping skills (Coates, 2010).
• The victims suffering from arthritis must also engage themselves in the important services aimed at reducing weight. There is importance in engaging in services that enhance positive lifestyle (Crow, 2007). The physical training centers such physical fitness facilities within the society are some of the important services.
• Hospitals are significant destinations within the society (Eustice & Zashin, 2007). This is because a variety of management strategies may be offered within these areas. Therefore, they include some of the important services for the victims.
• Group therapy on safe nutrition is another critical community services that require engagement.
• The victims can also engage in recreational and sports activities within the community (PSA, 2012). An example is the involvement in Paralympics. This reduces the level of depression.
• Victims can also take part in advocacy and campaign projects that create awareness about the condition within the community (AIHW, 2007). It is important to participate in community health education programmes.

References

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