Arthritis is a debilitating disease of the joints that drives into early retirement employee who is afflicted by it. Even life without work makes it difficult to lead a normal life. More than 46 million Americans are estimated to be suffering from it. Just imagine how many people are forced to take on sedentary lifestyles because of the excruciating pain arthritis brings.

To know how to cope with this joint disease effectively, it’s important for anyone to know what it is about. There are over a hundred types of arthritis. And the number still grows each time a new one is taken to medical attention. Each one is based on causative factors and indications. However, there are two that debilitate more people around the world than other types.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the wearing and tearing of the cartilage in the joints. It’s the most common form of the disease worldwide. OA can be the result of aging, obesity and earlier being involved in strenuous activities like sports. Weight bearing joints are usually the sites attacked by OA. These include the feet, knees, hips and back. Joints that are usually overused may also suffer from it, like the elbows, shoulders and others.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder. Simply put, your own immune system mistakenly attacks your joints. It is a chronic and painful inflammatory disease, and can lead to joint damage and deformities. RA can occur at any age. It can even affect individuals in their early 20’s. The disease also tends to infect joints in a symmetrical pattern. For example, if your right wrist suffers from it, then your left also suffers from it.

Pain and inflammation are usually dealt with through medications. For pain, a doctor typically prescribes analgesics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For swelling, NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) are administered. In severe cases, steroids are directly injected into the joints. Steroids administered by injection pose lesser side effects than an orally taken form.

Gentle exercise can help improve the mobility of the joints. However, during flare ups, this may not be possible at all. For instance, if you have leg arthritis, walking may help prevent stiffness, but not when it’s around accompanied by pain. During such time, mobility is greatly reduced.

Some people suffering from arthritis prefer to deal with the signs and symptoms the natural way. This is because either they’re looking for inexpensive treatments, or prescription drugs fail to deliver results. Supplements such as vegetarian glucosamine, chondroitin and fish oils help in repairing damage connective tissues, and lubricate the joints. A diet composed mainly of fruits and vegetables decreases the acidity of the body, which is linked to arthritis.

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