Arthritis Information to Control Arthritis with Pain Management using Ergonomically Designed Tools and Free Information on Arthritis

Many misconceptions exist about arthritis. Most often, false perceptions mislead patients when managing their condition. The lack of knowledge regarding arthritis and the reliance on hearsay when managing symptoms can lead a patient to jump from one alternative remedy to another without achieving significant results. I have seen many patients get easily attracted to "quick fixes" and false advertising because of their lack of understanding of the disease. Setting false expectations based on unfounded remedies can be a very frustrating experience. Most patients eventually surrender to their symptoms without really trying medications and treatment approaches that are clinically proven to be effective. The first step in effectively overcoming your symptoms is to learn about the truth on arthritis so you can make informed decisions in the management of your condition.

Following is a list of common beliefs on arthritis that you may have heard from your friends and family. What do you think, are they fact or fiction?

	Only old people get arthritis. Arthritis is a natural consequence of aging. Arthritis is viral and contagious. Arthritis is just a joint problem. There is a miracle cure for arthritis. Herbal supplements can cure arthritis. Medications can correct the hand deformities associated with arthritis. Topical creams can cure my arthritis and hand deformities. Arthritis is temporary, its symptoms will go away in time. I acquired my arthritis because I frequently expose my hands alternately to heat and cold. Arthritis is caused by living in areas of cold, humid climate. Arthritis is caused by poor nutrition or diet. Vigorous, highly resistive exercises are good for arthritis. If you have the habit of knuckle cracking, you will eventually have arthritis. There is nothing I can do to stop my pain and hand deformities from getting worse. The adage "No Pain No Gain" during exercise is true for arthritis.

Myth 1: Only old people get Arthritis. Fact: Arthritis has affected people of all ages including children. There are different types of arthritis and some are more commonly found in particular age groups. Rheumatoid Arthritis is more common in women than in men. Likewise, gouty arthritis is more common in men than in women. Osteoarthritis which is linked to wear and tear of joints is more common among the elderly. Juvenile arthritis is named as such because it affects children. There is no question that the incidence of arthritis increases with age but nearly three of every five sufferers are under age 65.
Myth 2: Arthritis is a natural consequence of aging. Fact: Arthritis is a disease and should not be considered as a normal by product of aging.
Myth 3: Arthritis is viral and contagious. Fact: Arthritis is definitely not a contagious, viral disease. You will not contract the disease by getting in contact with somebody who has arthritis.
Myth 4: Arthritis is just a joint problem. Fact: Since the symptoms of arthritis are highly visible in the joints of the hands, many people think that it is "just a joint disease". This is not necessarily true for all types. Some conditions, like Rheumatoid Arthritis, are systemic in nature which means that other organ systems are affected as well. As such, it is not uncommon for a patient to tire easily and experience low energy levels at times. The balance of rest and work play an important role for long term control of symptoms.
Myth 5: There is a miracle cure for arthritis. Fact: There are presently no medications that can cure or completely eliminate arthritis. Medications currently available are used to treat or minimize the symptoms associated with arthritis, such as pain and joint swelling. Advertisements claiming a miracle cure for arthritis should be viewed with suspicion.
Myth 6: Herbal supplements can cure arthritis. Fact: Patients who have arthritis are are often frustrated by persistent symptoms even if they are taking prescribed medications regularly. Most of them are willing to try any alternative remedies in search for a cure. Unfortunately there are presently no known herbal supplements that are clinically proven to cure arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, is characterized by a cycle of alternating periods of flare-ups and relief of symptoms. Oftentimes, what is perceived as a positive result of a remedy may just coincide with periods of natural remission (decreased or no symptoms). This can give patients a false impression that the supplements they taking are effective. Since most of these alternative remedies have no scientific backing one should be concerned of their efficacy and potential side effects.
Myth 7: Medications can correct the hand deformities associated with arthritis. Fact: Medications cannot correct long term arthritic deformities. These deformities are caused by permanent joint damage. However, medications are important for control of symptoms such as joint pain and swelling. The earlier these symptoms are controlled the less deformities will set in. The instability and weakness of joints caused by prolonged swelling combined with the deforming forces of daily resistive hand use is often the cause of increased deformities. The good news is that one can control the progression of the deformities by employing joint protection techniques and using appropriate assistive devices consistently to everyday tasks.
Myth 8: Topical creams can cure arthritis and hand deformities. Fact: Topical creams may offer a soothing relief of pain symptoms by providing heat sensation. Some of them may contain an analgesic that can minimize pain levels. However, topical creams will not cure you of arthritis or correct any hand deformities.
Myth 9: Arthritis is temporary, its symptoms will go away in time. Fact: Arthritis is classified as a progressive joint disease which means that it has a natural tendency to advance. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by acute exacerbations and remissions meaning its symptoms are "on and off". There will be times when the you will be suffering from red, hot, swollen joints (exacerbation) and other times when the pain seem to have miraculously disappeared (remission). This is probably one of the reasons why having arthritis can be very frustrating. Period of remissions may give you the false impression that your arthritis is gone. Arthritis is permanent and can present its symptoms this way. The earlier you know and accept this truth, the more you can be in control of your symptoms. Symptom management techniques should be applied as part of a lifestyle change, having the goal of maintaining a long remission period as possible.
Myth 10: Arthritis can be acquired through frequent exposure of the hands alternately to heat and cold. Fact: I hear this comment a lot from my patients. This is however an "old wives tale" that has no scientific basis. The exact cause of arthritis is still unknown. We understand the disease process but science has yet to find out what triggers it exactly.
Myth 11: Arthritis is caused by living in areas of cold, humid climate. Fact: Now this is a harder myth to dispel since a lot of patients would swear that their joint pain gets worse on cold and humid conditions. As one of my patients would say, " I can even predict when it is going to rain because my joints would start hurting". This seems to be a consistent observation among arthritic patients. There are studies that show that low temperature and humid wet conditions have been found to make the pain worse. One possible way of explaining this is that cold weather may cause vasoconstriction, or tightening of blood vessels on the hand and fingers. This results in diminished blood flow which may then cause stiffness, discomfort, and increased pain levels in the joints. The overall decrease in a person's activity level in cold weather conditions may also be contributory to increased stiffness and pain sensitivity in the affected joints. However, having said all of these, while cold weather can increase joint pain, it does not by itself cause arthritis. Before you decide to move out of state to California or Florida, understand that climate itself is neither the cause nor the cure for arthritis.
Myth 12: Arthritis is caused by poor nutrition or diet. Fact: There is no scientific evidence that supports this belief. There is no clinical proof that certain food sources may directly cause or prevent arthritis. There is however a direct correlation between high uric acid levels and the presence of gouty arthritis. Having a well balanced diet is important to prevent obesity which can add stress on weight bearing joints. This is particularly true for those who have Osteoarthritis, where the cartilage in between the joints are already thin or worn out. Diet may help alleviate your symptoms but poor nutrition alone is not the cause of arthritis.
Myth 13: Vigorous, highly resistive exercises are good for arthritis. Fact: I have met many patients with arthritis who go to the opposite extremes of over exercising to over protecting their hands. Of course both mindset are not helpful to their condition. Vigorous, heavy resistive exercises should be avoided as this may cause further damage to unstable and inflamed joints. Over-protection (i.e., refraining from using the hand) does not help either as joints need to be moved to maintain their flexibility. Movement also facilitates blood flow or circulation which is necessary for joint and soft tissue nutrition. Exercises that emphasize gentle, pain-free movements are the best for arthritic hands. Isometric exercises, which makes use of muscles by tensing them without creating much joint movement, help increase muscle strength and stabilize weak joints without aggravating joint pain and inflammation. Pool therapy is highly recommended as the buoyancy of water decreases stress on weight bearing joints. The patient can then concentrate on range of motion exercises with light resistance provided by water. Heated pools can also provide pain relief. A skilled physician working closely with an occupational or physical therapist can design the right exercise plan for you.
Myth 14: If you have the habit of knuckle cracking, you will eventually have arthritis. Fact: There is no clinical evidence that confirms knuckle cracking as a cause of arthritis on the fingers. The cracking sound is not due to damaging friction contact between joint surfaces but by the bursting of carbon dioxide bubbles inside the joint cavity. In other words, what you hear is the sound of popping air and not cracking joints.
Myth 15: There is nothing I can do to stop my pain and hand deformities from getting worse. Fact: Early diagnosis and treatment is vital to prevent symptoms from getting worse. The earlier a doctor is able to give you medications that can effectively control the symptoms of joint inflammation, the less deformities will develop. Joint protection techniques and the use of appropriate assistive devices when applied early, and on a consistent basis, can prevent the progression of joint pain and arthritic deformities. These deformities follow a certain pattern and are often aggravated by the deforming forces of daily resistive hand use. Arthritic joints are weak and unstable and respond easily to these deforming forces. Learning to use your hands properly in protective ways for tasks requiring heavy grasping, pinching, lifting or carrying can minimize the deforming forces placed on these joints and prevent your deformities from getting worse.
Myth 16: The adage "No Pain No Gain" during exercise is true for arthritis. Fact: On the contrary, exercises that require heavy resistance are not good for arthritis particularly for the more delicate joints of the wrist and fingers. Avoid heavy grasping and pinching movements that cause pain on the finger joints such as holding a heavy dumbell or squeezing a hard ball. These can cause a symptom flare-up and accentuate deformity patterns on the hands. Remember, with arthritis you should respect pain. Exercises that are good for the wrist and finger joints use gentle movements that are pain-free. Isometric exercises, that is tensing the muscles of the forearm and hand without joint movement, is beneficial and strengthens the muscles without causing stress on arthritic joints. The "no pain no gain " attitude on exercising is simply not applicable to arthritis.
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Dispelling common myths on arthritis is the first step to effective management of symptoms. Understanding arthritis, its occurrence, most common types, its signs and symptoms, and clinically proven treatment approaches that are currently available, helps you make informed decisions on how to minimize the debilitating effects of the condition.>>next page

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