What is Arthritis?

In our clinic we see many people suffering from the pain and discomfort of arthritis.  Unfortunately, arthritis is a disease not well understood, especially when it comes to safe and effective treatments. Often, by the time people come to see us they’ve tried several ‘miracle cures’ without success. They are frustrated, in pain and desperate for relief.

As arthritis isn’t just a single disease we felt it would benefit our readers to learn  more about what it is, the symptoms and what can be done to relieve the pain of this disorder.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis means ‘joint inflammation’ but inflammation is not always present in all forms of arthritis. It is an unpredictable disorder with flare-ups and remissions happening sometimes without rhyme or reason.

Osteoarthritis for instance is a degenerative joint disease caused by wear and tear and free radical damage. In many cases, there is no inflammation. It starts with damage to the cartilage (material that lines the ends of the bones that decreases friction as one bone glides across another at a joint) and can progress to bone rubbing on bone when all the cartilage is worn away.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation in the joints. This is considered an autoimmune condition where the patient’s immune system is attacking his joints. Along with inflammation comes fatigue, loss of appetite, joint deformity and even fever.  In some cases, a micro-organism stimulates the disease process and antibiotics can improve symptoms by getting rid of that particular trigger. In other cases, the initiating process can be chronic stress or of unknown cause.

In worse case scenarios, rheumatic conditions can lead to debilitating and life threatening conditions that affect muscles, bones and internal organs.

Early symptoms can manifest as:

• Painful joints
• Joint stiffness
• Tenderness in and around the joint
• Reduced or limited range of motion in one or more joints
• Redness and/or warmth around the joint

Diagnosing the type of arthritis involves:

• A complete medical and health history
• Physical examination
• Blood work
• Naturopathic diagnostic tests
• And an assessment of how the disease has progress

If you are unsure whether you have arthritis, consult your naturopathic physician or other primary care provider before trying the ‘miracle cures’. Naturopathic physicians are qualified and knowledgeable and can help you design a personalized treatment protocol for your lifestyle and health needs.

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