Arthritis isn’t a disease, but a degenerative condition where the cartilages, ligaments, tendons or bones start to wear out.
It can be triggered by a number of factors like autoimmunity, injuries, blood toxins etc.
Presently, more than a 100 arthritis types are known, of which the most common are:
Osteoarthritis: Caused by wear and tear of the connective tissues. Leads to breakdown of bone strength. Gets worse with ageing.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Arthritis symptoms in hands like tenderness, distortion etc. are usually brought on by this condition. It occurs when the white blood cells start attacking the joint muscles.
Psoriatic arthritis: A complicated form of arthritis that affects skin, ligaments and joints. Characteristic signs include full body swelling and coloured skin patches.
Lupus: Severe autoimmune disorder that hijacks every part of the body from hair to kidneys. Leads to inflammatory arthritis in the later stage.
Gout: Excess uric acid builds up in the form of crystals at the joints. This in turn, causes redness, localized swelling and lack of movement.
Infectious arthritis: Rare to encounter. Microbes like fungi, bacteria and viruses can damage the joint tissues. Can be treated with antibiotics upon timely diagnosis.
What are the early warning signs of arthritis?
Each type of arthritis can produce distinct physical signs.
But the initial arthritis symptoms are similar in all of the cases.
They include extreme pain or swelling in joints, inability to move and weakness.
Persistent pain: It may get worse after walking or sitting for long hours. Occurs in multiple joints at the same time.
Joint redness or swelling: Soft and bulgy flare up of muscles around the joints. Results in deformation of bones.
Morning stiffness: Experienced after waking up for a short duration of time. Most common in rheumatoid arthritis knee.
Lack of energy: You may also notice drastic weight loss and fatigue. It can be followed by a mild to moderate fever.
Anemia: In rare cases, negligence can lead to deficiency of iron or death of RBCs.
What really causes arthritis?
Arthritis is characterized by severe inflammation and damage to the joint tissues.
Such a condition can arise because of internal and external factors like blood toxicity, genes and accidents.
Autoimmunity: Most common arthritis causes, affecting one in every 10 patients. Caused when the WBCs become overactive and start attacking the cells of cartilages, bone marrow or ligaments.
Metabolic dysfunction: Improper digestion of food produces toxins that can collect in/around the joints, causing severe inflammation. Eventually, they can irreversibly damage them.
Overuse: Performing heavy-duty physical activity for a long period of time can cause wear and tear of the cartilage. It may be further aggravated by infection, deficiencies and physical injury.
Family history: Having a parent suffering with arthritis can predispose you to the disorder at the later stages of your life.
The correct choice of Arthritis treatment depends on the underlying cause.
It is essential to consult the physician to identify and understand the nature of your condition, for better management.
Which foods make arthritis worse?
Sugars and Added Sugars: That wayward bite of carb-rich pastry, white bread, chocolate and soda can intensify your joint pains. So, such hidden sugars are best left out from your arthritis diet!
Processed food items: All the items manufactured for long-term storage like juices, snacks, ready-to-eat meals etc. can trigger inflammatory reactions. They also predispose you to obesity.
Animal proteins: Frying, grilling or roasting of proteins, especially red meat increases their trans-fat quotient. It can aggravate your arthritis symptoms.
High-fat dairy: Cheese, butter, mayonnaise and cream contain saturated fats that irritate damaged joint tissues, thereby increasing the pain and swelling.
Addictive Substances: Besides increasing your blood toxicity, alcohol, nicotine and tobacco contain stimulants that prevent healing of tissues.
What does arthritis pain feel like?
It is difficult to identify the early stages of arthritis pain due to its low intensity and transitory nature.
Initially, you may experience it as a dull or throbbing ache right after performing a physical activity.
As the joint(s) degrades further, arthritis in hands, knees or ankles may give a burning sensation, shooting or grinding pain.
It may last for a few hours after physical movement or persist for weeks.
Some patients may also notice morning stiffness for some moments after waking up in the morning.
Can arthritis be cured?
Currently, there is no sure shot treatment available for arthritis.
But there are a number of management techniques and medications that can give arthritis pain relief.
As of date, natural remedies offer a more resolute solution for this disorder.
They use dietary regulations, physical therapies and Ayurvedic herbs to improve joint movements.
What is the best treatment for arthritis pain?
Chemical medicines: A series of painkillers, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medicines are available to relieve immediate symptoms. But they do not offer long term relief.
Surgery: Can help to repair, replace or re-align the affected joint. Joint fusion surgery is used for arthritis in fingers to reinstate mobility.
Physiotherapy: Not helpful in every case. It can ease the blood flow through the affected areas to promote range of movement.
Ayurvedic treatment: Assists in quick repair of joints. Revitalizes the entire musculoskeletal system. Can prevent degradation of joints.
Ayurveda is the safest and most effective arthritis management treatment available today.
It can be used by people of all ages for a long period of time, without any risk of dependency or side effects.
How does Ayurveda treat arthritis?
Ayurveda classifies arthritis as a Vata disorder, caused by the aggravation of “air” energy in the body.
Vata imbalance affects the musculoskeletal system, nervous functions and natural detox process of your body.
So, Ayurveda uses a multi-faceted approach to balance Vata energy, thereby using the body's natural healing mechanism to curb arthritis.
An ideal natural arthritis treatment includes dietary modifications, exercise regime and herbal supplements.
Diet: A vegetarian diet composed of high fibre, vitamin and mineral rich foods is recommended. Dairy products are equally consumed.
Physical exercise: Yoga is considered the best arthritis exercise. Postures like Sun Salutations, Child’s pose and Cow pose tone the cartilages and reduce tissue swelling.
Herbal remedies: Garlic, Ginger, Castor oil, Ashwagandha, multiple ‘bhasma’ (mineral ash) etc. are used to recover joint capacity.
Which are the best natural remedies for arthritis?
Turmeric: It is the best arthritis medicine you can find in the kitchen. Drink it up in milk, eat it with your food or apply its paste - either ways Turmeric can be your natural pain reliever.
Aloe Vera: Natural antioxidant herb that stabilizes gut function and eliminates pain-producing enzymes.
Green Tea: Every cup provides a range of bioactive compounds that soothe the inflamed tissues, purify the blood and reduce pain.
Cinnamon: Boosts the cellular regeneration rate to fasten healing of damaged joints. Breaks down inflammation-causing proteins.
Fish oil: Repository of Omega 3-fatty acids that rejuvenate the joint tissues. Promotes healing of damaged cartilages.
Which are the 5 best essential oils for arthritis?
Black Cumin: Massage it on the affected area thrice every day. It helps to reduce the intensity of arthritis pain and prevent it.
Ginger: Best oil to accelerate your arthritis knee treatment. Contains anti-inflammatory compounds that improve joint movement and reduce muscular stiffness.
Eucalyptus: Has a pleasing scent. Regular application relieves the tension on cartilages. Can curb all arthritis symptoms in the long run.
Lavender: Works on all kinds of musculoskeletal pain. Promotes overall physical health. Gives a refreshing feeling.
Frankincense oil: Prevents production of inflammation causing enzymes, thereby slowing down the degradation of cartilages.
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