A Look at Senior Arthritis

Of the many different diseases associated with people who are elderly, arthritis is the one that most people think of when asked about diseases that affect the elderly. While arthritis can affect people of all ages and is not a single disease, but rather a group of similar diseases, it is the most common ailment to affect those over 65.

Since there are so many different types of arthritis, over 100, it is very important to correctly identify what type of arthritis is affecting the senior, so it can be correctly treated. While there are some general treatments and principals that can be applied to most types of arthritis, the treatment can also vary a great deal depending on what type of arthritis the senior has.

To make it easier to identify and categorize, physicians will usually first identify the arthritis as Monoarthritis, Polyarthritis, or Oligoarthritis, with the difference being the number of joints affects. In Monoarthritis, only a single joint is affected, while in Oligoarthritis, between two and six joints are affected. Polyarthritis is when the disease affects more than six joints.

In addition to identifying the affected joints, which is often done by talking with the patient and using tools like the x-ray, the way the disease affects the senior is also a powerful tool for diagnosis. Again, this comes down to talking with the patient to get an understanding of the way the diseases is affecting their joints, the symptoms they are experiencing, and how it is affecting their lives.

The two most common types of senior arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis, with Osteoarthritis being the most common of the two. There are a number of differences between these two types of arthritis, although the symptoms often overlap.

One of the major differences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis is that in Osteoarthritis, the disease usually only affects a single joint at a time, which is referred to as an asymmetric arthritis. So, it would not be uncommon for only a single knee or wrist to be affected by Osteoarthritis, instead of both. However in Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is a symmetric arthritis, both knees or wrists would usually be affected by the disease.

While both of these types of arthritis share a number of the same sorts of symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness, and abnormal bone or tissue growth, it is not uncommon for Rheumatoid to affect organs in the body, as well as joints.

The treatment of arthritis will also vary, depending on what type is present. For example, you would not treat Psoriatic Arthritis the same way you would treat Osteoarthritis, so it is important to speak with a doctor and follow their instructions.

In some cases, medicines designed to treat the inflamation caused by arthritis will be used, while things like exercise and healthy eating can also be a powerful tool for treating arthritis. It is also common to use tools, like lift chairs or rolling walkers, to help make getting around easier. Lift chairs, for instance, are special types of recliners that make it easier to stand up without assistance. Since there are so many available, it is good to learn about the different models and lines available, such as the Pride Heritage Collection. Rolling walkers, or rollators, on the other hand, are a special type of walker which has wheels making it easier to push, as well as hand brakes and often other features.

In addition to using special tools, it is also important to reduce stress and take measures to make life easier. So, many people find that better organization and time management can be effective means of fighting the effects of arthritis. For example, instead of keeping all of your clothes spread out in your room, you can consolidate them into a single area, so you do not have to move around as much to put them away or get them out. This is referred to as learning to live with arthritis and is an important step in most treatments.