Diving Deeper into Arthritis & Joint Pain
Arthritis is defined as the inflammation of one or more joints that causes pain and stiffness, and can worsen with age, but did you know there are different types of arthritis that cause more centralized areas of pain? The CDC reports that approximately 23% of all adults in the United States suffer from arthritis, equating to over 54 million people. While they could be suffering from the more common Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis (click here to go to our previous blog for more information) they could be dealing with Gout, Lupus, or Fibromyalgia.
Gout is an inflammatory form of arthritis that is common, but very painful. A trait that makes Gout unique is that it usually affects one joint at a time, and it’s known to affect the joint in our big toe the most, and then our ankles and knees. Typically, patients will receive this pain in flares where symptoms will also tend to get worse. Symptoms that they should look out for are intense pain around the joint area along with swelling, redness, and heat.
Lupus is a chronic disease that is more common in women than men and can affect practically any organ in your body. The affects of lupus change from person to person because of all the different symptoms the disease possesses, ranging from muscle and joint pain as a result of swelling to prolonged or extreme fatigue. Other symptoms of Lupus are fever, chest pain, kidney problems, Anemia, etc.
Fibromyalgia is an illness that causes widespread pain all over the body, fatigue, and sometimes emotional/mental distress. It makes you much more susceptible to pain, often coming across as abnormal pain perception. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness throughout your body, fatigue and tiredness, depression and anxiety, sleep problems, issues with memory, and headaches/migraines. Patients affected by Fibromyalgia may also experience tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and pain in the face or jaw (better known as the temporomandibular joint).
Did you know that children can be affected by arthritis as well? Even though their symptoms may come and go overtime, children have a better chance of achieving full and permanent remission. With any pain you experience, proper care and attentiveness to these specific areas of inflammation and joint pain are essential. This is another great example of how chiropractic care is the route for YOU because we can find these target areas of pain you’re experiencing and get you on track to health & wellness again.
Call now to schedule your FREE consultation with the doctor!
