Yup, arthritis, it just plain hurts, and makes walking painful, and standing painful, and makes it difficult, and potentially dangerous, to go up and down stairs, and in and out of the bathtub.
We human beings are hard on our joints, especially our knees and hips.
And as we age, arthritis becomes more and more a part of our lives.
In my case, body is old before its time, due to Turner's Syndrome, a chromosoma
l disorder wherein I have only one x chromosomes, whereas most women have two.
My hips, in particular, are now at the stage that walking more than a block is
extremely painful, so I use a walker when I'm out and about, and my hips and knees
are so stiff that going up and down stairs is dangerous.
But I know I'm only one of many with painful joints, so I thought I would share something I have discovered.
CHRONIC TONIC posts on Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST. It is a place to share stories, advice, and information and to connect with others with chronic health conditions and those who care for them. Our diarists will report on research, alternative treatments, clinical trials, and health insurance issues through personal stories. You are invited to share in comments (and note if you'd like to be a future diarist).
Arthritis:
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where two bones meet. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
See also: Joint pain
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Joint inflammation may result from:
•An autoimmune disease (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue)
•Broken bone
•General "wear and tear" on joints
•Infection, usually by bacteria or virus
Usually the joint inflammation goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur in men or women. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. See: Osteoarthritis
Other, more common types of arthritis include:
•Ankylosing spondylitis
•Gonococcal arthritis
•Gout
•Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
•Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
•Psoriatic arthritis
•Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
•Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
•Scleroderma
•Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/...
From the Mayo Clinic:
Osteoarthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in your joints wears down over time.
While osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your:
Hands
Hips
Knees
Neck
Lower back
Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time, and no cure exists. But osteoarthritis treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active. Taking steps to actively manage your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your symptoms.
Also from the Mayo Clinic:
There's no known cure for osteoarthritis, but treatments can help to reduce pain and maintain joint movement so that you can go about your daily tasks.
Medications
Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can relieve pain, but doesn't reduce inflammation. It has been shown to be effective for people with osteoarthritis who have mild to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially if you consume three or more alcoholic drinks a day. Ask your doctor for guidance on limiting or abstaining from alcohol if you take acetaminophen regularly. Acetaminophen can also affect other medications you may be taking, so be sure to inform your doctor if you're taking it.Ibuprofen or naproxen. Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Mediproxen, others) reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Stronger versions of these drugs are available by prescription. This type of drug can cause stomach upset, particularly when taken by mouth. Other side effects include ringing in your ears, cardiovascular problems, and liver and kidney damage. The risk of major side effects is greatest if you use these drugs at high dosages for long-term treatment.Tramadol. Tramadol (Ultram) is a centrally acting analgesic that's available by prescription. Tramadol has no anti-inflammatory effect, but can provide effective pain relief. However, tramadol may cause nausea and constipation. It's generally used for short-term treatment of acute flare-ups. Your doctor may recommend using tramadol in combination with acetaminophen to increase pain relief.Stronger painkillers. Prescription pain pills, such as codeine, may provide relief from more severe osteoarthritis pain. These stronger medications carry a risk of dependence, though that risk is thought to be small in people who have severe pain. Side effects may include nausea, constipation and sleepiness.Cortisone shots. Injections of corticosteroid medications may relieve pain in your joint. During this procedure your doctor numbs the area around your joint and then inserts a needle into the space within your joint and injects medication. It isn't clear how or why corticosteroid injections work in people with osteoarthritis. Your doctor may limit the number of injections you can have each year, since too many corticosteroid injections may cause joint damage.Therapy
Work with a physical therapist. Ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist. The physical therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise regimen that will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion in your joint and reduce your pain.Find ways to avoid stressing your joints. Find ways to go about your day without stressing your joints. An occupational therapist can help you discover ways to do everyday tasks or do your job without putting extra stress on your already painful joint. For instance, a toothbrush with a large grip could make brushing your teeth easier if you have finger osteoarthritis. A special seat in your shower could help relieve the pain of standing if you have knee osteoarthritis.Try braces or shoe inserts. Consider trying special splints, braces, shoe inserts or other medical devices that can help reduce your pain. These devices can immobilize or support your joint to help you keep pressure off it.Take a chronic pain class. The Arthritis Foundation and some medical centers have classes for people with osteoarthritis or chronic pain. Ask your doctor about classes in your area or check with the Arthritis Foundation. These classes teach skills that help you manage your osteoarthritis pain. And you'll meet other people with osteoarthritis and learn their tips and tricks for reducing and coping with joint pain.Surgical and other procedures
Viscosupplementation. Injections of hyaluronic acid derivatives (Hyalgan, Synvisc) may offer pain relief by providing some cushioning in your knee. These treatments are made of rooster combs and are similar to a component normally found in your joint fluid. Viscosupplementation is only approved for knee osteoarthritis, though researchers are studying its use in other joints.Joint replacement. In joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty), your surgeon removes your damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal devices called prostheses. The hip and knee joints are the most commonly replaced joints. But today implants can replace your shoulder, elbow, finger or ankle joints. How long your new joint will last depends on how you use it. Some knee and hip joints can last 20 years. Joint replacement surgery can help you resume an active, pain-free lifestyle. In smaller hand joints, it can also improve appearance and comfort and may improve your joint's mobility. Joint replacement surgery carries a small risk of infection and bleeding. Artificial joints can wear or come loose and may need to eventually be replaced.Realigning bones. Surgery to realign bones may relieve pain. These types of procedures are typically used when joint replacement surgery isn't an option, such as in younger people with osteoarthritis. During a procedure called an osteotomy, the surgeon cuts across the bone either above or below the knee to realign the leg. Osteotomy can reduce knee pain by transferring the force of the joint away from the worn-out part of the knee.Fusing bones. Surgeons can also permanently fuse bones in a joint (arthrodesis) to increase stability and reduce pain. The fused joint, such as an ankle, can then bear weight without pain, but has no flexibility. Arthrodesis may be an option if you experience severe pain in your joint, but can't undergo joint replacement surgery.
HOWEVER
A new possibile treatment came across my desk this week:
http://www.popsci.com/...
Researchers at Northwestern University have reached a breakthrough in using a nanogel to stimulate stem cells to ultimately produce new cartilage. They've been successful in animals, and will in the years ahead, begin testing on humans. Here's how it works:
To stimulate the growth of type II collagen -- the main protein in the clean, smooth cartilage that caps bones where they make contact in joints -- the NU researchers created a bioactive nanogel that can be injected into the joint in a minimally invasive manner. The gel self-assmebles into a fibrous, solid extracellular matrix similar to what joint cells see in natural cartilage production. The gel also binds to one of the key growth factors for cartilage regeneration and keeps it localized in the damaged area. This stimulates the stem cells present in bone marrow that in turn activate type II collagen production naturally. The matrix slowly breaks down into nutrients as the natural cartilage builds up, eventually being replaced altogether by locally grown cartilage tissue.
Seems to me one of the advantages of this therapy will be that although it uses stem cells, it uses the ones already present in most human bodies, so it will be uncontroversial. Not that the use of embrionic stem cells should be controversial, but you all know what I mean.
YAY ! Very thankful for and to these researchers who have discovered a new potential solution.
How do your painful joints affect your life ?
Pull up a chair and let's talk about it.