Article by Brent Vargas

1 in three adult Americans suffer from some type of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as numerous ladies as men.

Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune illnesses; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and also the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can be caused from strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, and falls. In contrast to the autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. Other forms are discussed below.

Arthritic joints may be responsive to weather changes. The increased sensitivity is believed to be caused by the affected joints creating extra nerve endings in an attempt to safeguard the joint from further harm.

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Article by vikas chauhan

There are actually three common types of arthritis. The treatments, which you will need will depend on the type, so please read carefully. The main type is Osteoarthritis which is the most common, affecting around 16 million Americans with an average age of 45. It usually will attack weight bearing joints like knees, hips, and ankles but has been found in the fingers, neck and spine. Each of our joints is cushioned by cartilage, a very dense, sponge like substance. Osteoarthritis attacks that cartilage and gradually wears it down.

Another type of arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Extremely painful and inflammatory, it strikes the lining of the joints and actually attacks two million Americans in their twenties.

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Question by Josie W: Can arthritis keep you from closing your hand?
Can osteo or psoriatic arthritis prevent you from being able to close your hand into a fist? Or from stretching the fingers out? If so, why is that? Are the tendons affected? One of my hands is almost frozen with the fingers partially closed, and I can’t close it completely or open it. The family doctor just tossed out the diagnosis of “some sort of arthritis” and wouldn’t even refer me to a rheumotologist. It’s terribly painful, the fingers are puffed. The other hand is also affected, but to a much lesser extent.

Also, is it wrong of me to ask for a confirmation of this diagnosis, like an x-ray?

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Article by Beth Chiofalo

What is arthritis?

There are many different types of arthritis and each has its own cause. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It is simply the inflammation of the joint which can be caused by accidents where the joint is affected and then arthritis can start at an earlier age. However, it is most commonly associated with aging.

Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases where the body begins attacking itself. Rheumatoid arthritis is painful and disabling as it progresses and can eventually lead to immobility. It is most notable with the twisting of the fingers and toes and unusually large knuckles. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in people that have psoriasis. It can manifest itself about 10 years after the initial diagnosis of psoriasis. It is treated the same way as rheumatoid.

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Article by Max Peace

The term arthritis is used to classify a group of health situations with cause pain and stiffness symptoms.

Among the most common forms there are the Osteoarthritis and the Rheumatoid Arthritis. The most common causes are considered to be genetic predisposition, traumas and “wear and tear” factors caused by advancing age, However many people reach old age without any form of arthritis.

There are many other less frequent forms of arthritis such as fibromyalgia, gout, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and more.

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Article by Peter Alexis

This article will detail a psoriatic arthritis diet approach to management of the condition. After being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis I remember being given a 2 page handout about the medication the doctors wanted me to take to manage my condition. I remember the opening line of the handout saying something along the lines of ‘we are not really sure of the mechanism behind how this drug helps psoriatic arthritis, but it does’. Then I remember looking at the list of potential side effects from the medication, it was nearly worse than the psoriatic arthritis itself. For goodness sakes, it recommended that I needed to have regular blood test to check my liver wasn’t forming tumors.

I knew taking medicine was not an option. I figured my actions and lifestyle had resulted in my current state and that I could reverse that and get myself out of it. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates once said ‘let food be thy medicine’. I definitely acknowledge other factors in psoriatic arthritis, and these are addressed in other articles, but this article will deal with a psoriatic arthritis diet approach. Psoriatic arthritis is classified as an auto-immune disease; the body is hypersensitive and is destroying its own tissue. The cure cannot be to pump it full of toxic drugs and medications.

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