Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint.
1.Pain 2.Stiffness. 3.Swelling. 4.Redness. 5.Decreased range of motion.
The two main types of arthritis — osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis — damage joints in different ways.. Age : The risk of many types of arthritis — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age. Previous joint injury People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint. ObesityCarrying excess pounds puts stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips and spine. People with obesity have a higher risk of developing arthritis.
It's not always possible to prevent. The following can play a key role in protecting your back: Exercise regularly : To keep your back strong, pay special attention to your core muscles — the muscles in your abdomen and lower back that are essential for proper posture and alignment. Good posture : Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. Smoking : A significantly higher percentage of smokers have back pain incidences compared to non-smokers of the same age, height, and weight. Body weight : The weight people carry and where they carry it affects the risk of developing back pain. The difference in back pain risk between obese and normal-weight individuals is considerable. People who carry their weight in the abdominal area versus the buttocks and hip area are also at greater risk.
If your pain doesn't improve with self-care measures, your doctor might suggest some of the following treatments. Medication : Back pain that does not respond well to OTC painkillers may require a prescription NSAID. Codeine or hydrocodone, which are narcotics, may be prescribed for short periods. These require close monitoring by the doctor. In some cases, muscle relaxants may be used. Therapy : Physical Therapy : Applying heat, ice, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation — as well as some muscle-release techniques to the back muscles and soft tissues — may help alleviate pain.