Arthritis Signs and Symptoms
Joint pain, stiffness or reduced mobility can be signs of arthritis. Most arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. Over time, swollen joints can become severely damaged. Certain types of arthritis can also cause problems in the organs, like the eyes or skin. Osteoarthritis is related to aging or injury. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur when the immune system, which is supposed to protect the body from infection, attacks its own tissues.
Arthritis Treatment and Procedures
The priority in arthritis treatment is to reduce pain and prevent additional joint damage. Arthritis treatment is designed to improve quality of life and can include options such as medication, physical therapy or surgery. Lifestyle changes can also help lessen arthritis pain. If left untreated, arthritis can leave you with permanent widespread pain and discomfort.
For certain cases of arthritis, joint arthroscopy can be performed on the knee, shoulder, wrist and ankle. During the procedure, the surgeon will examine and likely repair the problem with the help of an arthroscope, which is a small camera attached to a video monitor. Surgery generally lasts about 30 minutes, with an approximately two-hour recovery period before the patient is discharged and released.
Joint arthroscopy is a low-risk procedure. Before the procedure, patients are administered either a local, regional or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision over the surgical site to insert the arthroscope, makes additional cuts to insert the surgical tools, and then surgically repairs the joint.
There are ways to help prevent arthritis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:
- Maintaining ideal weight
- Taking precautions to reduce repetitive joint use and injury on the job
- Avoiding sports injuries by warming up before activity
- Strengthening muscles through weight-bearing exercise
- Choosing appropriate sports equipment
Each patient’s rehabilitation program will be different, but the purpose of rehabilitation is to improve the strength and flexibility of the joint, recover from joint surgery and maintain a range of motion. Patients can expect to follow any combination of rest, stretching, strength training, pool therapy, exercise and joint stabilization.
Dalili na dalili za ugonjwa wa viungo maumivu ya viungo, ugumu au kupunguza mwendo inaweza kuwa dalili ya ugonjwa wa viungo. Ugonjwa mwingi wa viungo husababisha maumivu na uvimbe katika viungo. Baada ya muda, viungo vilivyovimba vinaweza kuharibiwa vibaya. Aina fulani za ugonjwa wa viungo vya mwili zaweza pia kusababisha matatizo katika viungo, kama vile macho au ngozi. Osteoarthritis inahusiana na kuzeeka au majeraha. Ugonjwa wa rheumatoid arthritis hutokea wakati mfumo wa kinga, ambao unapaswa kulinda mwili dhidi ya maambukizo, unaposhambulia tishu zake mwenyewe. Matibabu ya Arthritis na Utaratibu Utangulizi katika matibabu ya arthritis ni kupunguza maumivu na kuzuia uharibifu wa ziada wa viungo. Matibabu ya ugonjwa wa arthritis ni ya kuboresha ubora wa maisha na inaweza kujumuisha chaguzi kama vile dawa, tiba ya kimwili au upasuaji. Mabadiliko ya mtindo-maisha yaweza pia kusaidia kupunguza maumivu ya ugonjwa wa viungo. Ikiwa haitibiwa, ugonjwa wa viungo unaweza kukusababisha maumivu na usumbufu wa kudumu. Kwa visa fulani vya ugonjwa wa viungo, uchunguzi wa viungo vya mguu waweza kufanywa kwenye goti, bega, mkono na mguu. Wakati wa upasuaji, daktari-mpasuaji atachunguza na labda kurekebisha tatizo hilo kwa kutumia kifaa cha kuchunguza viungo vya mwili (arthroscope), ambacho ni kamera ndogo iliyounganishwa na kiwambo cha video. Upasuaji wa kawaida huchukua dakika 30 na kipindi cha kupona cha saa mbili kabla ya mgonjwa kuachiliwa. Upasuaji wa viungo vya mwili ni utaratibu usio na hatari kubwa. Kabla ya utaratibu huo, wagonjwa hutumiwa anesthesia ya mahali hapo, ya eneo, au ya jumla. Mpasuaji hufanya upasuaji mdogo kwenye sehemu ya upasuaji ili kuingiza arthroscope, anafanya upasuaji wa ziada ili kuingiza vifaa vya upasuaji, na kisha anafanya upasuaji wa kurekebisha kiungo. Kuna njia za kuzuia ugonjwa wa viungo. Vifaa vya mazoezi ya mwili: kudumisha uzito bora, kuchukua tahadhari kupunguza matumizi ya mara kwa mara ya viungo na majeraha ya kazi, kuepuka majeraha ya michezo kwa joto kabla ya shughuli, kuimarisha misuli kupitia mazoezi ya kubeba uzito, kuchagua vifaa vya michezo vinavyofaa, na kuboresha nguvu na kubadilika kwa viungo. Kwa hivyo, wagonjwa wanaweza kutarajia kufuata mchanganyiko wowote wa kupumzika, kunyoosha, mafunzo ya nguvu, tiba ya dimbwi, mazoezi na utulivu wa pamoja.