Millions of people are diagnosed with arthritis, a painful and often times debilitating disease. The two major classes of arthritis are:
- Inflammatory arthritis is where the immune system does not function properly. The most common inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis.
- Degenerative arthritis is where joints literally wear down. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of degenerative arthritis
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. While there is no cure for arthritis, studies have shown that exercise—especially weight training—and proper nutrition help to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Maintaining a healthy weight is also very important.
If you suffer from painful, stiff joints, talk to your family physician or orthopedist about your symptoms. He or she can work with you to diagnose your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that may include nutrition, exercise, physical therapy and medication.
Individuals with severe pain due to extreme degeneration of major joints such as the hip, knee or shoulder do have the option of joint replacement. For more information about joint replacement, contact ThedaCare Orthopedics Plus.