Hello everyone,

Today, I am publishing a guest post from a health writer, Rozy Andrews. This post will identify key different types of Arthritis, and natural ways to manage Arthritis pain and stiffness.

Are you struggling with joint pain and stiffness?

Have you been experiencing these symptoms for more than a couple of months?

If you tried different types of medicines but can’t see any permanent reduction in your pain, then you might be struggling with Arthritis and joint inflammation.

Arthritis is an umbrella term that stands for over 100 different types of joint diseases and the most common among which are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and lupus.

4 Common Types of Arthritis

1.Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease that occurs with age. It is also known as wear and tear arthritis, and generally occurs due to excessive use of joints.

A WHO report states that “According to the United Nations, by 2050 people aged over 60will account for more than 20% of the world’s population. 6 Of that 20%, a conservative estimate of 15% will have symptomatic OA, and one-third of these people will be severely disabled.”

Osteoarthritis occurs due to factors like being overweight, injury and repetitive use of joints, bone and joint disorders, and metabolic disorders. Apart from that, a variety of genetic traits can also increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, Researchers have found that a gene called FAAH, previously linked to increased pain sensitivity, is higher in people with knee OA than in “People who don’t have the disease.”

Osteoarthritis mostly affects joints such as hips, knees, spine, ankle because they bear the weight of your body, and hence, receive maximum damage. Patients with this condition lose their cartilage – a joint tissue that absorbs shock. It protects the ends of bones in a joint.

2.Rheumatoid Arthritis

Characterized by symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects the same joints on both sides of your body; for example, if your left knee has inflammation, your right knee will also have it.

People experience this condition when their immune system mistakenly attacks their joints. So, if you are experiencing mild to severe pain and swelling in your ankle, jaw, elbow, knees, and wrists, etc., then you might be struggling with rheumatoid arthritis.

3.Psoriatic Arthritis

Characterized by symptoms such as swollen fingers and toes, psoriatic arthritis is another common form of arthritis. It affects a wide range of people across the world. Common among both males and females, people with this condition also experience inflammation of the skin, known as psoriasis.

This skin problem creates red and white patches on the skin. You can see these patches on your knees, scalp, and lower back, etc. It’s not a disease that spreads by touching, so if anyone in your family has it, you can take care of them without any hesitation.

4.Gout

If you are experiencing severe pain in your big toe, you might be struggling with a condition called gout. It occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in your joint. It’s a bit different from other forms of arthritis because people with it get a gout attack that lasts anywhere between 3 to 10 days. The frequency of gout attacks will start increasing with time.

Experts believe that you can’t reverse arthritis, so the treatments that you take only help in managing the signs and symptoms of your conditions. Therefore, it’s better to address them in a drug-free manner.

Natural Ways for Managing Arthritis Pain

1.Focus on Losing Weight

Is your body too heavy?

Do you find it hard to get up from the floor?

Do you experience more pain when you climb the stairs up and down?

Do you get tried while performing physical activities?

If so, you should focus on reducing your weight.

People who are overweight, tend to find it more challenging to manage their arthritis pain when compared to people with a healthy weight. If you want to work toward living a pain-free life, try to shed those extra pounds. Being overweight puts more stress on your hip, knee, and ankle joints. If they are already inflamed, you will naturally experience more pain when you put additional stress on them. Therefore, it’s essential for you to work furiously to reduce your weight.

2.Consult a Physical Therapist

Since you are struggling with chronic disease, it’s better to take the help of well-trained healthcare professionals like a physical therapist. Your physical therapist will design a personalized care plan to address the signs and symptoms of arthritis. They will use a highly effective approach to manage your pain and improve flexibility.

People with arthritis not only struggle with pain and discomfort but experience reduced flexibility too.

According to Function 1st Physical Therapy, ” Physical therapy can help you achieve more pain-free flexibility and mobility, on a lasting basis,” so you should go for it without, any hesitation.

3.Consume Healthy Food

You can manage your arthritis symptoms to an extent, by avoiding foods that cause inflammation such as soda, refined carbohydrates, red meat, and processed foods. Apart from that, you should focus on consuming anti-inflammatory foods such as green leafy veggies, fruits like oranges, strawberries, and cherries; and healthy nuts like almonds.