Arthritis
Know that you are not alone if you are
suffering from arthritis, as it is the
second most common chronic disease in
Australia. Shoulder pain, tennis elbow,
gout, or any other forms of pain in the
joints are different forms of arthritis. In
an arthritic joint, the normal soft tissue
get worn and damaged as the person
ages, and eventually lead to
inflammation, stiffness, and pain. This is
largely a result of bones in the joint
grinding against each other, though, if
left untreated, arthritis may lead to
severe pain and disability.
Arthritis is manageable to some extent,
despite the chronic joint pains. Most
commonly, painkillers are taken for mild
cases of arthritis. Yet this may do more
harm than good, as they simply block
the pain and do nothing to correct the
joint damage. Alternatively,
anti-inflammatory drugs are given to
reduce swelling, or disease-modifying
drugs are given to slow the progression
of disease. A change for a better lifestyle
may help joint flexibility and pain
management, but the fact remains that
arthritis is an incurable disease. Even
those who have undergone joint
replacements or reconstruction
surgeries may require a repeat surgery.
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