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Tips For Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, believing it to be foreign substances like bacteria or viruses. This, in turn, creates inflammation, causing the thickening of the synovium (the tissue that lines the inside of the joints), which results in the swelling and pain in the joints. If inflammation goes unchecked for a long period of time, it does not only cause damage to the cartilage of the joint but the bones too. Rheumatoid Arthritis can cause joints to become loose, unstable, painful and can gradually lose their mobility. It most commonly affects the joints of the hands, wrists, ankle, elbows, knees, and feet. Since it can also affect the cardiovascular or respiratory system, it is also called a systematic disease. This article shows that making small lifestyle changes or improvements can help you in managing the symptoms of your rheumatoid arthritis, for instance -...

How To Deal With Postoperative Pain

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You most likely will experience postoperative pain after undergoing major surgeries like hip replacement surgery or knee replacement surgery , a cardiac surgery, or a procedure on other vital organs. To help manage this pain, your doctor will recommend various medication as well as non-medication techniques. Postoperative pain can be extremely unpleasant and if not treated properly can become the chronic pain (i.e., pain that lasts longer than three months) and chronic pain can become difficult to manage not only for patients but doctors as well. Being able to manage pain after undergoing major surgeries not only helps in speeding up your recovery but also reduce the risk of developing certain complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. The site of the surgery is not the only area where you’ll feel pain or discomfort. Patients often feel muscle pain in the neck, shoulders or back. Certain important activities like sitting, walking, climbing stairs, and even...

Treatment For Osteoarthritis

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Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissues at the end of bones wear down. It is also called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis. It affects joints and occurs generally in the knees, hips, hands, feet, and spine. Cartilage is a soft rubbery material that covers the end of each bone. In Osteoarthritis, the cartilage that provides a gliding surface for joint’s motion and acts as a cushion between the joints breaks down and causes pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. Osteoarthritis can occur in people of all ages but is most common in people older than 65. As Osteoarthritis worsens over time, the cartilage breaks down and causing pain and swelling and bones may break down eventually and develop growths called bone spurs. An inflammatory process occurs in the body due to which certain proteins (also known as cytokines) and enzyme develop that further damages the cartilage. In the final stages of os...

Myths and Truths about Joint Replacement Surgery

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The prospect of walking around with metal implants in your knee or hip joint raises anxiety in patients that are required to undergo joint replacement surgery due to the myths they have heard about it. Patients can decide whether or not joint replacement is a good choice for them after reading the below-mentioned myths and the truth behind them. I'm too young for a joint replacement surgery:  Age does not determine whether the patient is a good candidate for the surgery or not rather it depends on the level of disability or how much pain the patient suffers from. In the past, the lifespan of joint replacements was limited but with the advancement of technology, the longevity of replacement parts have improved and it’s viable to put them in younger patients. Now, patients with severe arthritis don’t have to bear the excruciating pain for years before undergoing joint replacement surgery just because they’re young. You should delay as long as possible, before hav...

Knee Replacement: Some Benefits of Outpatient Surgery

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Total knee replacements have come a long way. Afterwards, people no longer lay in a hospital bed for three weeks; instead, they generally begin walking at home within a day of the procedure. Of course, recovery still takes time. But it may surprise you to see how quickly that time passes after outpatient surgery, which is an option for some people. 1. Less pain You won’t need a pain pump for self-administered medications or IV painkillers with outpatient surgery. Instead, you’ll get a spinal injection that numbs you from the waist down for two hours. A long-lasting local anaesthetic will help control your pain for up to two days afterwards. 2. Lower infection risk Spending less time in the hospital lowers the chances of infection in your surgery site. 3. Better recovery at home Leaving the hospital means you get to recuperate in the comfort of your own home. You’ll progress better in a familiar environment where you’re more likely to get a good night’s sle...