Arthritis Questions

sfialkina asked:


I’m doing research for a novelist who’s writing about a character with rheumatoid arthritis. How does the pain, the sensations felt, differ from that of osteo arthritis? For example, in an old man or woman, how would such pain feel, in terms of, for example, spasmed muscles, gravelly joints, general achiness, and so on.

If anyone has personal experience, either first- or second-hand, please say so. Thank you.

Some older people with osteoarthritis discount their pain and are reluctant to take pain relievers. A study of the use of pain medications and seniors indicates that they often have a negative attitude toward the drugs. They frequently don’t follow the instructions for use, choosing instead to downplay their pain. As a result, many suffer needlessly. I know I observed my elderly mother behaving this way, and I became curious about other elderly people.

Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with men and women ages 67 to 92, who had severe hip or knee osteoarthritis. They asked the study participants to gather all their prescription and nonprescription medications and then discussed the doses and timing of each. The researchers posed such open-ended questions and as:

What does your osteoarthritis feel like at this time? What are you doing for your osteoarthritis? What other medications are you taking? Do you take your medication in the way your health care professionals suggested? Why or why not? Do you take your medications regularly? Why or why not?

Most participants took medications for other conditions too, but they viewed painkillers as different. They were reluctant to take pain pills and often didn’t follow label directions. Although the participants generally follow the instructions on their other medications, most purposely took pain relievers less often than recommended or at lower doses.

The interviewees also followed different medication behaviors when it came to pain relievers. The elderly men and women did not place painkillers in their pill organizer along with their other medicines. One woman filled her prescription for an opioid pain reliever, and then threw away the bottle. Another recorded how many acetaminophen tablets she took each day and put lower dose acetaminophen in the bottle for the extra strength product. Some took less pain medication when it was about to run out, although they did not do this with other medication.

What reasons did people give for not wanting to take pain medications or for cutting back on dosages? Most said that they didn’t like to take pills, although several of them took many pills each day, plus dietary supplements. Several feared addiction. One participant referred to a common opioid pain reliever as a hard drug and said it reminded her of drug use on the street. Others had similar concerns, noting that taking pain relievers had become a habit more than a necessity.

Yet some of the participants hold friends and family to a different standard, scolding them for not taking their pain medications as described.

Many of these older people with osteoarthritis dismissed their pain or made light of it, even though pain restricted their activities. They claimed that at their age paint was to be expected. That’s how you know you’re alive, one man remarked. Several others justify taking less pain medication than prescribed by claiming to have a high tolerance for pain. Or they expressed the need to fight the pain and not give into it. Many participants said they would take pain relievers only if the pain became very bad.

The researchers noted that noncompliance with pain medication may indicate a person’s refusal to accept that arthritis – associated pain warrants treatment. As a result, doctors may want to omit or clarify the instruction “as needed” on pain medication.

Also, educating older people with osteoarthritis about the safety of opioid avoid pain relievers and the need to take all pain medications as directed may relieve their concerns about addiction and improve their quality of life.

By: Robin Boddy

About the Author:

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ArthritisMD asked:

"For the vast majority of people we don't have a good explanation why it occurs." Thomas P. Sculco, Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, explains several common causes for arthritis, while noting that it's still a relatively mysterious condition.

The joint pain and stiffness caused by arthritis can make physical work difficult. Completing even the simplest tasks can end up being time consuming, painful, and exhausting. Techniques exist, however, that help make work easier and less painful, allowing you to get more done during your day. Here are a few ideas on how you can simplify work.

First, alternate heavy duty jobs and light jobs. For example, in a morning you have to carry storage bins up to the attic, dust the living room, vacuum, pay bills, call your doctor, and mow the front lawn. Do the jobs in this order:

1. Carry bins to attic (heavy)
2. Call doctor (light)
3. Mow the lawn (heavy)
4. Pay bills (light)
5. Vacuum (heavy)
6. Dust (light)

Make sure to take a rest break after each job, even if it is light, to conserve your energy. (See the article entitled Arthritis and Energy Conservation.)

Next, eliminate lifting and carrying when you are able. Instead of picking a box up from a counter and carrying it across the kitchen, slide it along the counter as far as you can and pick it up when you have to. When you do have to pick up and carry objects, break the load up into smaller amounts to decrease the weight and reduce the stress on your joints. If you have access to one, use a rolling cart to push or pull heavy objects rather than carrying them.

Third, keep your body in proper alignment when completing work. When possible, keep your back straight and your hips and knees aligned. Lift an object with your back straight and your knees bent, keeping the object close to your body. Turn your whole body with your feet once you have the object off the ground – do not twist your back. Push or pull objects with your back straight and your body facing forward.

Another tip is to use the larger joints of your body when possible. Push or carry objects with your forearms instead of your hands to spread the weight of the object over a larger area. Lift with your knees instead of your back, as your knees are actually larger joints than the smaller joints between the vertebrae of your lower back. Twist open jar caps with the heel of your hand instead of your fingertips.

Finally, use adaptive devices when you can to help complete work. Large handled and long handled tools, rolling carts, opening devices, and numerous other gadgets are readily available and are inexpensive to obtain. Another article in this series will go into more detail about adaptive devices.

These techniques can be used on a job site as well. Talk to your employer about adapting your job to incorporate work simplification, as most employers would rather allow a few adaptations that go through the expense of hiring a new employee. If you put it in terms of cost savings, most employers are willing to listen to your proposals.

By using work simplification techniques, you will be able to reduce strain on your joints and get more work done during your day. Try these techniques and see if they help save you some pain and aggravation!

By: Janet Meydam

About the Author:

The Coconut Oil Miracle (Previously published as The Healing Miracle of Cocon...
by Bruce Fife, Jon J. Kabara
Amazon Price: $9.72
Customer Review: A great book full of interesting and helpful information. Information everyone should know.The Coconut Oil Miracle (Previously published as The Healing Miracle of Coconut Oil)

The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book: Protect Yourself and Your Family ...
by N.D. Jessica K. Black
Amazon Price: $10.85
Customer Review: Since I suffer with inflammation in a major way, I was excited to find this book that not only explains
the problems with the normal "American" diet, but then gives you all these wonderful recipes to make and offers
solutions. I'm trying ...

Flax Oil As a True Aid Against Arthritis Heart Infarction Cancer and Ot...
by Johanna Budwig
Amazon Price: $6.95
Customer Review: This small book is full of chemistry and physics of metabolic electrons and photons, and the benefit of flax seed oil when combined with a protein to make it water soluble in the system.

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Lana L asked:


I have rheumatoid arthritis for the past 30 years and have taken so many medications but am very tired and need something that will help without the risk of other illnesses as a side effect

Lui asked:


Osteoporisis is most common amongs white women. Almost by a 3 fold. Why is that? I thought skeletal density between different races was globally the same!

yeoldebroad asked:


Last month I had my gallbladder removed because of gallstones and so far have been doing very well but I’m concerned about how the body compensates for not having a gall bladder? Am I more susceptible to high cholesterol? Pancreatitis? Osteoporisis? etc… Is it important that I take certain vitamin supplements?

I’m really interested in medical facts as well as personal experiences.

Rain asked:


I was tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis, I don’t understand how it is found in the blood because i was blood tested for it.

Chaille L asked:


Well, I’ve been a traceur for some months now, and I’m asking this question because I’m studying the risks of being a traceur.

Would parkour increase the chances of getting arthritis, especially in the old age?

expertvillage asked:

How to relieve arthritis pain in the hip and knee with strengthening exercisetreatments; get expert tips and advice on treating pain caused by arthritis in this free personal health video. Expert: Monica Paradise Bio: Monica Paradise teaches physical therapy and massage at Industrial Hand and Physical Therapy in Phoenix, AZ. She will receive a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at Northern Arizona University. Filmmaker: Eric Johnston