Arthritis Can Affect Several Different Areas of Your Life

By Barry Warner

Arthritis affects 46 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. The month of May is National Arthritis Awareness Month and is dedicated to inform and educate patients to the treatments available for joint inflammation.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis involves wearing away of the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints. With rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane that protests and lubricates joints becomes inflamed, causing pain and swelling.

Rheumatologists are physicians who are specifically trained to treat inflammatory diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Dr. Oliver Kurucz is Chief of Rheumatology at Nyack hospital and is a Clinical instructor at NYU. He stated, “The symptoms of Arthritis are pain, swelling and redness as the cartilage wears down and the joint movements become painful or limited. Parts of the body that can be affected include the neck, shoulders, lower back, fingers, feet and hips. Treatments include oral pain meds and steroid injections to the knee to reduce swelling, pain and increase comfort. Prevention includes exercises such as walking, strengthening muscles and joints and a diet that includes fruits, vegetables and fish oils.”

For additional information access www.arthritis.org.