Arthritis and its myths

Pain that restricts movement is not the only, but the most characteristic symptom on the basis of which myths about arthritis arise.

Myth #1. There is such a disease…

The most common myth is the assertion that arthritis is a separate disease. But joint damage (no matter whether inflammatory or metabolic-dystrophic) most often turns out to be only a symptom of another disease: genetic diseases, diabetes, consequences of injuries.

Sometimes joints hurt due to the body's reaction to the food a person eats, the cosmetics he uses, environmental living conditions.

Myth #2. The disease is static

Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that for one reason or another, the joints suddenly began to "conflict" with each other, and the irritant arises as a result of processes occurring in the body. There can be thousands of reasons for inflammation, for example, excess weight or genetic predisposition, but the presence of these conditions does not always mean that a person will get arthritis.

Myth #3. Joint pain is the main symptom

Joint pain is a sign of inflammation of the tendons or thin joint capsule (which covers large joints); degenerative changes in the joints, ligament and cartilage ruptures, as well as a dozen other diseases. If you have characteristic pain, do not rush to diagnose yourself: only a rheumatologist can do this.

Myth #4. Senile disease

This disease can appear in both old and young people. Older people are indeed more likely to have diseases of this kind. However, arthritis is much harder for children, because it affects the development of the skeletal system.

Myth #5. All arthritis is terribly painful

Of course, you should see a doctor at any signs of this disease. Hospitalization is also recommended during spring and autumn exacerbations of the disease. But there are also mild forms of arthritis that cause discomfort, but do not require bed rest.

Myth #6. Arthritis = rheumatism

We usually call all joint pain rheumatism, while this disease affects the heart and only slightly affects the joints. The cause is a streptococcal infection, which occurs mainly in adolescents aged 7-15. What is mistakenly called rheumatism is called rheumatoid arthritis, i.e. arthritis, which leads to pathological changes in the joints.

Myth #7. Weather dependence

You shouldn't blame the weather for your deterioration in health and the appearance of pain in the joints. In fact, weather conditions are an irritant, but pain can appear not only under the direct influence of weather conditions. Avoid stress, monitor your diet, check for allergies or hypersensitivity to individual ingredients. Doctors advise increasing the dose of prescribed medications during an exacerbation of the weather, check with your doctor about this possibility.

Pay more attention to your body, and you will easily tolerate changes in weather conditions.

Myth #8. About the benefits of massage

Massage can bring relief, but it can also aggravate the disease. In such a case, you should not rely on positive reviews from friends. First, you need to determine what disease has affected your body and identify the pathogen. So if you want to treat joint disease with massage, be sure to consult a rheumatologist.

Myth #9. Don't move!

A natural reaction to joint pain is to limit movement. They say that until the pain completely subsides, it is better not to move. But professor of medicine, rheumatologist Paul Kremer, on the contrary, recommends that his patients with rheumatoid arthritis move more. He believes that lack of movement negatively affects the muscles that are adjacent to the diseased joints. He recommends exercises that will increase the flexibility of the affected areas - low-intensity stretching exercises. Such exercises can only be done by people with mild forms of the disease.

Myth #10. Arthritis is forever

If you see a doctor in a timely manner, he will be able to prescribe treatment that will minimize the risk of remission. That is, if you undergo a course of treatment and then lead a healthy lifestyle, do not overload your joints and watch your diet, the disease may never remind you of itself again.

When treating arthritis, the main thing is not to delay the period between the detection of symptoms of the disease and a visit to the doctor. Remember that your health is in your hands.