Arthritis symptoms

Arthritis and osteoarthritis are characterized by the degradation of the cartilage that covers the surfaces of the joints. Repetitive movements such as jogging, typing or working on an assembly line, are largely to blame for this condition.  

When the cartilage is worn off, the bone extremities rub directly one against the other, causing inflammation and pain.  

Pain is the way your body sends a distress signal; it should not be ignored.

The common denominator for all of these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal pain, which is why they are grouped together as 'arthritis.'

Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Decreased range of motion

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent kind of arthritis, affecting more than three million Canadians. Osteoarthritis (OA), also termed degenerative joint disease, is caused by wear and tear of one or more joints. The joints most commonly affected are the large weight bearing ones such as the hips and knees.

In the West arthritis of the hips is the most commonly encountered form of OA, whereas in the East, for some unknown reason, the knees are the most commonly affected joint.

• Pain in some or all of the joints, including joints of the fingers, wrists, and thumbs
• The growth of bony knobs on finger joints
• Numbness in fingers
• Swollen, red, or warm joints
• Stiffness in the fingers, especially in the morning in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis
• Growth of lumps, or nodules, under the skin of the hands in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• Difficulty with motions that require gripping and twisting, such as opening jars

There are three different types of arthritis that can occur in your knees. The most common type is osteoarthritis, a progressive disease that slowly wears away joint cartilage. This type of arthritis is most likely to strike after middle age.Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that can strike at any age.When arthritis develops following an injury to the knee, it is called post-traumatic arthritis. It can occur years after a torn meniscus, injury to ligament, or fracture of the knee.

The most common symptoms are:

• Gradual Increase in Pain 
• Swelling or Tenderness
• Buckling and Locking
• Grinding, Cracking or Popping Sounds
• Poor Range of Motion
• Loss of Joint Space
• Deformities of the Knee

Regardless of the type of arthritis, symptoms of hip arthritis include:

• Pain in the hip joint that may include pain in the groin, outer thigh, or buttocks
• Pain that is typically worse in the morning and lessens with activity
• Difficulty walking or walking with a limp
• Pain that worsens with vigorous or extended activity
• Stiffness in the hip or limited range of motion

Excessive use of a joint will lead to excessive wear of the articular cartilage. This gives rise to an irregularity of the articular surface which, in turn, leads to excessive levels of friction and greater wear of the joint. The cartilage becomes thinner and the cartilage forming cells are unable to keep up with the loss of cells. The articular surfaces may then degenerate to such an extent that the bony surfaces come into direct contact.

Excessive amounts of friction lead to inflammation in the joint and an excessive production of synovial fluid. Bursae surrounding the joint may become inflamed and the end result is a swollen joint.

Aside from repetitive movement, acidity is also an important factor in the development of arthritis and osteoarthritis.  Acid forming foods tend to bind to the alkaline minerals essential for the bones (such as calcium and magnesium), rendering them unusable by the body.  

When bones and cartilage no longer receive the necessary nutrients, they become fragile and brittle.  Furthermore, the acids from food have a tendency to accumulate in the joints, exacerbating inflammation.  Stress contributes to acidify the body while excess weight can aggravate the situation.

Absolüt Arnica Gel is a topical arnica remedy, a very powerful anti-inflammatory.  Absolüt Arnica is a phytotherapeutic gel, not a homeopathic one; it thus contains a high concentration of Arnica.  This plant contains sesquiterpenes lactones that can stop the inflammatory process.  Absolüt Arnica also blocks the cartilage destruction process and soothes osteoarthritis pain. A comparative study between Absolüt Arnica gel and a topical Ibuprofen gel proved that Absolüt Arnica gel is just as effective.