| Arthritis and Disability Benefits |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
If you suffer from disabling Arthritis or Rheumatoid Arthrits (RA) and
can no longer work a full time work week, I would be happy to help you
Security Disability benefits, even if you will eventually recover.
Start by filling out the FREE online Social Security Disability Claim
Evaluation Form (see Tab, on Left Hand Navigation), calling me at
201-317-0610 or emailing sojlaw@ptd.net.
can no longer work a full time work week, I would be happy to help you
Security Disability benefits, even if you will eventually recover.
Start by filling out the FREE online Social Security Disability Claim
Evaluation Form (see Tab, on Left Hand Navigation), calling me at
201-317-0610 or emailing sojlaw@ptd.net.
| What is Arthritis?? |
| MySsiCase.com |
| Brought to you by the Social Security Disability Law Office of Stephanie O. Joy, Esq. Helping clients, one-on-one, in all 50 U.S. States Ph: 201-317-0610 Email: sojlaw@ptd.net Fax: 570-424-2384 |
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling,
stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
Causes
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the
joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when
pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount
of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation),
and stiffness.
You may have joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including:
An autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself because the immune system
believes a body part is foreign)
Broken bone
General "wear and tear" on joints
Infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses)
Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is
treated, or the infection has been cleared.
With some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or
destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you
have chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is more
likely to occur as you age. You may feel it in any of your joints, but most
commonly in your hips, knees or fingers. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:
Being overweight
Previously injuring the affected joint
Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint
(baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk)
Arthritis can occur in men and women of all ages. About 37 million people in
America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out of every 7 people.
Other types or cause of arthritis include:
Adult Still's disease
Ankylosing spondylitis
Fungal infections such as blastomycosis
Gonococcal arthritis
Gout
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
Psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
Scleroderma
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Tertiary Lyme disease
Tuberculous arthritis
Viral arthritis
Symptoms - If you have arthritis, you may experience:
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Reduced ability to move the joint
Redness of the skin around a joint
Stiffness, especially in the morning
Warmth around a joint
Exams and Tests
First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or
another musculoskeletal problem is the likely cause of your symptoms.
Next, a thorough physical examination may show that fluid is collecting in the
joint. (This is called an "effusion.") The joint may be tender when it is gently
pressed, and may be warm and red (especially in infectious arthritis and
autoimmune arthritis). It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some
directions. This is known as "limited range-of-motion."
In some autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the
disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe,
untreated rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They often include blood
tests and joint x-rays. To check for infection and other causes of arthritis (like
gout caused by crystals), joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle
and examined under a microscope. See the specific types of arthritis for
further information.
Treatment
Treatment of arthritis depends on the cause, which joints are affected, the
severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and
occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with
you to create a treatment plan.
If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the cause of the arthritis.
However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and
discomfort and preventing further disability.
It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other
long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle
changes without medications is preferable for osteoarthritis and other forms
of joint inflammation. If needed, medications should be used in addition to
lifestyle changes.
Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness,
reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength. Your
exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a
physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:
Low-impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)
Range of motion exercises for flexibility
Strength training for muscle tone
A physical therapist can apply heat and cold treatments as needed and fit
you for splints or orthotic (straightening) devices to support and align joints.
This may be particularly necessary for rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical
therapist may also consider water therapy, ice massage, or transcutaneous
nerve stimulation (TENS).
Rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8 to 10 hours per night and
taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly
and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:
Avoid holding one position for too long.
Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.
Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in
the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or
guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.
Other measures to try include:
Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your
painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7
days.
Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants like vitamin E.
These are found in fruits and vegetables. Get selenium from Brewer's yeast,
wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts. Get
omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish (like salmon, mackerel, and herring),
flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and
walnuts.
Taking glucosamine and chondroitin -- these form the building blocks of
cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at
health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such
supplements may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit.
However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to
try and many patients find their symptoms improve.
Lose weight, if you are overweight. Weight loss can greatly improve joint pain
in the legs and feet.
MEDICATIONS
Your doctor will choose from a variety of medications as needed. Generally,
the first drugs to try are available without a prescription. These include:
Prescription medicines include:
are having difficulty doing so (for example, due to intolerable side effects),
you should talk to your doctor.
SURGERY AND OTHER APPROACHES
In some cases, surgery to rebuild the joint (arthroplasty) or to replace the
joint (such as a total knee joint replacement) may help maintain a more
normal lifestyle. The decision to perform joint replacement surgery is normally
made when other alternatives, such as lifestyle changes and medications, are
no longer effective.
Normal joints contain a lubricant called synovial fluid. In joints with arthritis,
this fluid is not produced in adequate amounts. In some cases, a doctor may
inject the arthritic joint with a manmade version of joint fluid. The synthetic
fluid may postpone the need for surgery at least temporarily and improve the
quality of life for persons with arthritis.
Outlook (Prognosis)
A few arthritis-related disorders can be completely cured with treatment. Most
are chronic (long-term) conditions, however, and the goal of treatment is to
control the pain and minimize joint damage. Chronic arthritis frequently goes
in and out of remission.
Possible Complications:
Chronic pain
Lifestyle restrictions or disability
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor if:
Prevention
If arthritis is diagnosed and treated early, you can prevent joint damage. Find
out if you have a family history of arthritis and share this information with your
doctor, even if you have no joint symptoms.
Osteoarthritis may be more likely to develop if you abuse your joints (injure
them many times or over-use them while injured). Take care not to overwork
a damaged or sore joint. Similarly, avoid excessive repetitive motions.
Excess weight also increases the risk for developing osteoarthritis in the
knees and possibly in the hips. See the article on body mass index to learn
whether your weight is healthy.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001243.htm
stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis.
Causes
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the
joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when
pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount
of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation),
and stiffness.
You may have joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including:
An autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself because the immune system
believes a body part is foreign)
Broken bone
General "wear and tear" on joints
Infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses)
Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is
treated, or the infection has been cleared.
With some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or
destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you
have chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is more
likely to occur as you age. You may feel it in any of your joints, but most
commonly in your hips, knees or fingers. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:
Being overweight
Previously injuring the affected joint
Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint
(baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk)
Arthritis can occur in men and women of all ages. About 37 million people in
America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out of every 7 people.
Other types or cause of arthritis include:
Adult Still's disease
Ankylosing spondylitis
Fungal infections such as blastomycosis
Gonococcal arthritis
Gout
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
Psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
Scleroderma
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Tertiary Lyme disease
Tuberculous arthritis
Viral arthritis
Symptoms - If you have arthritis, you may experience:
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Reduced ability to move the joint
Redness of the skin around a joint
Stiffness, especially in the morning
Warmth around a joint
Exams and Tests
First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or
another musculoskeletal problem is the likely cause of your symptoms.
Next, a thorough physical examination may show that fluid is collecting in the
joint. (This is called an "effusion.") The joint may be tender when it is gently
pressed, and may be warm and red (especially in infectious arthritis and
autoimmune arthritis). It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some
directions. This is known as "limited range-of-motion."
In some autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed if the
disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe,
untreated rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They often include blood
tests and joint x-rays. To check for infection and other causes of arthritis (like
gout caused by crystals), joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle
and examined under a microscope. See the specific types of arthritis for
further information.
Treatment
Treatment of arthritis depends on the cause, which joints are affected, the
severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Your age and
occupation will also be taken into consideration when your doctor works with
you to create a treatment plan.
If possible, treatment will focus on eliminating the cause of the arthritis.
However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and
discomfort and preventing further disability.
It is possible to greatly improve your symptoms from osteoarthritis and other
long-term types of arthritis without medications. In fact, making lifestyle
changes without medications is preferable for osteoarthritis and other forms
of joint inflammation. If needed, medications should be used in addition to
lifestyle changes.
Exercise for arthritis is necessary to maintain healthy joints, relieve stiffness,
reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength. Your
exercise program should be tailored to you as an individual. Work with a
physical therapist to design an individualized program, which should include:
Low-impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)
Range of motion exercises for flexibility
Strength training for muscle tone
A physical therapist can apply heat and cold treatments as needed and fit
you for splints or orthotic (straightening) devices to support and align joints.
This may be particularly necessary for rheumatoid arthritis. Your physical
therapist may also consider water therapy, ice massage, or transcutaneous
nerve stimulation (TENS).
Rest is just as important as exercise. Sleeping 8 to 10 hours per night and
taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly
and may even help prevent exacerbations. You should also:
Avoid holding one position for too long.
Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your affected joints.
Modify your home to make activities easier. For example, have grab bars in
the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
Reduce stress, which can aggravate your symptoms. Try meditation or
guided imagery. And talk to your physical therapist about yoga or tai chi.
Other measures to try include:
Apply capsaicin cream (derived from hot chili peppers) to the skin over your
painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7
days.
Eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, especially antioxidants like vitamin E.
These are found in fruits and vegetables. Get selenium from Brewer's yeast,
wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts. Get
omega-3 fatty acids from cold water fish (like salmon, mackerel, and herring),
flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and
walnuts.
Taking glucosamine and chondroitin -- these form the building blocks of
cartilage, the substance that lines joints. These supplements are available at
health food stores or supermarkets. While some studies show such
supplements may reduce osteoarthritis symptoms, others show no benefit.
However, since these products are regarded as safe, they are reasonable to
try and many patients find their symptoms improve.
Lose weight, if you are overweight. Weight loss can greatly improve joint pain
in the legs and feet.
MEDICATIONS
Your doctor will choose from a variety of medications as needed. Generally,
the first drugs to try are available without a prescription. These include:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) -- recommended by the American College of
Rheumatology and the American Geriatrics Society as first-line
treatment for osteoarthritis. Take up to 4 grams a day (two arthritis-
strength Tylenol every 8 hours). This can provide significant relief of
arthritis pain without many of the side effects of prescription drugs. DO
NOT exceed the recommended doses of acetaminophen or take the
drug in combination with large amounts of alcohol. These actions may
damage your liver.
- Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen -- these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) are often effective in combating arthritis pain. However,
they have many potential risks, especially if used for a long time. They
should not be taken in any amount without consulting your doctor.
Potential side effects include heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers,
bleeding from the digestive tract, and kidney damage. In 2005, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked makers of NSAIDs to
include a warning label on their product that alerts users of an
increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and gastrointestinal bleeding. If
you have kidney or liver disease, or a history of gastrointestinal
bleeding, you should not take these medicines unless your doctor
specifically recommends them.
Prescription medicines include:
- Biologics-- these are the most recent breakthrough for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis. Such medications, including etanercept (Enbrel),
infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira), are administered by
injection and can dramatically improve your quality of life. Newer
biologics include abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxan), golimumab
(Simponi), certolizumab (Cimzia), and tocilizumab (Actemra). - Corticosteroids ("steroids") -- these are medications that suppress the
immune system and symptoms of inflammation. They are often injected
into painful osteoarthritic joints. Steroids are used to treat autoimmune
forms of arthritis but should be avoided in infectious arthritis. Steroids
have multiple side effects, including upset stomach and gastrointestinal
bleeding, high blood pressure, thinning of bones, cataracts, and
increased infections. The risks are most pronounced when steroids are
taken for long periods of time or at high doses. Close supervision by a
physician is essential. - Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors -- These drugs block an
inflammation-promoting enzyme called COX-2. This class of drugs was
initially believed to work as well as traditional NSAIDs, but with fewer
stomach problems. However, numerous reports of heart attacks and
stroke have prompted the FDA to re-evaluate the risks and benefits of
the COX-2s. Celecoxib (Celebrex) is still available, but labeled with
strong warnings and a recommendation that it be prescribed at the
lowest possible dose for the shortest duration possible. Talk to your
doctor about whether COX-2s are right for you. - Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs -- these have been used
traditionally to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune causes
of arthritis. These drugs include gold salts, penicillamine, sulfasalazine,
and hydroxychloroquine. More recently, methotrexate has been shown
to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and improve your quality
of life. Methotrexate itself can be highly toxic and requires frequent
blood tests for patients on the medication. - Immunosuppressants -- these drugs, like azathioprine or
cyclophosphamide, are used for serious cases of rheumatoid arthritis
when other medications have failed.
are having difficulty doing so (for example, due to intolerable side effects),
you should talk to your doctor.
SURGERY AND OTHER APPROACHES
In some cases, surgery to rebuild the joint (arthroplasty) or to replace the
joint (such as a total knee joint replacement) may help maintain a more
normal lifestyle. The decision to perform joint replacement surgery is normally
made when other alternatives, such as lifestyle changes and medications, are
no longer effective.
Normal joints contain a lubricant called synovial fluid. In joints with arthritis,
this fluid is not produced in adequate amounts. In some cases, a doctor may
inject the arthritic joint with a manmade version of joint fluid. The synthetic
fluid may postpone the need for surgery at least temporarily and improve the
quality of life for persons with arthritis.
Outlook (Prognosis)
A few arthritis-related disorders can be completely cured with treatment. Most
are chronic (long-term) conditions, however, and the goal of treatment is to
control the pain and minimize joint damage. Chronic arthritis frequently goes
in and out of remission.
Possible Complications:
Chronic pain
Lifestyle restrictions or disability
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor if:
- Your joint pain persists beyond 3 days.
- You have severe unexplained joint pain.
- The affected joint is significantly swollen.
- You have a hard time moving the joint.
- Your skin around the joint is red or hot to the touch.
- You have a fever or have lost weight unintentionally.
Prevention
If arthritis is diagnosed and treated early, you can prevent joint damage. Find
out if you have a family history of arthritis and share this information with your
doctor, even if you have no joint symptoms.
Osteoarthritis may be more likely to develop if you abuse your joints (injure
them many times or over-use them while injured). Take care not to overwork
a damaged or sore joint. Similarly, avoid excessive repetitive motions.
Excess weight also increases the risk for developing osteoarthritis in the
knees and possibly in the hips. See the article on body mass index to learn
whether your weight is healthy.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001243.htm
| WELCOME |