Suffers of arthritis like spine arthritis, foot arthritis, viral arthritis, and/or reactive arthritis can join a support group. In an arthritis support group, arthritis sufferers can learn about arthritis exercise, arthritis prevention, arthritis creams, and/or arthritis diet techniques to help cope with the various painful and sometimes crippling signs and symptoms of arthritis, and/or an arthritis diagnosis.
What is shoulder arthritis, arthritis rheumatism, neck arthritis, infectious arthritis, and/or psoriatic arthritis pain? Foot arthritis pain, back arthritis pain, rheumatic arthritis pain, knee arthritis pain and other pains mean something is wrong in your body. Signs and symptoms of arthritis, signs of arthritis, or arthritis pain may begin as morning stiffness. And for millions of us, arthritis can become a crippling disease.
Temporal Arthritis
Temporal Arthritis is Easily Treated with Corticosteroid Drugs
Many people are not familiar with temporal arthritis. Temporal arthritis is an inflammation of the medium and large arteries which run along the head. These arteries bring the blood supply to the scalp. Young people are not usually diagnosed with temporal arthritis and it is usually found in individuals who are over 50. As with other forms of arthritis, the cause of temporal arthritis is unknown. However, it is thought to be brought about by a disorder in the body’s immune system.
A sign of temporal arthritis can include sudden pain which usually occurs around the temple area of the head. Many report that even grooming their hair can cause pain. This is a sign that the blood vessels are swollen. You may also run a low fever if you have temporal arthritis. Vision problems can occur when you have temporal arthritis--including blurred vision, double vision or a loss of vision in one eye. Some individuals report that they experience pain when talking or chewing. Other symptoms of temporal arthritis can also include shaking, sweating, weight loss, tiredness, and loss of appetite. You may also become anemic and have joint stiffness.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately see a doctor. Your doctor will order blood tests and a biopsy. The biopsy involves taking a small piece of the inflamed artery to view for abnormal cells. This is necessary for a diagnosis of temporal arthritis. You should not put off contacting your doctor out of fear. Temporal arthritis that is left untreated can lead to blindness.
If you do have temporal arthritis, your doctor will prescribe a corticosteroid drug. This will help reduce inflammation. This is important because the inflammation of the arteries is what can lead to blindness. Prednisone can be a wonderful anti-inflammatory medication for someone with temporal arthritis. Cortisone is the hormone which is produced by the adrenal glands, prednisone resembles cortisone and reduces the inflammation and pain of temporal arthritis. Many individuals only have to take prednisone for a few years. Others may have to continue taking prednisone for their entire life to keep temporal arthritis under control.
You Can Exercise With Arthritis
When a person is diagnosed with arthritis, exercise is usually the last thing on their mind. It may be difficult to walk through the grocery store, write a letter or stand on your feet. Many people assume that all exercise should be avoided. This is not true. In fact, with many forms of the disease, arthritis exercise is encouraged.
If you only have mild joint damage, arthritis exercise can greatly improve your condition. Stretching and strengthening muscles should be the goals of an exercise regimen, and you should avoid any exercise which is high impact. You should discuss with your doctor the extent of your arthritis and what arthritis exercise is right for you.
If you have arthritis, you should avoid jogging, playing tennis and other forms of exercise which put sudden pressure on your joints. These activities will only cause you pain and they will most likely cause swelling and inflammation. Exercise should benefit you, not make your arthritis worse.
If you have severe joint damage, you should probably avoid any form of exercise which adds stress to your joints. Swimming is a great form of arthritis exercise. The weightlessness of water does not stress the joints and it gives you the cardiovascular workout which your body needs to stay healthy. Walking can also be beneficial if the proper shoes are worn and you stay at a comfortable pace.
If your arthritis is to the point where you are unable to exercise, your doctor may have you enroll in therapy. Here you can learn ways you can use your body without inflicting harm on your joints. It is essential that you still exercise your body to keep your muscles strong and toned.
You should do everything within your power to stay as physically active as possible. However, you should always take your arthritis condition into perspective and never stress your joints. Your arthritis symptoms may come and go. If you have been having a relatively pain free episode, this does not mean you should do high impact activities. You should always stick with the arthritis exercise program you and your doctor agreed upon.
