No, there are not just a couple of garden variety types of arthritis out there. In fact currently, there over well over one hundred different kinds of arthritis. Shocking isn’t it? Over 100 different types of arthritis make it one very aggressive disease that invades the lives of millions.

One of the less well-known forms of this disease is known as psoriatic arthritis. What is psoriatic arthritis?

We can learn a lot about this disease just from the name of the disease. Guess what? This joint condition is associated with a skin condition often known as “the heartbreak of psoriasis”. I know you’ve heard of that one! Well,psoriasis is a rather common skin condition in which the skin of the body reacts and shows up as red, raised patches on the skin, alligator-like scaly skin and simply an over all, generalized inflammation of the skin. Right now, psoriasis is known to affect around 2% of Caucasian Americans. But it is important to remember that this skin condition can most definitely appear in others besides just the Caucasian population.

Do you have psoriasis? If so then you know that this aggravating skin condition can attack your belly button, your knees, your elbows, your scalp, and for goodness sakes, it can even affect your anus and genital area! Now that is just not right! At this point in time, health care professionals believe that Aaron 10% of those who suffer with the “heartbreak of psoriasis” also develop a simultaneous inflammation of specific body joints. When this happens, these patients gain a new label known as psoriatic arthritis.

So there you go. Seems to go hand in hand. Having psoriasis, the skin condition, is a major risk factor for the development of psoriatic arthritis. This is particularly true if your psoriasis has begun to affect the joint. Not typically a young persons’ disease, psoriatic arthritis most often impacts most patients later in life, most often when people are in their forties and fifties. Men and women seem to be equally attacked by this condition. There doesn’t seem to be an increased incidence of occurrence between one sex or the other. In this case, men and women are equal!

The majority of those who battle psoriatic arthritis actually battle psoriasis first. Yes, many patients experience the onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at different times. So it should be a warning sign that if you see psoriasis that you should also be on the look out for the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

But of course everything in life cannot follow a definite pattern, since in some patients, they actually get a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis before actually developing a skin condition. This can make diagnosing the condition a bit more difficult. Unfortunately far too many patients suffer with either the arthritis or the psoriasis for way too long before figuring out that they two go together.

Like other forms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is a systematic disease. This means it may affect other areas of the body beside the affected joints. In psoriatic arthritis patients, this means they may be susceptible to other problems. The most commonly affected areas include the lungs, kidneys, eyes, mouth, skin and the heart.

Unfortunately, when psoriatic arthritis is severe, other terribly important organs can also be attacked. Just like with other varieties of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis can also attack the spine with an inflammatory reaction. This is really true of spondylitis arthritis and reactive arthritis. Again, this is such an important thing to remember so that you are well aware of the potential of inflammatory spinal involvement if you indeed are battling psoriatic arthritis.

So, here’s the million dollar question. Just what causes psoriatic arthritis? Want the million dollar answer? Ok, here it is, we don’t really know the cause of psoriatic arthritis. While there are many scholarly theories out there that attempt to explain the basis of psoriatic arthritis, the precise cause remains a mystery. Current research seems to point to many factors which can contribute to the development of psoriatic arthritis. One such factor is environmental, another is a flaky immune system and finally a genetic marker, known as HLA-B27. This particular genetic marker is found in many psoriatic arthritis patients, but it is not always the case and so don’t count on it.

There are even other genetic markers that are found in cases of psoriatic arthritis which continue to lead to researchers to believe that this condition is genetic in nature. Lab tests can help to confirm these genetic markers if they are present. Some research also indicates that a faulty immune system may also be a causative factor in the case of psoriatic arthritis. Other research shows that environmental factors may be to blame. Any way you slice it, the reasons can vary behind the development of psoriatic arthritis.

So, with psoriatic arthritis, you must work collaboratively with your health care provider so that you have an aggressive management plan designed specifically for you. This management plan must take into account its practicality and your willingness to comply. Psoriatic arthritis is a battle faced by many each and every day, but it does not have to be a battle that you give up on long before the fight begins. Be your own best advocate if you are facing psoriatic arthritis. Do it well and do it now!

For more important information on arthritis resources visit http://www.arthritis-life.com where you’ll find information on arthritis topics such as arthritis symptoms, arthritis relief & more

Are you frustrated, feeling that there is no hope, no cure, and that you are doomed to a life with arthritis? Do you have extreme joint pain, aches, and stiffness, which make it difficult to move?

Are you taking drugs that do not relieve your pain and discomfort?

Are you constantly feeling tired and wiped out?

Are you angry and depressed, with no passion or energy for life?

Are doctors constantly telling you, that they do not know what causes arthritis, and they cannot cure it? If you are concerned about living like this, than this is the most important information, you will ever need. There has been a scientific breakthrough about arthritis. That will help millions slowly, but very effectively reverse their condition. Arthritis cannot be cured through traditional medicine, because traditional medicines treat the symptoms of the disease, but not the root cause of the problem.

The exact cause of arthritis is not known. What is known is that osteoarthritis increases with age. Arthritis occurs more frequently in women. Being overweight puts stress on weight bearing joints. Increasing wear and tear, and the risk of osteoarthritis. Repetitive movements and heavy lifting stress out the joints and can cause injury, which leads to osteoarthritis.

There are 100″s of different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis- is the most common type. It can occur in any joint, but often affects the hands and weight bearing joints. It is sometimes called “degenerative joint disease.” Rheumatoid Arthritis- is a long-lasting disease, which can affect joints, in any part of the body. It mistakenly attacks itself and causes the joint lining to swell. It can affect other areas of the body, like the skin, eyes and nerves.

With Arthritis Free In One Month, learn that once you cleanse your body, from the overflow of acids. It starts to heal, rebuild and recover slowly. Learn what you are eating that is currently attacking your body. Learn how to cleanse that inner body completely from acidosis. You will notice an absence of pain, aches and stiffness. See how 3 ingredients, will cleanse the body from acids and toxins. Discover 5 critical ingredients, for a healthy body at all times. Learn about a spaced-aged noble-prize winning ingredient, to boost the immune system. In just a few short months, you can be liberated from arthritis altogether, and stop arthritis pain now.

To make sure that your body, will function properly for a long time. Start living healthy as soon as possible. Starting now, will help the body fight off symptoms of many illnesses and diseases. Some factors that can lead to an early onset of arthritis include a poor diet. Some diseases are hereditary, and you can still be at risk. By keeping healthy, you are helping your body, to be able to control the symptoms when they onset. Break-free from your debilitating arthritis and invest in your happiness and health now. Don’t wait until your arthritis is completely out of control. Get your life back now.

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Do you feel condemned, to a live with arthritis for the rest of your life? Are you constantly suffering with joint aches and pains? Does the simplest tasks, give you extreme pain? Are you taking drugs that do not relieve your discomfort? Are you having leg cramps and stiffness? Are you constantly feeling tired and wiped out? Are you angry and depressed? Are doctors constantly telling you, they do not know what causes arthritis, or how to cure it?

If you are tired of living like this, then freedom from arthritis is around the corner. There has been a scientific breakthrough discovery. That will help you and millions of others slowly, but very effectively reverse their condition. Once you focus on the root cause, that is causing your arthritis, it will start to reverse your arthritis and restore your body to a state of vibrant health and energy. Instead of fighting the symptoms, treat the cause.

The exact cause of arthritis is not known. What is known is that osteoarthritis increases with age. Arthritis occurs more frequently in women. Being overweight puts extra stress on weight bearing joints. Increasing wear and tear, and the risk of osteoarthritis. Repetitive movements and heavy lifting stress out the joints and can cause injury, which leads to osteoarthritis.

There are 100’s of different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis- is the most common type. It can occur in any joint, but often affects the hands and weight bearing joints. It is sometimes called “degenerative joint disease.” Rheumatoid Arthritis - is a long-lasting disease, which can affect joints in any part of the body. It mistakenly attacks itself and causes the joint lining to swell. It can affect other areas of the body, like the skin, eyes and nerves.

With The Arthritis Miracle Breakthrough, learn that once you cleanse the body, from the overflow of acids, it starts to heal, rebuild and slowly recover. Learn what you are eating, that is currently attacking your body. Cleanse your inner body completely for acidosis. Cleanse your body from acids and toxins with 3 ingredients. Discover 5 critical ingredients, for a healthy body at all times. Learn about a spaced-aged, nobel-prize winning ingredient to boost your immune system. You will notice the absence of swelling, aches and pains.

To make sure that your body, will function properly for a long time. Start living healthy as soon as possible. Starting now, will help the body fight off symptoms of many illnesses and diseases. Some factors that can lead to an early onset of arthritis include a poor diet. Some diseases are hereditary, and you can still be at risk. By keeping healthy, you are helping your body, to be able to control the symptoms when they onset. Don’t wait until your arthritis is completely out of control. Get your life back now. Break- free from your debilitating arthritis and invest in your health and happiness now

Are you desperate to cure your arthritis? Then you need The Arthritis Miracle Breakthrough. I guarantee within 7 days you will have cured your arthritis for good, with these exciting home remedies in your medicine cabinet right now. Grab your Arthritis Miracle Breakthrough Now! Learn how to cure arthritis here!
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Frequent working out, carrying heavy load and the early signs of aging are the common risk factors of arthritis. Overstretching, bending and straining the joints may have an impact on the bone structure of the body. As joints become inflamed, pain is felt usually in the hips, fingers, spine and knees.

Workers engaged in jobs involving physical strain like construction workers, assembly personnel, plumbers, carpenters, etc. are candidates for arthritis. When joints are overused without breaks in between strenuous activities, most likely the joints become injured. Because of this, you may be complaining of backaches, painful hips or stiffness in your fingers. Cases may vary whether these experiences are temporary or caused by fatigue. When they occur most of the time, it may be a sign of something serious. Probably, you have arthritis.

Arthritis is generally used to describe an inflamed joint. It has several types such as rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and infectious arthritis. The most common is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is popularly referred to as a degenerative joint disease or “wear-and-tear” arthritis affecting the cartilage of a joint. It may also be associated to complex active disease process accompanying the degeneration of joint use. Normally, the cartilage has a smooth layer covering but due to physical strain it wears away or degenerates, thus affecting the cartilage surface.

Defining osteoarthritis, we can say that it is a chronic joint disease which occurs when the joints begin to degenerate causing bone pains, decreased mobility and function. If you come from a family of arthritic people, you can inherit the disease when you age. Aging individuals usually have more brittle cartilage and repairing itself is gradual leading to the possibility of developing arthritis. Obesity is also a risk factor and joint damage may be partly attributed to the heavy body load that the joints support. Heavier patients have a tendency to have arthritis. Previous accidents or injuries can impact the joints and cause rough joint surface, particularly if you have suffered from a fracture.

If you are employed in highly demanding jobs like heavy construction or jobs requiring physical strength, you are assured of having early signs of osteoarthritis. These are a part of the hazards of the job. Although joining sport games is good for the health, when overdone, has detrimental effects to the body. Injuries that you may acquire from playing any sport can lead to arthritis. Joint infection, like septic joint, cases of gout and other medical conditions may somehow be associated to arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is present among older individuals; but it remains a mystery why others in their 40s or 50s remain healthy without any joint problems. One thing is for sure it is an inevitable part of the aging process, especially in women with more brittle bones, degenerated joints and decreased activities.

Since there are several types of arthritis, it is better to consult doctors to determine if what type you have so it can be remedied at once to reduce the possible pain that may be experienced.

Self-help books on osteoarthritis would suggest having a regimen of regular walking or simple exercises to lessen the joint pains and improve joint function. Having a good diet with fruits and vegetables would always be helpful. Using topical ointments may have temporary remedy on painful joints. Losing weight is another way of lessening the weight impact on the joints. If you have a good weight, you can move freely and enjoy more the activities that you do.

With right diet, exercise and an active lifestyle, you can also seek the help of supplements against osteoarthritis. The most complete bone and joint formula on the market today is Phosoplex. It helps reduce joint pains and stiffness with 100% natural and safe ingredients. If you would like to know more about how Phosoplex will help you, you can visit www.Phosoplex.com for details.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com

When the body is in pain, everything makes the world turn upside down. The aches and pains make every minute of your life a disaster. So how do you deal with arthritis?

In dealing with this disease, we should get acquainted with what arthritis is all about. It is a condition that causes joint swelling, pain, stiffness and loss of function. Arthritis consists of a hundred related diseases and conditions. They may be in the form of osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

Although body aches, joint pains, and bone swellings may sound ordinary to athletic or aging individuals with arthritis, some of its forms particularly rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have damaging effects to the body organs that may lead to complications and eventually premature death.

Causes of Arthritis

Identifying the causes of arthritis is not easy because there are a number of contributing factors that may lead to this problem. Whether genetics has something to do with it needs further research. However, some studies say that genetic variations contribute to the causes of arthritis.

As people grow older, the bones become brittle and less likely to repair themselves. As a result, they may develop arthritis. Body weight is another factor to consider in arthritis. This has something to do with the limited load that the joint can support, especially a burden among obese or heavy people. Joint damage is usually experienced in the hips and knees where bones easily worn out quickly.

Personal accidents such as car accidents, falling from a high place, or bumping into a sharp or rough object may also cause joint damage or injury. For example knee fracture, the bone fractured affects the cartilage of the knee joint. Workers engaged in occupational hazards involving manual carrying of heavy loads in the construction sites or assembly motor shops are mostly like to suffer from arthritis.

Although joining athletics or enrolling in gyms has good benefits, some straining or high-level sports or exercises may cause injury in the joints which later develop into arthritis. In such cases, it is all a matter of outweighing the risks and benefits of the sport. A balance of doing things is still necessary. An illness or infection in the joint, like in the septic joint, gout and other medical conditions may lead to arthritis of the joints.

People at Risk

Studies show that people who are vulnerable to arthritis are older, usually females, experiencing a poor quality of life. In the U.S. alone, arthritis is one of the most common health problems of Americans. In 2001, 49 million American adults are told to have arthritis with a ratio of one in every four. As more people mature in the next 25 years, higher cases of arthritis are yet to be reported.

Arthritis and other disabilities related to joint pains cause irritations and burden in accomplishing your work. You can never be as efficient since your body in not in good shape. Workload, especially in working mothers, is delimited in such instances of arthritic pain. Mothers’ responsibilities both as parents and career women worsen the complications of arthritis. Others are even forced to quit their jobs due to disability.

Combating Arthritic Pain

In treating arthritis or rheumatic diseases, there are several treatments available. A wide range of choices include relaxation and exercise, balanced diet, proper medication, regular exercise, proper use of joints and other energy conservation techniques. Doctors may sometimes require the use of splints and braces. In severe cases, a surgery is necessary to reduce the pain experienced.

The general rule in the treating arthritis is to balance rest and activity. Too much rest makes the muscles and joints too stiff, meanwhile, overwork leads to fatigue. Exercise reduces joint pains and stiffness and generates flexibility, strength and endurance. It also helps to reduce weight and a good sense of well-being.

Others may resort to medications depending on the severity of the pains of arthritis. They usually provide relief in reducing pain and inflammation. They slow down the aggravation of the disease from further joint damage. One recommended common bone and joint formula is Phosoplex, a joint health supplement. To know more about how Phosoplex works, you can visit www.Phosoplex.com for more details. So next time you feel joint pains, no more worries. With Phosoplex, say goodbye to arthritic pains.

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com

Exercises for arthritis sufferers has traditionally been water exercise, walking and gentle forms of Yoga. Pilates is now a very acceptable form of arthritic pain relief and more and more doctors are recommending Pilates for their patients.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. Moderate exercises for arthritis on a regular basis, performed in a pain free range of motion, is what is always recommended for arthritis sufferers because of the importance of keeping those effected joints mobile. Pilates benefits people with arthritis for this very reason.

Benefits include increased strength, increased flexibility, and a better sense of balance and body awareness.

Performing Pilates exercises for arthritis may also lead to a decrease in fatigue and leave you with a general feeling of well being. All of these benefits are perfect for the arthritis sufferer.

Adaptation is the name of the game when you embark on these exercises for arthritis. The key is to modify the exercises to suit your level of fitness.

Any qualified Pilates instructor can see you through an appropriate routine for your particular ailment and tailor it to be effective for you.

Here are a few basic arthritic pain relief exercises.

• Wall Roll Down: Stand with your lower back firmly against a wall and your feet about a foot away from the wall knees slightly bent. Inhale to prepare, exhale to drop your chin towards your chest and roll your spine off the wall one vertebrae at a time until your arms and head are hanging down over your hips and you’ve reached a point of resistance.

Inhale to stay, exhale to roll back up the wall making sure each part of your spine makes contact with the wall. Use your abdominal muscles! Note: How far you go into flexion depends on what type of arthritis you have.

Repeat three times. Good for stretching hamstrings and spine.

• Mermaid Stretch: Find a bench and sit on the front edge with your feet firmly on the ground and hips width apart. Inhale raise your right arm straight up to the sky, exhale and bend to the left, reaching out of the fingertips. Inhale to stay, exhale return to center.

Repeat both sides three times through. Make sure to keep your bottom squarely on the chair and your spine upright. Stretches the sides of your waist and ribcage.

• Imprinted Spine: Lie on the floor or on a raised platform with knees bent and feet placed hips width apart on the mat. Breathe in and engage your abdominal muscles.

Exhale and move your pelvis into a slight tuck feeling your lower back in contact with the floor. Inhale and release back to neutral.

Repeat five times.

It is very important when you have arthritis to maintain joint mobility because stiff joints mean an inability to perform your daily tasks. Quality of life may become an issue. Commit to a regular routine of strength training exercises, stretching exercises and cardiovascular exercise and you may be able to maintain function in all your joints.

href="http://www.everything-about-pilates.com/exercises-for-arthritis.html">Pilates exercises for arthritis sufferers may be the perfect solution to a healthier lifestyle.

Susannah Marchese - http://www.everything-about-pilates.com/exercises-for-arthritis.html

Susannah Marchese is a certified Pilates fitness instructor and senior contributing writer to everything-about-pilates.com, for more information on this topic please visit href="http://www.everything-about-pilates.com/exercises-for-arthritis.html">http://www.everything-about-pilates.com/exercises-for-arthritis.html

A lot of people believe that rheumatoid arthritis only affects older people, but it is in fact also prevalent among people aged twenty to fifty. It can, however, affect people younger or older than the given age range; is more common with women than men. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the worst types of arthritis - it doesn’t stop with joint pain but gradually progresses to joint deformity.

There is no known cure for this disease, but the right rheumatoid arthritis diet and lifestyle, coupled with regular medication and other treatments, could allow people to continue leading normal lifestyles.

What Research Says About Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diet

Research is needed to accurately gauge the effects of diet on rheumatoid arthritis. As symptoms of this disease change in frequency and intensity from one day to another, it is virtually impossible to determine which foods caused which episode. Expert studies, however, have been able to determine that healthy food choices will always benefit individuals of any age afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.

Today, researchers acknowledge the link between diet and rheumatoid arthritis. Nutritional supplements have been proven to be helpful as well not only for rheumatoid arthritis but other musculoskeletal problems like reactive arthritis, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.

Researchers however emphatically warn individuals from believing all the diet claims they hear. The US Department of Food and Drug Administration always request food and drug manufacturers to state if their claims are not sufficiently proven with research - if you see a disclaimer of this type then know that the claims provided are unsubstantiated.

Worse, there are even food products and supplements that are completely fraudulent and only out to con consumers. Such products may also contain harmful ingredients like zinc or alfalfa, both of which have been suspected to have unwanted side effects.

The Makings of the Right Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis

There is no official recipe for the right diet. You can create your own menu plans just as long as your diet is based on three essential principles: balance, moderation and variety.

A balanced diet contains all the necessary components to ensure that you receive complete nourishment. Intake must always be moderate - eating too much of anything is not good. Lastly, what you eat must vary from time to time because it’s easy to lose interest in eating and sticking with your diet if you force yourself to eat the same thing day after day.

Preparing this type of diet isn’t easy and especially if you suffer from daily arthritic pain. Consider asking one of your family members or hiring an individual to ensure that your meals are carefully laid out everyday.

Caution In Preparing Your Diet

Special concerns may also dictate necessary changes for your diet. Arthritis can sometimes make you sensitive to certain food groups. Obviously, your meals will therefore avoid including any of those food groups. Depression and other emotional problems caused by arthritis may make you lose your appetite - your meals must therefore be more visually appealing and delicious than usual.

Also, rheumatoid arthritis can make a person suffer from potassium deficiency and sodium retention problems. As such, your meals will have to be particularly rich in potassium to make up for these losses.

Do your best to keep your weight ideal. Obesity has long been discovered to be disadvantageous to people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Besides the right diet, regular exercise can prevent you from gaining weight. Exercises may be done at home or through sports - what’s important is to get yourself moving!

What’s In, What’s Out

Reduce intake of foods rich in cholesterol and fat. You don’t have to avoid them completely, but you do need to eat less of them. The same goes for foods that are particularly sweet or salty.

On the other hand, increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products. They reduce the inflammatory response of your joints.

Lessen consumption of alcohol - drinking too much will only make your joint pains worse.

If your diet is deficient in any vitamin or mineral, consider taking supplements to make up for the loss.

Lastly, consider consulting your doctor or nutritionist to determine other special conditions you may have to adhere to for your rheumatoid arthritis diet. Ask, for instance, if there are certain foods that could interact with the medications you’re presently taking for your condition.

Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Arthritis-Education.com. She provides more information on topics such as rheumatoid arthritis diet , arthritis diets and arthritis pain reliever that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.

The thumb is a very important part of our hand. The thumb has a basal joint, also known as the carpometacarpal joint. It joins up the metacarpal or first bone of our thumb and the wrist or carpal bone. This joint is under the fleshy part of the finger very near the wrist. The thumb arthritis or what is also known as basal joint arthritis occurs when the aforementioned joint develops osteoarthritis.

Caused by Too Much Stress

Osteoarthritis can be developed when our thumb suffers from an unusual or too much stress. Our thumb is not that strong to offset the force of our other four fingers altogether. It will always be prone to normal wear and tear due to the normal use of the hands. Calculations reveal that a 1 lb. pinch between our index finger and thumb can produce 6 - 9 lbs. of pressure to the basal joint. This being the case, an utmost and constant pressure of the joint can really lead to thumb arthritis.

Performing Ordinary Tasks

Thumb arthritis can decrease the strength of our thumb; it can lead to swelling and can cause unbearable pain in the hand thus making it hard to accomplish simple tasks such as opening bottles or doorknobs, crocheting, turning a key, grasping, holding a cup and golfing. If you have a history of injuries and fractures in the basal joint, this can increase your chances of having thumb arthritis in the future.

Usually, the arthritis in our thumb occurs after the age of 40. This arthritis is four times more common among women than men. Oftentimes, thumb arthritis has unknown causes. One thing is for sure, thumb arthritis is not always related to finger-joints arthritis and anyone can suffer from it even if they don’t have arthritis in other joints.

Treatments

There are several treatments to counter thumb arthritis. The treatment will all depend on the stage of the illness and the symptoms. For those mild to moderate symptoms of swelling and pain, the remedy can be self-care measures, education, medication, splinting and rest. An example of a self-care measure is applying ice for 5-15 minutes on the most tender and swollen area.

Aspirin is the standard anti-inflammatory over the years but there are also over-the-counter NSAID (non-steroidal inflammatory medications) such as naprosyn, ibuprofen and ketoprofen which can relieve thumb arthritis. It will always be safe to ask the pharmacists about the side effects of these medicines.

Splints

Numerous splints designed to support the joints are also helpful. Be sure to use splints or braces that can support both the thumb and wrist. There are those which cannot support the thumb and are thus not very effective.

Education is also important. You should know how to protect the damaged joints and how to lessen the symptoms. You must be aware of certain arthritic processes to spare you from continuous thumb pains.

Most people suffering from mild symptoms of thumb arthritis get better with simple medications for a limited period of time; there are those who find temporary relief (about two months) by having cortisone shots. If all your initial treatments are not successful, it will be the best time to consult your doctor.

Diagnosis

The doctor will try to accurately determine if your symptoms are attributable to thumb arthritis. Certain tests are performed to check the smoothness of cartilages or loosening of the joints. Normally, X-rays of the various positions of your joints will be taken to help the doctor identify the severity of your thumb arthritis. In the most severe cases, surgery is advised.

Is Surgery The Answer?

According to medical statistics, surgery helps 4 out of 5 people with severe thumb arthritis. Howe