Senior Arthritis

Arthritis affects millions of adults and half of all people 65 and older. Older people have gout, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis more often. Some forms of arthritis are chronic, with long-term symptoms. Arthritis is one of the diseases most prevalent among the elderly.

Common arthritis symptoms include-troubles in moving a joint, joint stiffness, joint redness, joint swelling and stiffness. See your doctor  if any of these symptoms lasts longer than 14 days.
You will be asked by your physician about your symptoms and do a physical exam and ask you to  take  do lab tests or x-rays   before suggesting a treatment plan.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the type of arthritis most prevalent in the elderly. Signs of OA can vary from stiffness and mild pain that goes in cycles with activities such as stooping, walking, and bending, to severe joint pain that continues even though you  attempt to sleep or rest. What causes Osteoarthritis? Experts believe  the cause depends on which body part. For instance, abuse or injuries in joints such as hands, hips or knees can cause OA.
Osteoarthritis begins when cartilage starts to  wear away. Cartilage is the tissue supporting bones within a joint. At the very worst of OA, wears away all the cartilage in a joint, causing bones rubbing against each other.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that means the body is targeting a joint's lining just as it would be if it were trying to protect you from injury or illness. For older adults, RA usually develops, but it also can affect younger people. The rise in Rheumatoid Arthritis among elderly people can be due to two major factors: Growing numbers of patients diagnosed with age-related RA and patients diagnosed with young-onset RA (YORA) who live longer because of improved management.

Arthritis is not always preventable. Some causes are out of your control, like gender, family history and increasing age. There are a couple of healthy habits that you can exercise to lower your risk of developing distressing joints as you age.

Millennium Home Visiting Nurses

12221 Parklawn Dr. Suite 205  
Rockville, MD 20852

Phone: (301) 355-0260
Fax: (301) 355-0262

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