Arthritis

According to mayoclinic.com, arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints, such as one or both knees or wrists, or a part of your spinal column. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Joint pain and stiffness are the main symptoms of arthritis. Less common types of arthritis may be associated with conditions that also affect other parts of your body. For example, lupus can affect the kidneys and lungs, in addition to joints, while psoriasis is primarily a skin disease that sometimes also affects joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic inflamation of the joints. It may also cause inflamation of tissue around the joints as well as the inflamation of other organs in the body.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.  Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's tissues mistakenly attacked by their own immune system.  Rheumatoid arthritis is typically a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Stiffness. The joint is harder to use and might have a limited range of motion. Morning stiffness is one of the hallmark symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. While many people with other forms of arthritis have stiff joints in the morning, it takes people with rheumatoid arthritis more than an hour (sometimes several hours) before their joints feel loose.
• Swelling. Fluid enters into the joint and it becomes puffy; this also contributes to stiffness.
• Pain. Inflammation inside a joint makes it sensitive and tender. Prolonged inflammation causes damage that also contributes to pain.
• Redness and warmth. The joints may be somewhat warmer and more pink or red than the neighboring skin.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms in your feet, schedule an appointment with your podiatrist. Also, visit our product store at vailfoot.com for great doctor approved products to relieve pain including Biofreeze gel. Biofreeze Pain Reliever breaks the cycle of pain with Cryotherapy, The Cold Method^®.  Its cold application reduces the sensation of pain and inflammation, while the cold and re-warming stimulates the healing of tissue.