Get Arthritis Management and Relief in Brooklyn

Arthritis can become very painful at times, and getting help with it through arthritis management can enable you to lead a more comfortable life. There are more than 100 forms of arthritis, and altogether it affects more than 20% of people in the United States at some point in their life. While the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, diseases such as fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus, are also included in this class of rheumatic diseases.

Various Forms of Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints, and will limit or restrict motion in them over time. The appearance of arthritis symptoms can be sudden, or it may develop slowly. While arthritis pain may only be annoying for some people, others can find some types debilitating and very painful. In many cases, it affects the quality of life and may prevent people from going to work. It can also affect your organs.

Getting a Diagnosis

Although you may have pain in one joint or another – or in several of them, a diagnosis will be needed to confirm the presence of arthritis. This will usually start with a blood test, a urine test, and possibly a joint fluid test. After this, the affected area may be scanned using x-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, or with an MRI.

Once you have an official diagnosis, a treatment or management program can be initiated. At the present time, arthritis cannot be healed. It can be treated, and some relief can be given. Lifestyle changes can help, but it likely will stay with you to some degree, but taking some action steps may slow down its progress. This is why it is important to see a doctor who will develop a good arthritis management program for you.

Managing Pain

Along with arthritis, there is going to be some pain. You want to start with applying hot or cold packs to the area, which will help. Taking an anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medicine will also help provide some relief. Eventually, though, the pain and swelling are apt to become stronger.

Lifestyle Changes

One of the best ways to reduce joint pain is to lose some weight, if you are not at a healthy weight now. Losing weight can help ease the stress that is placed on your joints when you walk or work.

Taking up an exercise program that you can do for 30 minutes to an hour a day for five days each week is also good. It will help to maintain your mobility, flexibility, and it reduces pain, too, as long as the exercise does not place a lot of stress on your joints.

Eating healthy will also help to reduce pain and enable you to maintain a healthy weight. Reducing stress in your life and learning to relax more will also help. Spend more time with your loved ones.

Other Options

For those who have stronger arthritis pain where daily life is greatly affected, other options are available. This may include stronger medications, strengthening and stretching your muscles (therapy), or possibly surgery.

Dr. Abdul Malik, MD can help you with arthritis management. He is a Cardiologist that has been practicing for more than 24 years, and has taught many young doctors in various hospitals in the fields of Internal Medicine and Cardiology.