Health and Fitness Oasis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are not the only types of arthritic conditions. Diseases such as gout, pseudogout, childhood arthritis and lupus fall into this category.

Treatment modalities for all methods of arthritis will include rest, exercise, medication, weight loss, joint protection and cold or heat. The goal is to decrease pain and inflammation, slow the progression of the disease, decrease the disability in the joints and improve your overall health.

Some individuals also find that while altering their diets to effect a change in their overall health they also improve the cartilage production and their pain and discomfort. By altering their diet to improve weight maintenance they also decrease the amount of stress placed on the large weight-bearing joints. Research has also proven that given the opportunity, correct nutrition, water and light, the body is able to do an amazing number of things to heal itself.

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There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.  Due to the variety and different ways in which the disease presents itself, there are conclusive tests to determine that an individual suffers from arthritis.  Arthritic conditions can affect the joints, bones, soft tissue and organ systems depending upon which condition is present.  When doctors piece together a diagnoses, they may use blood tests, imaging studies, a thorough history and a physical in order to determine an accurate diagnosis.
 
Arthritis does not usually exist in a vacuum.  This means that patients often have more than one medical condition or disease process going on at the same time.  Therefore, tests are used not only to identify the disease but to rule out other issues which may be causing the same symptoms.  Sometimes doctors have to use a diagnosis of exclusion.  This means the doctor will exclude everything else that the condition could be and will be left with the most probable diagnosis.

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