Arthritis

Subject: Medical and Surgical Nursing I (Theory)

Overview

The phrase "arthritis" refers to more than 100 different medical diseases, not just one disease. Genetic, age, weight, prior injuries, and other factors are its causes. Cartilage becomes less elastic due to osteoarthritis. The cartilage is more prone to damage if it is stiff. The same joint on each side of the body is frequently painfully swollen, inflamed, and stiff in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Its symptoms include joint pain, joint swelling, decreased joint mobility, reduced sensation in the skin around a joint, etc. Laboratory tests such as those for uric acid and rheumatoid factor are used to diagnose it. Patients with arthritis need to be encouraged to take care of themselves as much as their pain and immobility will allow, as well as to help promote sleep, adjust pain medications to allow for the most rest possible, identify techniques and activities that will help them relax, and check crutches, canes, braces, or walkers for proper fit, among other things.

The term arthritis is derived from the Greek word arthon, which means "inflammation." Arthritis is a medical term that encompasses 100 different medical disorders. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and typically affects the elderly. Some types of arthritis can strike at a young age.

Causes of Arthritis

Genetic: It is unclear how much heredity or genetics plays a role in the development of arthritis. However, genetic variation is likely to play a role in the causes of arthritis.
Age: Cartilage deteriorates with age and loses its ability to regenerate itself. As people age, they become more prone to developing arthritis.
Weight: Excess body weight can cause arthritis because joint damage is partly determined by the load the joint must support. This is especially true for the hips and knees, which can be quickly worn in a heavier patient.
Previous Injury: Injuries to the joints can generate abnormalities in the normally smooth joint surface. Previous significant injuries can contribute to the development of arthritis.
Occupational Hazard: A worker in one occupation appears to have a higher risk of developing arthritis than another.
Some High-Level Sport: It is difficult to say how much participation in sports contributes to the development of arthritis.
Illness or Infection: How much playing sports contributes to the onset of arthritis is difficult to quantify.

Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis: Elasticity is lost in cartilage. The cartilage is more prone to damage if it is stiff. The shock-absorbing cartilage will gradually deteriorate in some places.
Rheumatoid arthritis:An inflammatory is targeted, causing discomfort and swelling. Arthritis can cause deformities if mistreated. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects patients between the ages of 40 and 60 and is significantly more common in women than in men.
Infectious arthritis:an infection of the tissues and synovial fluid in a joint. Although viruses and fungi as well as bacteria can also cause it.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: refers to arthritis in a person who is 16 years old or younger. JRA is a common type of arthritis that typically affects children. Three main categories exist:
- Pauciarticular JRA
- Polyarticular JRA
- Systemic JRA

Signs and Symptom

For instance, the symptom of arthritis varies depending on the type of arthritis:

Osteoarthritis: The signs appear gradually and worsen over time. A joint hurts either while being used, immediately after use, or following a period of inactivity.
Rheumatoid arthritis: The same joint on each side of the body is frequently severely swollen, inflamed, and stiff for the patient. The most frequently impacted areas are the finger, arms, legs, and wrist.
Infectious arthritis: Joint swelling and inflammation are present in the patient. He may experience tenderness or a severe pain.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Patient is a young person. He will occasionally get fevers, which usually peak in the evening and then vanish out of nowhere.

Arthritis causes joint pain, edema, stiffness, and restricted movement, among other symptoms. Some symptoms include:

Aching joints.
Joint enlargement.
Decreased flexibility of the joint.
Only the skin around a joint remains.
Especially in the morning, stiffness.
Heat surrounding a joint.

Diagnosis

Medical History and Clinical symptoms: Obtain medical history by keeping a list of your current medications, any allergies you have to any medications, and your past and present health.
Physical Examination: Conduct a physical examination to look for any obvious arthritis symptoms or signs.
Redness\ Warmth
Joint stiffness
Swelling
Fever
Fatigue
Laboratory Tests: Blood test can provide more specific information and often server to confirm the diagnosis. A blood test is also used to monitor disease activity and treatment effectiveness after a diagnosis has been established:
- Rheumatoid Factor
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
- C-reactive protein
- Complete Blood Count
- HLA Tissue Typing
- Uric acid

Nursing Care of Patient with Arthritis

Administer painkillers and other medications as directed.
Giving the patient emotional support and assurance will help them cope with their limited mobility.
Encourage the patient to take care of himself as much as his pain and immobility will allow.
Adjust painkillers that aid in sleep promotion to allow for the most amount of slumber.
Assist the patient in identifying methods and pursuits that foster relaxation and rest.
Verify the fit of your crutches, cane, braces, or walker.
Analyze the patient's pain behavior.
Keep an eye out for skin irritation brought on by continuous usage of assistive technology.
Tell the patient to schedule enough time for relaxation during the day.
Tell the patient to take their medicine exactly as directed.

References

bihcireno.com/arthritis/
www.resolution.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ARTHRITIS.pdf
Mandal, G. (August 2013). A Textbook of Adult Health Nursing (2nd ed.). Dilllibazar kathmandu: Makalu publication house. Retrieved August 2013
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1305686241
https://www.scribd.com/document/102224447/Case-Study-Arthritis
www.ofallonpainrelief.com/index.php/pain-management/shoulders-hips-and-knees
https://notestowomen.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/women-and-arthritis/

Things to remember

The phrase "arthritis" refers to more than 100 different medical diseases, not just one disease.
With time, cartilage loses its ability to mend itself and becomes more fragile.
As people age, arthritis is more prone to develop.
only the skin around a joint remains
Especially in the morning, stiffness
Blood tests typically serve to confirm the diagnosis and can offer more precise information.
Verify the fit of your crutches, cane, braces, or walker.

Questions and Answers

Define arthritis.

The word "arthritis" is derived from the Greek word "arthon," which means "inflammation." The term "arthritis" refers to more than 100 different medical conditions, not just one disease. The most prevalent type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, typically affects elderly patients. People can develop some form of arthritis at a very young age.

List down the causes and symptoms of arthritis.

Causes of arthritis

Genetic: Exactly how much heredity or genetics contributes to the cause of arthritis is not well understood. However, there are likely genetic variation that can contribute to the causes of arthritis.
Age: Cartilage becomes more brittle with age and has less of a capacity to repair itself. People grow older they are more likely to develop arthritis.
Weight: Because joint damage is partly dependent on the load the joint has to support, excess body weight can lead to arthritis. This is especially true of the hips and knee that can be worn quickly in the heavier patient.
Previous Injury: Joint damage can cause irregularities in the normal smooth joint surface. PREVIOUS major injuries can be part of the causes of arthritis.
Occupational Hazard: Worker in some specific occupational seems to have a higher risk of developing arthritis than another job.
Some High-Level Sport: It is difficult to determine how much sports participation contribute to a development of arthritis.
Illness or Infection: People who experience a joint infection, multiple episodes of gout, or other medical condition, can develop arthritis of the joint.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptom of arthritis depends on the type arthritis on the types of arthritis, for example;

Osteoarthritis: The symptoms develop slowly and get worse as time goes by .There is a pain in a joint, either during or after use or after a period of inactivity.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The patient often finds the same joint on each side of the body are painfully swollen, inflamed and stiff. The finger, arms, legs and wrist are most commonly affected.
Infectious Arthritis: The patient has a fever joint inflammation and swelling. He will feel tenderness and \or a sharp pain.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: The patient is a child .HE will experience intermittent fevers which tend to peak in the evening and then suddenly disappear.

Overall symptoms of arthritis: Arthritis causes joint pain , swelling , stiffness and limited movement. Symptoms can include:

Joint pain,
Joint swelling,
Reduced ability to move the joint,
Reduced to the skin around a joint,
Stiffness , especially in the morning,
Warmth around a joint.

Explain in detail about Arthritis.

Arthritis

The word "arthritis" is derived from the Greek word "arthon," which means "inflammation." The phrase "arthritis" refers to more than 100 different medical diseases, not just one illness. The most prevalent type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, typically affects elderly patients. People can develop some form of arthritis at a very young age.

Causes of Arthritis

Genetic: Exactly how much heredity or genetics contributes to the cause of arthritis is not well understood. However, there are likely genetic variation that can contribute to the causes of arthritis.
Age: Cartilage becomes more brittle with age and has less of a capacity to repair itself. People grow older they are more likely to develop arthritis.
Weight: Because joint damage is partly dependent on the load the joint has to support, excess body weight can lead to arthritis. This is especially true of the hips and knee that can be worn quickly in the heavier patient.
Previous Injury: Joint damage can cause irregularities in the normal smooth joint surface. PREVIOUS major injuries can be part of the causes of arthritis.
Occupational Hazard: Worker in some specific occupational seems to have a higher risk of developing arthritis than another job.
Some High-Level Sport: It is difficult to determine how much sports participation contribute to a development of arthritis.
Illness or Infection: People who experience a joint infection, multiple episodes of gout, or other medical condition, can develop arthritis of the joint.

Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis: Cartilage loses its elasticity .If the cartilage is stiff it becomes damaged more easily. The cartilage, which acts as a shock absorbs will gradually wear away in some area.
Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an inflammatory is attacked, resulting in swelling and pain .If left untreated arthritis can lead to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is significantly more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60.
Infectious arthritis: An infection in the synovial fluid and tissues of a joint. It is usually caused by bacterial, but could also be caused BY FUNGI or viruses.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Means arthritis that affects a person aged 16 or less. JRA can be a various form of arthritis ; it basically that a child has it .There are three main types;
Pauciarticular JRA.
Polyarticular JRA.
Systemic JRA.