Moving Beyond the pain of Arthritis-An Overview of Arthritis Treatment and Rehabilitation (Part 5)

Today, those forward thinking doctors (often family doctors) who treat arthritis patients know that full rehabilitation this disease is a daunting goal. Thus the best of them to keep all their options open and delegate many tasks to better equipped members of what could be termed an "arthritis rehabilitation team" an informal coalition of health care specialist. Such a team comprises several of the following:

1. Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist (a special in the treatment of arthritis) or a physiatrist ( a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation medicine)

2. Nurses

Nurses, such as those working in a rheumatology or orthopedic clinic.

3.Physical Therapists

Physical therapists (also known as physiotherapists), who use nonmedicinal methods for relieving pain and inflammation, including exercise, and exercise physiologists, who tailor exercise programs.

4.Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists, who work around physical disabilities to ease everyday life and enable patients to function independently.

5.Psychologists

Psychologists and medical social workers, who focus on the emotional, interpersonal, and financial issue that concern many severely disabled arthritis patients.

At the center of all this expertise is the patient-you. Yo are the one person most responsible for reversing, or at the very least retarding, the course of your arthritis. None of these other specialists councel or the exercise rehabilitation advice in this book will do much good if you turn a deaf ear to it. When it comes to dealing with a chronic affliction like arthritis, self reliance and motivation are important to keep in mind.

Defination

Joint - The approximately 200 bones of the adult skeleton are attached to each other via connection called "joints".

Joint capsule - This tough, fibrous tissue completely surrounds the joint.

Cartilage - The tough, pearly-blue, rubbery tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a synovial joint acts as a shock absorber, protecting the underlying bone.

Synovial membrane - All surfaces within the joint capsule with the exception of the cartilage - are lined by this thin "inner skin". It secretes synovial fluid into the joint space, making joint movement easy and smooth.

Ligaments- These strong fibrous bands connect the ends of bones together.

Tendons - These white, glistening bands connect the ends of bones together.

Bursae - These fluid filled sacs line various musculoskeletal surfaces that might otherwise experience too much friction as they rub against each other during joint movement.