Elderly Care in Sacramento, CA – Bothered by Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Achy joints? Feeling fatigued and have difficulty moving your body properly? You could be experiencing symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder which means that your immune system erroneously attacks your body’s own tissue, causing severe pain, swelling, redness and stiffness in the joints. The arthritis not only causes inflammation of the joints but because it is a systemic disease, it can also cause extreme pain and swelling in other areas of the body like muscles, tendons, ligaments. Typically RA is in the hands and feet but as this disease progresses, it can move to shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and ankles. Often times there are also bumps under the skin called rheumatoid nodules.
If you or your aging parent are experiencing similar symptoms, it’s essential to get checked by your doctor. The inflammation from RA can also deteriorate the bone and cartilage within the joints. While there is no known cause of RA, often times a person may experience long periods of remission with no symptoms of the disease but when it comes back and is active again, the episodes are called flares. In order to treat RA properly, a doctor may have to do a series of tests such as X-rays, blood work and thoroughly review the symptoms with the patient, which includes examining the joints and other parts of the body for inflammation.
Even though there is not currently a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, treatment is available to help manage the symptoms. Doctors classify the medications as “first-line” treatment and “second-line” treatment. First-line includes medications that reduce pain and inflammation of tissue, such as Ibuprofen and aspirin. Also, Corticosteroids are used, either given orally or injected into the joint. To help stop bone and tissue damage, second-line medications are required and called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). However, these drugs can take weeks or even months to be effective.
Even though there is no cure for RA, there are some simple home remedies that may help lessen the painful symptoms:
- Adding fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet
- Calcium and Vitamin D supplements
- Avoid alcohol
- Regular exercise for strength and mobility, especially swimming
- Keeping stress to a minimum
For the elderly loved one who has to cope with the painful symptoms of RA as well as the reduced hand and finger mobility, an elder care provider is the perfect solution. A trained caregiver coming into your senior’s home to help them with personal and family care will mean your loved one can stay in their home longer. This is welcome news to most seniors, as choosing to age at home becomes an ever popular choice for the elder population.
If you or an aging loved one needs elderly care in Sacramento, CA area, remember Senior Home Care Services for all services needed. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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