What Is Acute Arthritis? And Your Treatment Options
What Is Acute Arthritis?
When we refer to arthritis as acute, we’re saying that its symptoms, like joint inflammation and pain appeared quickly and without much warning – as opposed to arthritis that gets progressively worse over longer periods of time. Actually, there probably is nothing that is truly acute about arthritis. This is a systemic problem that develops slowly over time due to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and the deposition of advanced glycation end products onto collagen. However, you may feel like it just happened and that means, for you, it is acute.
Acute inflammation can be the result of an autoimmune disease where your body goes into overdrive, and the natural defenses it has in place to protect you, start to work against you instead of helping. This friendly fire might be brought about by a particularly bad meal, a stressful event or even mild trauma.
This attack on parts of your body that are healthy, like your joints and connective tissue can lead to inflammation and pain. This is the definition of autoimmune of course, if the immune system attacks self, then it is auto-immune. Obviously, this can be quite painful at times. The immune system is very powerful.
These instances of arthritis are less common, but that doesn’t take away from how much they can impact someone and their daily life.
Different types of inflammatory arthritis can include gout, lyme disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and more. Inflammatory arthritides that are not controlled with lifestyle, diet, medications and supplements are prone to flare-ups and acute attacks. For example, alcohol is known to exacerbate symptoms of psoriasis and gout.
Some symptoms of acute inflammatory arthritis include:
- Joint pain and stiffness, especially after periods of rest, especially in the morning
- Tell-tale signs of inflammation like redness, swelling, or warmth around the affected joints, or a rash might become more severe
- Inflammation in other parts of the body
How Can You Treat Acute Arthritis?
The good news is, that if your acute inflammatory arthritis is detected early on, the symptoms can be reduced greatly, if not be treated completely at this early stage. Clearly, if the symptoms are bad enough it is a good thing to see your doctor. Sometimes an injection, a steroid or other prescription or surgery is required. Nonetheless, a lot of symptoms can be self-managed. Most people with such conditions are familiar with flare-ups and good at self-management. Prevention is the best way to handle things.
The best way to improve your odds of reducing these symptoms is by treating the overall bodily levels of inflammation and regulating your immune system.
Traditionally, acute arthritis has been treated with NSAIDs, steroids, or immunosuppressive drugs. Cold immersion or cryotherapy might help along with physical therapy techniques as well. Eventually, if these treatment methods don’t work, the typical recommendation may be surgery.
However, Dr. Warner believes in a more natural approach to inflammation relief and immune system regulation. She views surgery as a last resort, and steers clear of the temporary relief provided by steroids and NSAIDs.
That’s why she developed Well Theory. While it’s important to consult with a physician to receive your official diagnosis, you should feel empowered with your treatment options.
The Joint Health Multi is a powerhouse supplement featuring several inflammatory fighting ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Not only do these ingredients work together to reduce inflammation and stiff joints, but PEA is also vital in pain reduction throughout your body.
It’s a natural compound produced by your body as a pain response, so you can rest assured what you’re giving yourself is designed to assist your healing process. Curcumin and ginger are also strong antioxidants and can assist in the defense against oxidative stress damage.
Well Theory’s Tart Cherry Extract capsules are often bundled with the Joint Health Multi, as a way to improve muscular recovery and double down on inflammation relief. This antioxidant rich supplement fights free radicals, promotes healthy blood flow, and provides pain relief to rival NSAIDs.
Any of Well Theory’s CBD products are also a great way to reduce inflammation by helping your endocannabinoid system achieve homeostasis, balancing out your bodily functions.
Schedule A Consultation Today
Are you worried about developing any of these conditions? Are you already suffering from one or more? Schedule an appointment with Warner Orthopedics & Wellness today for an evaluation and to discuss treatment options with Dr. Warner and her dedicated team!
