Different Types of Arthritis - May is Arthritis Awareness Month

May is Arthritis Awareness Month and our focus is on those who suffer from debilitating arthritis. The term arthritis itself means inflammation in the joint area and can not only be debilitating but cause chronic pain that can change your life forever.

The Most Common Types of Arthritis

There are 100 different types of arthritis; however, these 4 are the most common types experienced:

• Gout - It's often a surprise to many that gout is a form of arthritis.
• Fibromyalgia - Fibro is an auto-immune disease in which the body literally attacks it's own system. Auto-immune diseases often have common symptoms of chronic pain, degenerative symptoms, and fatigue.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis - RA is another auto-immune disease that presents itself with common symptoms as mentioned above.
• Psoriatic Arthritis - PsA or Psoriatic Arthritis is also an auto-immune disease and commonly presents itself along with an unsightly rash like psoriasis; hence it's name.
• Osteoarthritis - OA is the most common type of arthritis

Caregiving for Debilitating Arthritis

Arthritis can be so painful and symptoms so severe that it becomes debilitating. When arthritis affects your quality of life it can be beneficial to seek out caregiving or some type of assisted living that can help make your life easier.

• Mobility - Once arthritis becomes debilitating, mobility can become a very big concern. Having someone available to assist you safely as you move around can help keep you more active and help slow deterioration while also reducing pain.
• Diet - Assistance with eating a balanced diet can help in many ways including maintaining weight, losing weight, eating anti-inflammatory foods, having healthy options ready to eat without needing to fix meals yourself.
• Medication Monitoring - Many assisted living facilities can monitor your pain levels; provide medication on time, regularly; suggest alternative methods of dealing with mobility & pain; and much more.
• Safety - Assisted living facilities are designed to accommodate those who are fall risks or need assistive devices for safe mobility. Grab bars, specially designed floors and other safety designs are commonly built in and help keep residents safe.
• Depression - Debilitating arthritis means that you can no longer do many of the things you used to do and this can cause feelings of depression and worthlessness. Caregivers, whether in-home or in a facility, can not only recognize signs of depression but help you address it.
• Socialization - Any debilitating disease will decrease your ability to continue many of the forms of entertainment you used to enjoy. Living in an assisted living facility can help you maintain your independence while being around others; most likely resulting in you finding a multitude of options to socialize and find new hobbies.

Senior Living Experts can help you find the best options to deal with your arthritis while maintaining your independence. The reality is that arthritis can be extremely painful at any level; but debilitating arthritis literally changes your quality of life.Photo by handarmdoc/Flickr