Arthritis and Other Bone Diseases
The term "Arthritis" literally means inflammation of the joint ('arth' meaning joint, 'itis' meaning inflammation). There are more than 100 different arthritic conditions. They may be relatively mild forms of tendinitis such as 'tennis elbow' and bursitis, or they may be more crippling systemic forms such as rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that results in inflammation and deformity in joints.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease of synovial joints that represents failed repair of joint damage resulting from stresses that may be initiated by an abnormality in any of the joint tissues, which leads to breakdown of cartilage and the underlying bone.Osteoporosis is a disease that presents with low bone density and loss of bone tissue. This disease is covered below the general arthritis information.
There are other pain syndromes like fibromyalgia (FM) and arthritis-related disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematous that involve every part of the body.
Information for Caregivers :
Canada-wide
The Arthritis Society
Tips for Living Well - tips for caregivers and those with arthritis
Tips for Living Well with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Living Well with Arthritis, 2005, Mosher, Stein & Kraag - available through Penguin Books and other on-line sources. A book by Canadian doctors for Canadians including dealing with chronic pain, fatigue, medications, emotions, complementary therapies and other topics.
Managing Arthrtis in Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, Canadian Edition, 3rd Edition | Bull Publishing, 2007, Lorig and others.
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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that presents with low bone density and loss of bone tissue. This leads to bones being fragile and "brittle" and increased risk of broken bones. Individuals with osteoporosis are at risk of fractures of the hips, spine and wrists. See Preventing Falls for information on how to prevent falls and bone fractures.
Osteoporosis is often known as the "silent thief" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. Bone loss can be prevented, stopped and in some cases reversed with proper diet, calcium and Vitamin D intake and/or medication. The disease can strike at any age but one in four women over age 50 and one in eight men over 50 has osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis, because the names are similar. Osteoporosis is a bone disease; osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints.
From Osteoporosis Canada, 2010:
http://www.osteoporosis.ca/index.php/ci_id/5526/la_id/1.htm
Caution: Food and Drug Interactions - Osteoporosis medications and some antibiotics shouldn't be taken with calcium
Taking osteoporosis medications and some antibiotics with calcium-fortified/rich foods and drinks (milk, orange juice, bred or antacids) will make the medications less effective. Be sure medications are taken 2 hours before or 4 hours after eating calcium-rich foods and drinks.
From Humana, 2010 – A Key Concern for Caregivers – Food and Drug Interactions:
http://www.humana.com/resources/healthy_living/articles/prescriptions/food_drug.aspx
Information for Caregivers :
Osteoporosis – from the Caregivers' Library
Health Central: Osteoporosis Caregivers
Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention for Long Term Care Residents – DVD for Caregivers (formal and informal from Osteoporosis Society, 2008
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