Symptoms

• Arthritis often occurs in smaller joints first and then moves on to larger joints. One of the reasons arthritis is debilitating is because it can affect several joints at the same time. It may start in the joints in your ankles, hands, feet and wrists but will gradually progress to include your shoulders, knees, elbows, jaw and neck.
  
  

Causes

• Arthritis occurs when white blood cells exit your bloodstream and move into the membranes around your joints. This makes the area around your joints become inflamed. Over time, the joint is damaged so much that it loses its shape until it ultimately may be completely destroyed.
  
  

Risk Factors

• In addition to women between the ages of 40 and 60 being more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, it is also true that family history plays a role in the disease. Doctors do not believe that rheumatoid arthritis is inherited, but they do believe the predisposition to this disease is inherited. If you smoke cigarettes, you can reduce your risk of arthritis by quitting.
  
  

Treatments

• Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen can provide some relief to those suffering from arthritis joint pain. Steroids are sometimes prescribed to reduce inflammation around the joints. Steroids also slow joint damage. In more serious cases, total joint replacement surgery may be necessary. During this surgery, a surgeon removes the damaged parts of the joints and replaces them with prostheses.
  
  

Lifestyle Changes

• If you suffer from arthritis joint pain, you can make simple lifestyle changes to minimize the pain you feel. Gentle exercise such as swimming or water aerobics can build up muscle strength around the joints and make the muscles less prone to fatigue. Taking a longer time in the shower can also provide relief. A 15-minute hot shower helps relax the joint pain you may feel.