Page 120 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2017

HEALTHY LIVING aches and pains
WHAT IS
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Andrew Adams, M.D.
ARTHRITIS?
Comes in many forms and affects all ages
Aches and pains seem to come with the accumulation of birthdays, but is that arthritis? Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal
way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. According to the National Arthritis Foundation, there
are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.
Andrew Adams, M.D., said, “There are many forms of arthritis, but essentially arthritis is manifested by pain in one or more joints, joint stiffness, joint swelling, and decreased range of motion in the affected joint.”
Symptoms may come and go, and can be mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years, but may progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain and inability to do daily activities such as walking or climbing stairs.
Adams, who practices with Hancock Medical Family Medicine and see patients in Bay St. Louis and Diamondhead, points out that some forms of arthritis,
such as rheumatoid arthritis, have a genetic predisposition.
“And some studies, such as blood tests and analysis of the joint fluid, can confirm that someone has the disease,” he said.
He says new medications and
procedures are being tested
and developed every day,
from antibody infusions for
inflammatory arthritis, to platelet rich plasma injections for relief of pain and swelling.
Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. These changes may be visible, such as knobby finger joints, but often the damage can only be seen on X-ray. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.
228.467.8600 • www.hmc.org
844.571.4357 • www.arthritis.org
120 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2017
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Andrew Adams, M.D.