Arthritis
What is arthritis?
Arthritis involves an inflammation of the joints. There are over 200 kinds of rheumatic disease, and some are more common than others. Arthritis is often associated with the aging process, but it can affect people of all ages. Many people with arthritis have to undergo joint replacement surgery more than once.
What are the effects of arthritis?
Some common effects of arthritis are:
- pain and loss of strength
- feeling generally unwell
- tiredness
- stiffness
Types of arthritis
Osteoarthritis
This is connected to the aging process and is more prevalent in females. The cartilage that supports the joint becomes pitted, rough and brittle, and the synovial membrane and joint capsule thicken. The space in which the joint can move becomes restricted and the joint becomes stiff, painful and possibly also swollen.
In severe cases, the cartilage breaks away from the surface of the bone, the bone ends rub against each other and the ligaments become strained and weakened.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is an inflammatory disease mainly affecting joints and tendons. The root of the problem is with the body's natural defences, which attack rather than protect the body. Fluid in the joints makes movement painful and joints become swollen. Rheumatism is a term which describes aches and pains in muscles and joints.
How is artritis treated?
Arthritis is treated with various forms of medication. The benefit to each individual varies, as do the side effects of the drugs.
Difficulties with study
Difficulties can include:
- fatigue
- lack of stamina
- difficulty concentrating
- accessing buildings
- difficulty sitting for long periods
Helping people with arthritis
You can help people with arthritis by:
- providing lecture notes
- being careful with timetabling, to ensure there is minimum travel between sites
- giving adequate advance notice of assignment deadlines
- providing suitable seating
- allowing extra to write during exams
- allowing longer time for completing tasks
