May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. According to SeniorLiving.org, Arthritis is extremely common among seniors with nearly half of people age 65 and older suffering from some type of arthritis pain. Here’s a look at the types of arthritis, signs, and treatments.
The tricky thing about arthritis is that it can attack almost any part of the body at any time. Those who suffer from arthritis never know if the attack will last a few hours, a few days, or in some cases result in a chronic condition.
Signs of Arthritis in the Elderly
If you’ve never had arthritis, but suddenly feel unexplained joint pain, you may be getting arthritis. Here are some other signs:
- Joint swelling
- Joint stiffness
- Tenderness or pain when touching a joint
- Problems moving the joint
- Warmth and redness on a joint
If you begin to experience any of these issues and they don’t go away within two weeks, it’s time to see a doctor. If you develop a fever along with any of those symptoms, you need to see a doctor right away.
When you see your doctor you may need to get an X-ray or other tests done so the doctor can determine if you have arthritis or another condition.
