If you stop and think about old people for a moment, one of the images that most comes to mind is coping with arthritis. According to Arthritis Australia, the elderly aren't the only ones putting up with it though.

The public perception that arthritis is a disease of old people is a myth, 60 per cent of all people with arthritis are of working age.

While the cause of arthritis is unknown, research suggests that early prevention is the key and that by heeding the warning signs and seeking intervention, the onset can be delayed significantly. 

Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 types of conditions, the most common forms being: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, which affect 95 per cent of all arthritis sufferers in Australia. It affects mainly the musculoskeletal system, especially where two or more bones meet. At this junction there is often damage to joint cartilage, which is the tissue that covers the ends of bones enabling them to move smoothly past each other. This damage causes inflammation to the joint and surrounding structures.

Symptoms include pain, stiffness and inflammation, which can easily result in weakness of the joint, feeling unstable and deformity. Before too long, simple tasks such as climbing the stairs, walking the dog, driving or opening a tin can become a problem. 

April 2 to 8 is Arthritis awareness week and Arthritis Australia is urging people to seek a diagnosis if they have doubts about symptoms relating to their joints. They are also calling on sufferers to review the many treatment options available and re-assess what kinds of treatment they are currently receiving for their condition.

Studies conducted show the effectiveness of adjunct therapies such as Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of arthritis. Chinese medicine comes into its own treating the individual holistically. This means, a patient receives herbs and acupuncture to decrease inflammation and reduce pain and they also receive herbs to improve their underlying imbalance.

A patient may complain of swollen, red, painful joints in the hands and feet, fatigue, low energy levels and diarrhoea. This would translate into a diagnosis of superficial excess of Yang energy in the form of "damp heat" (the dampness being the inflammation and the heat being the redness) as well as an internal deficiency of Yin, manifesting as a weak digestive system (known as stomach and spleen Qi deficiency). When the stomach and spleen are not strong and healthy, patients will have low energy and may have a tendency to worry more. Once the underlying deficiency is treated, the patient will have a better chance of coping with their condition long term and the flare-ups will decrease. 

For further information see:
www.arthritisaustralia.com.au
http://www.acupuncture.net.au/

Rebecca Mar Young is a Chinese medicine practitioner at Life Source Yoga and Health in North Sydney.
rebecca.young@acupuncture.net.au