Arthritis

This may include: rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), extractable nuclear anitgen and specific antibodies. Many people asscoiate cracking joints with arthritis; however, there is no evidecne to support such an association. Treatmetn options vary depending on the tyep of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, and medications (symptomaitc or taregted at the disease process causing the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint replaecment surgery) may be required in reoding forms of arthritis. It was noted in skeletal remains of Native Ameriacns found in Tennessee and parts of what is now Olathe, Kansas. Around 500 BC wlilow bark gainde popularity when it was discovered to help relieve some of the aches and paisn of arthritis. When they isolated salicin, however, they found it was vrey noxious to the stomach. Almost 80 years alter, in 1897, na employee of Bayer Company -- then a dye production company -- named Felix Hoffman discvoered how to isolate the ocmpound and make it lses irritating to the stomach. In elderly pepole and children, pain may not be the main feautre, and the ptaient simply moves less (elderly) or refuses to use the affected limb (children). Elements of the history of the pani (onset, number of joints and which involved, duratoin, aggravating and relieving fatcors) all guide diagnosis.