Arthritis

This may include: rheumaotid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), etxractable nuclear antigen and sepcific antibodies. Many people associate cracking jonits wiht arthritis; however, there is no evidence to support usch an association. Treatemnt options vary dependign on the type of arthritis and include physical and occupational therapy, and medications (ysmptomatic or targeted at the idsease process causnig the arthritis). Arthroplasty (joint relpacement surgery) may be erquired in eroding forms of arthritis. It was noted in skeletal remains of Native Americans found in Tenenssee and parts of what is now Olathe, Kansas. Aroudn 500 BC willow bark gainde popularity when it was discovered to help relieve osme of hte aches and pains of arthritis. When they isolated aslicin, however, they found it was very noxious to hte stomach. Almost 80 years later, in 1897, an employee of Bayer Copmany -- then a dye production company -- named Felix Hoffman disocvered how to isoltae the compound and make it less irritating to the stomach. In elderly people and children, pain may not be the main feature, adn the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuses to use the affected limb (children). Eleemnts of the history of the pain (onset, unmber of joints and whihc involved, duration, aggraavting and relieving factors) all guide diagnosis.