Arthritis - Chronic Diseases

Arthritis Treatment Abroad

Arthritis is a general name for several diseases which all affect the joints and induce joint pain and stiffness (among other things). This is usually due to inflammation of those parts of the body. The most common types of arthritis are osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, although this group of diseases is so wide as to encompass 200 different diseases and conditions, which include gout, lupus and even psoriasis (at least some of its symptoms). 

Causes of Arthritis

It is not really possible to speak of a single cause for all types of arthritis, it is possible to make some generalization and to create a few groups of potential causes for any of the 200 conditions which fall into this category:

• Injury
• Abnormal metabolism
• Genetics
• Infections
• Immune system dysfunction

For some cases of arthritis, there will even be no obvious cause and their emergence can be completely unpredictable. Other types will have a combination of the causes mentioned above all working together.

Even if there is no universal set of causes for arthritis, there are certain factors which increase the risk of getting arthritis (of any kind):

• Age – The chance of developing arthritis increases with age
• Sex – Most arthritis conditions are prevalent in women (about 60% of all arthritis patients are women). The only exception is gout, which is prevalent in men.
• Genetics – Some genes carry a higher chance of developing certain types of arthritis, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ankylosing spondilitis.
• Obesity – excess weight contributes to the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis.
• Injuries – Damaging a joint (especially if it happens over and over again) significantly increases the risk of the onset of osteoarthritis.
• Infection – Many microbes can settle in the joints and create arthritis problems for the host.
• Occupation – If you are involved in a job which requires you to lift heavy things, or to repeatedly bend your knees or squat, you have a higher chance of developing some form of arthritis, probably osteoarthritis of the knee.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Since arthritis can affect any of the joints in the body, the patterns of symptoms and their location in the body can vary greatly. However, there are 4 main types of symptoms that should get you to consult with a medical professional and check whether you have arthritis:

• Pain – Pain from arthritis can be isolated in one spot (usually a joint) or felt across multiple places on the body (i.e. felt in several joints). It can also come and go or be constant.
• Swelling – When a joint is affected with arthritis it will more often than not swell and have the skin around the joint become red. In some cases, it can even cause the area around the joint to feel warm to the touch.
• Stiffness – Stiffness is probably the most typical symptom of any kind of arthritis. It may occur after waking up in the morning, sitting at desk for long periods of time, after exercise. Stiffness can also be persistent in some cases.
• Difficulty moving the affected joint – If moving a joint becomes too hard and painful, then it might be an indication of arthritis onset in that joint.

Of course, specific types of arthritis will have specific symptoms for that particular type, however, the four listed above are common with all types. Consultation with a medical professional about further symptoms will help you get a clearer picture about the type of arthritis that you have.

How is it treated?

Treatment for arthritis usually focuses on improving the usability of the affected joint and curing the underlying causes and symptoms, depending on the type of arthritis. The most common types of treatment include:

• medications
• physical therapy
• self-management
• physical activity
• if all that fails, surgery

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Newfound evidence and latest experiments have shown that stem cell therapy can also be included as a potential treatment for arthritis. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be extracted from the patient’s own fat tissue and then injected back directly into the joint affected by arthritis. This can help by solving the problem with the body’s own repairing cells. Arthritis stem cell therapy is done all over the world and there are several clinics which offer this treatment.

The benefits of choosing treatment abroad

• Getting full use of the joint back
• Relieves pain
• Stem cells use the body’s own building materials to improve the body
• Easier life with less joint problems
• Prevention of more serious conditions

The cost of treatments for Arthritis

As stem cell treatment prices are still not standardized, we cannot speak of a single price for stem cell treatment for arthritis. However, while the prices vary greatly, they average around $10,000. Of course, the price of the treatment depends on the country where it is performed. Some countries have lower prices as their medical and living costs are generally lower than in more developed countries. Lower prices do not always mean poorer service. In fact, in some cases, the medical service may even be more professional for a lower price.

Other treatments for arthritis vary greatly depending on what joint is affected. Getting physical therapy abroad costs between $3,000 and $10,000, while surgery costs around $15,000 (but that is also dependent on the affected joint).

Choosing the right clinic and treatment 

When it comes to choosing the clinic and the doctor that will perform the treatment, it is very important to check the amount of experience that the doctor has had with the treating arthritis before. Also, see how much experience they have had particularly with treating arthritis using stem cells. You can read up on the patient testimonials, as well, and see what other people who have already undergone this therapy have to say about it and the place where they’ve done it.

If you are already suffering from arthritis and want to know how treatment abroad can help you, feel free to contact us and find out more.