Arthritis

Condition Signs & Symptoms How You Can Help . . .
Osteoarthritis
  • Loss of movement. Pain with movement . . . and sometimes even at rest. Stiffness and swelling of the joints, especially in the morning.
  • Joint abnormalities like bone spurs, deformities and weakness.
 Report to your supervisor if your client is unable to relieve pain with the current plan of care. Encourage clients to perform as much self-care as their mobility allows. Help immobile client to change positions at least once every two hours.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Swelling and redness of the joints. Loss of appetite and weight loss. 
  • Fever.
  • Loss of energy.
  • Anemia.
  • Lumps of tissue (nodules) under the skin.
 Monitor and report any signs of new pain, stiffness or swelling right away so treatment can be adjusted. Assist with range of motion exercises as ordered.  However, passive ROM should not be done on joints that are swollen. Encourage REST during flare-ups.
Fibromyalgia
  • Specific tender spots on body. 
  • Fatigue. 
  • Mood changes, including depression.
  • Headaches.
  • Problems concentrating.
  • Numbness in the arms and legs.
 Gentle stretching, like with Yoga or Tai-chi can help prevent muscle stiffness and weakness. Help clients with fibromyalgia limit intake of sugar, caffeine and alcohol.  These irritate muscles.
Gout
  • Severe pain in the affected joint (often the big toe). 
  • Shiny, purplish skin around the joint. 
  • Hard lumps of crystals just under the skin. 
 A person with gout should never take aspirin.  This increases uric acid. Remind you client with gout to avoid eating too much meat or drinking too much alcohol.  These substances increase the amount of uric acid in
the body.

Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Similar rheumatoid arthritis with joints that are painful, swollen and warm to the touch.   
  • Painful, sausage-like swelling of fingers and toes. 
  • Foot pain, especially at the back of the heel and the sole of the foot.
  • Intense lower back pain.
 During a flare-up of inflammation, the client should REST.  Special wrist splints, footwear, gentle massage or applying heat may also help. Check to see that your clients with foot pain have good shoes.  The shoes should be well fitting, rubber soled and flexible.
Lyme Disease
  • Rash (can occur a few days to a month before any other symptoms appear). 
  • Flu-like symptoms. 
  • Joint pain.
 If you notice a tick on your client’s skin, use tweezers to gently grasp the tick near its head or mouth.  Don't squeeze or crush the tick, but pull carefully and steadily. Once you've removed the entire tick, notify your supervisor right away. If you know your client has been bitten by a tick, or if you see the bulls-eye rash, report the symptoms immediately so antibiotics can be started.
  • Encourage your clients to use proper posture.  This helps prevent additional joint damage.  (And, keep in mind that slouching actually requires more energy than sitting up straight!)
  • Remind your clients to use the strongest joint possible to complete a task.  For example, rather than open a door with their arthritic hand, they can push it open with a shoulder instead.
  • Be sure to balance periods of exercise and activity with periods of rest.
  • Learn all you can about managing pain and using assistive devices so that you can help clients cope with arthritis even more.
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