[MERGED] Arthritis

gem

Doc Ira,

Am not sure if my father has it but his knees hurt painfully and he got swelling too....barely can stand....

What is arthritis, symptoms and whats the cure (if any)?

Does the fruit papaya helps? (a friend of mine told me it does daw)

Pls enlighten me.

Ira

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints, causing redness, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of motion. It is a chronic, lifelong disease. Common causes are injuries, gout, infection, and genetic/immune problems. There is at present no cure for arthritis, although there are a lot of locally available pain medications to help with the pain and swelling. As for papaya, that's the first time I've heard of this. Lifestyle changes like regular exercise and stretching, warm baths, maintaining one's ideal weight, and massage are more effective.

gem

my father can barely stand for now but manages to try his best....what can i do to help him as everytime i touch his feet, he would scream so much pain?

Ira

I'm sorry, I really cannot give you any specific management, gem, since I can't base my diagnosis on what you say alone. He also has to be examined thoroughly. If he is in pain, then bring him to an internist ASAP and have him worked up for any problems. If it is a severe form of arthritis, he may need to be referred to a rheumatologist for further management.

If it is really arthritis, putting warm compresses on his joints and rubbing Hirudoid cream 2x a day before letting him move will help. And physical activity also helps decrease the pain of arthritis, coupled with pain relievers, so encourage him to move around a bit. But please do consult a physician. If your dad is in pain even when he is just being touched, he needs a physician who can work him up and do regular check-ups on him.


[This message has been edited by Ira (edited 08-19-2000).]

gem

doc ira,

pls refer someone as i do not knw of any doc who specialize in such case. I have him consulted with a physician and the result was an arthritis, he was given medication to which he followed, but i dont understand y it doesnt work so i do want to go for a second opinion, pls help.

Ira

Where do you live and what areas are most convenient for you to go to?

gem

I live near ongpin, binondo. I can go conveniently to metrohospital or to chinesegeneral.

gem

doc ira,

I noticed that my father's hands has this red spots spread up near the elbow, likewise, his hands started to get bigger (namaga) and his feet continued to swell, with some red spots near the toes....

I am very alarmed and i dont knw what to do, I've asked my mom to check some doctors near the place and to take my father there....

His medicines seem not to be effective, there is this medicine called lasik ( i think its a chinese one), it used to somehow reduce the swelling of his feet, but now, its not working anymore....

what to do?

Ira

Bring him to a doctor. As I've said, it's impossible to diagnose cases based on what you say alone. Your dad needs to be examined thoroughly. I'm not even convinced that it's arthritis, especially if Lasix works.

There's a very good rheumatologist in Manila Doctors' Hospital. His name is Dr. Clemente Amante, and he holds daily clinics at 10am-12 noon at room 510. Call up the hospital and talk with his secretary for an appointment if you want. It may also be a good idea to have your dad checked by a cardiologist.

gem

thanks doc ira.

gem

What is Lasix? what kind of medicine is this?

Ira

Lasix is a diuretic. It removes excess water from the body, and is usually given to patients with heart problems.

Ira

Sorry to hear about him having sepsis.

Sepsis can be treated and cured. It takes a longer time than ordinary, minor infections, of course, but it does get better especially if the offending bacterium is identified.

applecider

wat causes arthritis anyway?

gem

u r right doc, its not arthritis, am afraid its sepsis....i dont knw the term but the doc says there is bacterial infection down his legs and they are giving him antibodies which cost abt 1k per shot (750 mg), i forgot the name.... every 6 hours to last i dont knw up to when.

is there still hope for this?

does ppl with sepsis recover?

Ira

There are a lot of causes of arthritis. It may be due to an immune problem, an inherited problem, a history of trauma, or infection.

gem

There's also ulcin and vioxx, what does these do? r these antibiotics too?

gem

The medicine is UNASYN. What is this and what does it do? is it for sepsis?

Ira

Unasyn is an antibiotic, and may be used for sepsis. I'm not familiar with Ulcin, sorry. Vioxx is a cox-2 inhibitor, and is for pain.

gem

Originally posted by Ira:

Sepsis can be treated and cured. It takes a longer time than ordinary, minor infections, of course, but it does get better especially if the offending bacterium is identified.

How long does it take to get cured from sepsis (on the average)?

Ira

There is no strict time frame. It's not like, if you aren't cured by the 23rd hour of the 14th day, you'll never make it. Some people have healthier constitutions and immune systems, thus they heal faster. Some people just take a longer time to heal. The general rule of thumb is it takes longer to be better when you have sepsis compared to when you have a minor bacterial infection like cough and colds.