16 BS Facts About Arthritis Everyone Thinks Are True

Simply put, arthritis is inflammation in joints and surrounding tissue that causes pain and debilitation. However, over 100 conditions fall under the scope of arthritis and discerning facts from myths about the symptoms, treatments and environmental factors that trigger pain can be daunting.

Here are 16 common myths about arthritis pain:

1. Popping your knuckles will cause arthritis

The myth that "cracking joints" will cause osteoarthritis is very common. However, according to WebMD, knuckle popping is annoying to other people but it is not harmful and does not cause arthritis. "If cracking is accompanied by pain, there could be underlying abnormalities of the structures of the joint, such as loose cartilage or injured ligaments."

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2. All joint pain is arthritis

Actually many conditions can cause joint pain that mimics the symptoms of arthritis. For example, tendonitis, bursitis, lupus, and Lyme disease have similar pain profiles and it is important to get an accurate diagnosis of any medical condition before treating any joint pain condition.

3. Damp conditions trigger arthritis pain

Anecdotal stories about arthritis suffers predicting wet weather via pain cues abound but there is no scientific evidence to support the connection. However, there is an unsubstantiated theory that a drop in barometric pressure might cause a slight expansion in joints, which might exacerbate pain. Arthritis patients often ask if they should move to milder climates. According to Robert Newlin Jamison, PhD, from Harvard Medical School, "We know that if you ask people to rate their pain in Minnesota or Arizona or California or even Florida, there's no one area of the country where you'd say, 'There's less pain there.'"

4. Inactivity is best when arthritis pain flares up

This myth may sound logical but in fact, regular exercise will help to maintain a full range of motion in joints. Low impact aerobics and stretching, even during a pain flare, will help ease the pain of arthritis.

5. Heat is better for arthritis than cold

Both heat and cold are beneficial to help alleviate arthritis pain. Ice reduces inflammation in joints and heat relaxes the muscles and tendons around the joint.

6. Only old people get arthritis

Not so says Dr. Vivian Bykerk, assistant attending rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. "It can happen to 1 and 2-year-olds, it can happen to 90-year-olds and to anyone in between," reports ABC News.

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7. There is no way to prevent joint damage caused by arthritis

Everyday Health reports, "Arthritis medications — including COX-2 inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-TNF compounds, corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) — can help reduce inflammation, relieve painful symptoms, and prevent joint damage."

8. Glucosamine benefits everyone with arthritis

Evidence, both scientific and anecdotal is mixed on whether glucosamine actually reduces the pain of arthritis. While some in the alternative medicine community recommend taking glucosamine, others in traditional medical fields state that unless injected into the joint, the supplement has no real effect. The wisest course of action may be to give glucosamine a 3-month trial run to evaluate its potential benefits.

9. Diet has no effect on arthritis pain

There are definitely foods to add to the diet that can help manage arthritis pain. Inflammation is the key culprit in arthritis and the addition of inflammation fighting foods such as fish, olive oil, whole grains, fruits and vegetables has been shown to help alleviate arthritis pain symptoms.

10. Topical ointments made from hot chili peppers don't work

Capsaicin is the ingredient in hot chili peppers and when applied to joints it can help to block nerve pain. While it will not cure arthritis and it can irritate the skin, Arthritis Research UK reports, "Several studies have found that capsaicin can use up Substance P. Substance P plays an important role in transmitting pain signals from nerve endings to your brain. It’s also involved in activating inflammatory substances in joints."

11. There's only one kind of arthritis

"There's a perception that arthritis is arthritis, just like some people think cancer is cancer," says Mark Genovese, MD, a rheumatologist and professor at the Stanford School of Medicine. "But it's just not true." It could be gout, crystals, autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis, virus-caused arthritis or as many as 100 other kinds of the disease. That means if you think—or know—you have arthritis, you should slow down before you stock up on glucosamine supplements. Managing arthritis can’t start until you know what type you have, says Dr. Genovese. The best course of action if your joint pain is bothersome? Go see a doctor and find out what you've got.

12. Eating oily fish can cure my arthritis

Oily fish may cut your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, but there’s no cure.

That said, a healthy diet in general could help you maintain an ideal weight, which places less strain on your joints. And some studies suggest that eating too much sugar could cause inflammation in your body, so you may want to try reducing your sugar intake overall.

13. It’s all genetic

It’s true that your genes can affect your risk of developing osteoarthritis, but your lifestyle has a huge affect on the health of your joints too. Your weight, age, pre-existing joint injuries and the amount of strain you place on your joints every day are all factors.

14. Acupuncture isn't really effective.

According to the National Institutes of Health, research shows that acupuncture (used along with standard medical care) may help ease the pain of knee osteoarthritis. In acupuncture, a licensed professional inserts fine needles at specific points on the body. Scientists believe that this may cause the body to release its own pain-relieving chemicals. In some studies, sham acupuncture works as well as the real thing, suggesting that other factors are involved in acupuncture's effectiveness.

15. Certain Vegetables Can Make Arthritis Worse

Another common myth is that nightshade vegetables, which include potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes, can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. The belief is that a chemical in these vegetables can cause too much calcium to build up in the body, damaging the joints.

But doctors say there's not a lot of scientific evidence to back up that claim.

"It's hard to study this relationship, but even though we don't know for sure, it doesn't look like clear evidence that these foods can make symptoms worse," said Dr. Joanne Jordan, director of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine's Thurston Arthritis Research Center in Chapel Hill.

Recent studies, however, found that nightshade vegetables may actually help keep symptoms in check. According to the Arthritis Foundation's publication, Arthritis Today, a study found that yellow and purple potatoes may reduce inflammation in men. Another study found that people who consumed high amounts of lutein, a compound in tomatoes, were 70 percent less likely to have osteoarthritis.

"A nutritious diet may help health in general," said Bykerk.

16. Rheumatoid arthritis isn't all that serious.

Fact: Rheumatoid arthritis can threaten your health and independence, especially if it's inadequately treated.

A lot of people downplay RA and will put off seeing a doctor, often for months or years. A lot of joint damage can happen during that time.

Rheumatoid arthritis needs prompt diagnosis and regular treatment to protect joints from harm. In turn, this can protect your independence and long-term function.

Having rheumatoid arthritis also increases the risk of certain other conditions.Cardiovascular diseases, infections and lung disease are all more common in people with RA.

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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