Anything painful in the body is considerable discomfort, and we always look for ways to ease us with the uneasiness we are experiencing. Arthritis is a bothersome and persistent pain that can be excruciating at times. There are options available to alleviate Arthritis but let’s try to understand what Arthritis is and how this develops.
1. What is Arthritis
According to Mayo Clinic, “Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.”
Arthritis is common, and this occurs when there is uric acid build-up within the joints. It can also be in one particular joint or can affect several joints. The symptoms usually occur between the age of 30 and 50. However, it can also affect kids these days due to the dietary lifestyle of this modern society.
Symptoms and Early Signs of Arthritis
There are early signs of Arthritis that you have to know about. If ever you wonder why you are feeling discomfort and pain, those may be signs of Arthritis.
Causes of Arthritis
There are several factors that trigger Arthritis to develop. Here are the usual causes of Arthritis:
Some of these causes can be avoidable; however, some aren’t. So if you think you can adjust to these circumstances, do so to avoid Arthritis in the future.
Types of Arthritis
There are several types of Arthritis that affect the lower extremities. Here are some of the types of Arthritis:
- Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) affects the toes, causing them to look like sausages due to swelling and inflammation, called dactylitis. Inflammation is at the tendon and ligaments that are attached to bones.
- Post-traumatic arthritis occurs after an injury. It happens primarily due to dislocation or bone fracture.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis usually develops in both feet, which apparently affects the same joints from both sides. Rheumatoid Arthritis is also considered one of the most severe types of Arthritis. This is linked to an autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks the joint.
- Osteoarthritis is a common type of Arthritis since this involves the wear and tear of joints and ligaments. Osteoarthritis takes effect after many years and develops around the hips, spine, knee, and feet.
2. Are Compression Socks Good for Arthritis?
Compression socks can be used as supplemental therapy for Arthritis as it may lessen the symptoms brought about by the pressure level of the socks.
As there is swelling and inflammation, this may be due to fluid retention in the soft tissues around the affected joints. According to medical resources, some patients find the use of compression socks alleviates inflammatory symptoms. As compression socks can provide warmth and comfort as the socks squeeze the muscle tissues together; in effect, it reduces swelling and inflammation.
The effect of swollen joints is numbness, making it difficult to walk and may cause a person to lose balance and fall. The use of compression socks will improve blood circulation, which will help decrease the numbness and insensitivity caused by Arthritis.
Compression socks can also serve as a support, and they can provide comfort while walking. It will lessen the symptoms because of the therapeutic effect on the lower extremities.
3. Which Type of Compression Socks are Good for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis?
There are three types of compression socks available with five compression levels. Although compression level depends on the medical condition, a person has. So depending on your need and medical case, your health doctor can give you appropriate recommendations.
Types of Compression Socks
It would be safe to say that for arthritis use, you may use non-medical compression socks. However, always consider if you have other medical conditions that can have an adverse effect if you wear such socks, so please get professional advice before acquiring a pair of compression socks.
4. How Long Can You Wear Compression Socks if You Have Arthritis
You should wear compression socks first thing in the morning before getting out of bed. This will help warm up your legs immediately and rapidly improve blood circulation. Although you may need to remove your socks after several hours to rest your feet.
On the contrary, it isn’t suitable to wear those socks overnight or while you sleep. It may aggravate the symptoms of Arthritis which you have to avoid at all times. Since your legs are resting on a surface, less stress would be on your affected joints.
Finally, compression socks cannot cure Arthritis in the feet. It is only supplemental support and therapy to help alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid Arthritis, or Arthritis in general.
Unisex
8-15 mmHg