{"id":68536,"date":"2017-07-26T18:21:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T18:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/signs-arthritis-every-toronto-senior-needs-know\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:08:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:48","slug":"signs-arthritis-every-toronto-senior-needs-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/signs-arthritis-every-toronto-senior-needs-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs of Arthritis Every Toronto Senior Needs To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

You or your loved one get out of bed and feel just a little too stiff for comfort. The joints in your hand are starting to hurt sometimes. Your big toe is swollen and hurts to the touch. Is this a normal part of aging you wonder? Or something more serious?<\/p>\n

Arthritis in Seniors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Over time as we age, many people start to feel pain and stiffness in their bodies. Sometimes their hands, knees or shoulders get sore and are hard to move and may become swollen. They may experience inflammation, redness, heat, pain, and swelling of the tissue lining their joints. In all likelihood these people have arthritis.<\/p>\n

There are over 100 different types of arthritis and one in every three people, suffer from some sort of it. It is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints, and it is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries.\u00a0 Although there is no cure for arthritis, as a caregiver you should know that there is a lot you can do to minimize its overall painful effects every day in the life of the senior you care for.<\/p>\n

The Three Most Common Types Of Arthritis in Seniors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are several types of arthritis that most commonly affect seniors — osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. And while it is possible for some people to have multiple types, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common of the three types for the elderly to have.<\/p>\n

Osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage of the joints \u2014 the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones. Enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. This wear and tear can occur over many years, or it can accelerate as a result of injury or infection in a joint.<\/p>\n

Many different factors may play a role in whether or not an individual gets OA, including age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics. OA could be caused by any one or by a combination of any of these factors.<\/p>\n

Where Does Osteoarthritis Strike in Seniors?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

OA most commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees and lower back. It also affects the neck, small finger joints, the base of the thumb and the big toe. OA rarely affects other joints but it sometimes follows if an injury to a joint occurred earlier in life or when continual stress to a joint is involved. OA also develops in later years in joints where bones have been fractured or surgery has occurred.<\/p>\n

Ordinarily, OA develops gradually. It may start as soreness or stiffness that seems more a nuisance than a medical concern. The pain that your senior experiences as a result of OA could be moderate or even intermittent and might not interfere with his or her day-to-day activities.<\/p>\n

For some people, OA doesn\u2019t ever progress past this early stage. But for others, OA gets to a point where the pain and stiffness make it difficult to walk, climb stairs or sleep. Although rare, sometimes people with OA will experience sudden signs of inflammation such as redness, pain and swelling, known as inflammatory or erosive osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n

Signs & Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis in Seniors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

How does osteoarthritis affect your senior loved one? Swollen, creaky joints are a hallmark of osteoarthritis. Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects the hands or arms, can make it difficult for your senior to take care of daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep him or her from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, the joints especially in the hands or feet may become twisted and deformed.<\/p>\n

The most common signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis in seniors are:<\/strong><\/p>\n