Arthritis: A Patient’s Guide

The two most common types of arthritis in the United States are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Together, these diseases affect more than 22 million Americans, many of whom believe that there is no reliable, practical, or affordable treatment for their pain and discomfort. This work, designed as a comprehensive resource handbook for patients suffering from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, provides a user-friendly guide to modern holistic, medical, and surgical treatments. The author provides a thorough overview of the most popular conservative treatments—including pain medications, exercise, nutrition therapy, and alternative health treatments. The author also provides a guide to more invasive surgical approaches, providing helpful resources and tips for selecting a surgeon, preparing for surgery, and facilitating a healthy recovery.

Orthopaedic surgical nurse Sharon E. Hohler is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. The author of a number of journal articles, she is a member of the Heartland Writers Guild and the Missouri Writers Guild. She lives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Sharon E. Hohler

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 264
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, glossary, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3450-3
Imprint: McFarland
Series: McFarland Health Topics

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1

1. Understanding Osteoarthritis      3
2. Coping with Rheumatoid Arthritis      15
3. Remembering the Past: A Brief History of Arthritis and Methods of Prevention and Treatment      27
4. Taking Charge of Your Life      43
5. Prevent Arthritis?      56
6. Dealing with Pain      65
7. Eating Healthy: Diet and Nutrition      79
8. Exercising with Arthritis      92
9. Drug Therapies      104
10. Alternative Therapies      122
11. Preparing for Surgery      133
12. Total Hip Replacement      149
13. Total Knee Replacement      158
14. Elbows, Shoulders, Fingers and Toes      167
15. Before, During and After Surgery      177
16. Caregivers Need Care, Too      192
17. Researching Arthritis      201

Glossary      211
Appendix      219
Chapter Notes      223
Bibliography      247
Index      251

• “well-written…valuable”—ARBA
• “an excellent resource…excellent references…thorough overviews…comprehensive…very reader friendly…current information…recommend[ed]”—Aorn Journal
• “Sharon E Hohler’s work reflects her sensitivity to the needs of the patient and her scholarship in the respected journals of her field”—Reference Reviews
• “a user-friendly guide”—SciTech Book News