Arthritis is the swelling and inflammation of joints. It is not a single disease, but in fact a way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. Joints are the places where two bones meet, like your knee that connects the thigh bone with the leg bone.
There are over 100 different types of arthritis and it can occur in people of all ages. Often the use of the word “arthritis” refers to “Osteoarthritis”
The likelihood of having “Osteoarthritis” increases with age. Nearly 1 in 2 seniors over the age of 65 have arthritis. In Canada, arthritis affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men, although women make up for approximately 60% of all arthritis patients.
The prevalence of arthritis is rising, and by 2040, it is estimated that 50% more people will have arthritis.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of arthritis may come and go, and vary between mild, moderate, or severe. Most commonly, symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. But depending on the type of arthritis you have; symptoms may also include:
- Pain, redness, and swelling in your joints
- Trouble moving around
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Breathing problems
- Rash
Symptoms may stay the same for years, but often progress and get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in the inability to do daily activities, make it difficult to go up and down stairs, and results in chronic pain.
Types of Arthritis
There are two main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They cause damage to joints in different ways.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type, caused by wear-and-tear to the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage acts as a cushion to the ends of the bones and allows frictionless joint motion. When the cartilage begins to wear away, it can result in bone grinding directly on bone, restricting movement and causing pain. It most often occurs in the hands, knees, or hips.
Osteoarthritis also affects the connective tissue that attaches muscles to the bone and holds the joint together. This deterioration can progress over time, but can be sped up by an injury or infection in that joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the joint capsule; a tough membrane that is home to all the parts of a joint. When the lining becomes swollen and inflamed, the cartilage can be destroyed and affect the bone. Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect your organs and internal systems, make you feel tired, sick, or result in a fever.
Other types of arthritis include:
- Gout
- Juvenile arthritis
- Metabolic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
How Arthritis is Treated?
Arthritis treatment focuses on improving joint movement and relieving pain. Many times, you need to try a few treatment options, or a combination of treatments, in order to find one that alleviates your pain. There are two main types of treatments your physician may suggest: non-surgical and surgical.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Conventional non-surgical treatment options include:
- Medication: Painkillers like Tylenol reduce pain but do not affect the inflammation, whereas NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen do both. Some NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory medications come in a cream or ointment form that is rubbed directly on the area of pain.
- Corticosteroids: Reduce pain and inflammation as well as suppresses your immune system
- Physical Therapy: Exercises can improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints.
Surgical Treatments
When conventional methods of treating arthritis pain are ineffective, your physician may suggest surgery.
- Joint Replacement: The damaged joint is removed with an artificial replacement. Replacements are most commonly used in hip and knee joints.
- Joint Repair: This is a minimally invasive procedure where the joint surfaces are smoothed and realigned to reduce pain and bone-on-bone grinding.
- Joint Fusion: Commonly used for smaller joints like wrists and fingers. Fusions remove the ends of two bones and lock those ends together until they heal as one unit.
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Sources:
Arthritis Foundation: What Is Arthritis?