Is the pain in your joint Arthritis?

Image Source: Total Orthocare


As we grow old, the condition of our body also deteriorates. We become less active which is the result of our joints becoming weaker day by day. Our bones lose their mass and become brittle where fractures are more likely to happen. Also the joints stiffen making our range of motion very limited. Such a condition is called Arthritis. Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of our joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen the more we age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and they all have a unique set of challenges. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of arthritis, the causes and symptoms, and the forms of treatment available.

How to know if the pain in your joint is Arthritis? If you feel that you might be suffering from it then it is advisable to keep a note of your symptoms regularly. As mentioned earlier, there are numerous underlying causes for Arthritis. So keeping a journal will help your doctor to rule out the exact cause of the pain. Arthritis is a complex condition and sometimes it takes time to pinpoint the cause for the right treatment.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis or OA causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. These cartilage protect our joints from degradation and when they themselves degrade, the joints come in direct contact with each other causing them to break down which hurts a lot especially at an older age. This also causes our range of motion to be limited. OA is caused by joint damage. This damage can accumulate over time, which is why age is one of the main causes of the joint damage leading to osteoarthritis. The older you are, the more wear and tear you’ve had on your joints. There are also other causes of joint damages which can lead to OA such as torn cartilage, dislocated joints, ligament injuries. They also include joint malformation, obesity, and poor posture. Certain risk factors, such as family history and gender, increase your risk of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body. The joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body. So, if a joint is affected in one of your arms or legs, the same joint in the other arm or leg will probably be affected, too. This is one way that doctors distinguish RA from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Under rheumatoid arthritis the immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule called the synovial membrane. Left unchecked, it can destroy all the cartilage and bone within the joint.

Other common types include Ankylosing spondylitis, Gout, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Reactive arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Septic arthritis, Thumb arthritis.

Diagnosis & Treatment: The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include Pain, Stiffness, Swelling, Redness, Decreased range of motion and based on it your doctor may prescribe painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like aspirin or ibuprofen), and creams or ointments with menthol or capsaicin to disrupt pain signals. Corticosteroids or steroid hormones can also help to reduce inflammation in the body. For rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biologic response modifiers are typically prescribed.

One of the main factors for the development of Arthritis is overweight. For people with obesity more or less, the very first suggestion is to lose weight. People with overweight mostly develop arthritis in their knees and losing weight can help reduce the occurrence of osteoarthritis in the knee by 50 percent. Seek help from family, friends, and professionals to manage daily tasks and your outlook on life. To make it easier to get around, meet with an occupational therapist to discuss helpful tools, such as insoles, a cane, or handrails. If you think you might have arthritis, schedule an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation.

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