Decoding the Causes and Symptoms of Arthritis

19-02-2020   |   Posted By: Vivek Singh   |   4142 View(s)

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a joint disorder which is very common but is not well understood. “Arthritis” is not considered a single disease as it is an informal way of referring to joint diseases or joint pain. A joint is the area of the body where two different bones meet. Arthritis means inflammation of one or more joints. There are many types of Arthritis, and people of all ages and sexes can have Arthritis. 

People have mild to severe pain in their joints when they have Arthritis. Arthritis should be treated at the right time as it can lead to more severe health problems. First of all, you should know about the types of Arthritis so that you can have the basic idea of which type of Arthritis you might be having, understand its causes and get to know about the Symptoms of Arthritis

Types of Arthritis

There are more than 200 types of Arthritis conditions. These conditions are categorised into several groups. These groups are mentioned below:

1. Inflammatory arthritis 

Inflammation is a normal process which heals our body; sometimes it becomes problematic when it occurs without any reason and harms the body tissues itself which lead to inflammatory arthritis. This is one of the most common types of Arthritis.

2. Degenerative or Mechanical Arthritis 

Under this kind of arthritis, the prime effect is on the cartilage which covers the ends of the bone. Cartilage helps our body joints to glide and move smoothly, and in this condition, the cartilage becomes thinner and rougher and thus to compensate for the loss of ligament and changes in joint capacity, our body starts redesigning the bone trying to reestablish stability. This causes the joint to end up deformed, and this condition is called osteoarthritis.  

3. Soft Tissue Musculoskeletal Arthritis 

In this type of arthritis, the pain is felt is not only felt in joints and bones but also in tissues. The pain influences a part of the body frequently and leads to damage

4. Infectious Arthritis 

As the name suggests, Infectious Arthritis occurs when any bacteria, fungus or virus enters the joint causing infection and leading to inflammation. Some of the organisms that can infect joints are Salmonella, Chlamydia, etc. This type of arthritis must be treated on time, or else it would become chronic.

 5. Metabolic Arthritis 

A lot of people are not aware that there is a link between Arthritis and elevated Uric Acid. Uric Acid is a compound which is made when our body breaks down a substance called purine. This substance is found in human cells and some of the foods. Most uric acid breaks up in the blood and then goes to our kidneys. And from that point, it goes out in the urine. 

There are a few people who deliver uric acid more than required and some people are not able to clear their uric acid rapidly. It develops, collects and forms stones which are needle-like in the joint, which results in a sudden outburst of severe joint pain or a gout assault. Gout can come and go at regular intervals or can even become chronic if the uric acid levels are not reduced. 

Symptoms of Arthritis

Now when you know the various types of Arthritis, you must also know the common symptoms that are associated with Arthritis. Some of the most common symptoms of Arthritis are as follows:  

1. Joint Pain 

If you have Arthritis, you will have constant pain in and around your joints. The pain can occur in either one part of the body or can even be felt in many parts of the body.

2. Swelling in Joint

If the constant pain in the joint is accompanied by swelling, then it is a high time for you to consult an Orthopedic for Arthritis’s possibilities.  

 3. Joint Stiffness 

This is one of the most common symptoms of Arthritis whereby you feel stiffness in joint after sitting for a long time at one place or getting up in the morning. 

 4. Difficulty in moving a joint 

If you have Arthritis, you will feel difficult to move your joints. For example, you might feel difficulty in climbing the staircase, getting up from the bed, etc. 

These are some of the most common symptoms of Arthritis. If you are facing any of the above symptoms persistently you must see an Orthopaedic. 

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Causes of Arthritis

To treat Arthritis, it is important to know what caused it. There is no single reason which could lead to this health condition directly.

Some of the major causes of Arthritis are:

1. Injury 

Sometimes people, who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, develop Arthritis in that joint eventually. Thus certain injuries might lead to Arthritis, particularly degenerative Arthritis. 

2. Abnormal Metabolism 

When there is increased uric acid in the blood and joints, it affects the metabolism and causes Arthritis. 

3. Immune system dysfunction 

When our Immune System is not working appropriately, it can lead to Arthritis. 

4. Infections 

There are various bacteria and virus which enters into our body and causes infection, leading to inflammation which in turns causes Arthritis. 

5. Inheritance 

Genetics play a major role in causing Arthritis, especially Osteoarthritis. If your parents or siblings have Arthritis, you can also get this disorder. 

Diagnosis and Treatment of Arthritis

If you have any of the symptoms of Arthritis, you must consult a Doctor. Your Doctor will do your physical examination and will take your medical history. 

Mostly, the Doctors ask the patients to undergo tests like X-Ray, MRI and CT Scan to confirm the diagnosis. 

Treatment

Treating Arthritis is a long time process, and the primary objective of the treatment is to reduce the amount of pain the patient is suffering. 

Some of the treatments for Arthritis are as follows:

1. Medication 

Your Doctor would provide you with a list of medications for treating Arthritis. Some of the common medications given in Arthritis treatment are biologics, counterirritants, analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.

2. Surgery 

This is another way of treating Arthritis in which surgery is done to supplant one’s joint with an artificial one. 

3. Physical therapies 

Many Doctors also advise the patients to go for Physical Therapies to reduce pain and also reduce limitations on mobility. 

It is difficult to live a life with Arthritis. Now that you know the causes, symptoms and types of Arthritis, you must do everything to avoid this disorder. You can very well prevent it or minimise the effects of Arthritis by maintaining a healthy weight, working out and going for a regular Health Check-Up. If by any chance you feel that you have Arthritis, consult a doctor immediately. And do remember, the saying-A stitch in time saves nine.