Arthritis – Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
Arthritis is a condition that can turn simple everyday tasks into painful experiences. The symptoms may include pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints of the body. Learning about arthritis can help you better understand your condition and take an active role in managing it.
In this article, we will explore what arthritis is, the various types of the disease, their symptoms, and their causes. We will also look at the treatment options available to manage your pain and improve joint function.
Table of Contents
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is not one disease, but rather an umbrella term for many conditions that cause inflammation, pain, or swelling in the joints.
These conditions can have a detrimental effect on your everyday life. They limit your movement, cause pain and make it difficult to perform even simple routine tasks, such as walking, climbing stairs, or even holding a pen.
Types of arthritis
Arthritis can come in many different forms. There are more than a hundred diseases and conditions that fit under the term. Each of them has its unique set of symptoms, different levels of severity, and varying treatment options. Let’s take a quick look at the most common ones.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs when the cartilage that covers the ends of bones wears down over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis – commonly referred to as RA – is an autoimmune disorder that can cause joint pain, swelling, and deformity.
Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis that results from a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to sudden and severe joint pains.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes excessive skin cell build-up. It can affect the joints too, resulting in pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Septic arthritis
Septic arthritis is a painful infection of the joints, caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis is an inflammatory disease that can develop after an infection.
Identifying and understanding the type of arthritis that you could be suffering from will help you find the appropriate treatment options and successfully manage your symptoms.
Arthritis symptoms
While arthritis has many types, the symptoms can be very similar in a lot of cases. They affect the joints in every scenario, but which joints and to what degree can differ from type to type.
If you have arthritis you might experience some of the following symptoms:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness and warmth around the joints
- Decreased range of motion
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Joint deformity
- Difficulty performing tasks that involve joint movement
While your exact symptoms may vary depending on what kind of arthritis you’re dealing with, what they all have in common is that they can significantly impact your quality of life and your ability to perform daily activities.
Diagnosing arthritis
Diagnosing arthritis typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.
During a physical exam, a doctor will check for joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and range of motion.
Diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, or blood tests, may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms. For certain types of arthritis, a joint aspiration test might be needed, where fluid is drawn from the affected joint for analysis.
With some types of arthritis, an early diagnosis can reduce the risk of permanent damage, and make treatment easier.
Arthritis causes
Arthritis can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, age, joint injuries, infections, and underlying medical conditions. In some cases, repeated stress or overuse of a joint can lead to the development of arthritis.
Some types of the disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are autoimmune disorders in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, including the joints.
Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is often caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that cushions the joints.
Genetics and age can also be a factor at play, as some types of arthritis mostly affect the older population, and others are more common in families that have a history of arthritis.
Septic and reactive arthritis can be traced back to underlying infections.
While a lot of times arthritis develops on its own, lifestyle factors can also contribute to the occurrence or worsening of certain types of the disease. Obesity, for example, puts extra stress on the joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis. Smoking and a sedentary lifestyle can also worsen the symptoms of arthritis.
Treating arthritis
Treatment options for arthritis can depend on multiple factors, including the type and severity of the condition.
Some types of arthritis, like the autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are incurable. In these cases, the treatment aims to reduce or eliminate the symptoms. For others, like septic arthritis treating the root cause can entirely cure the disease.
Let’s take a quick look at possible remedies for arthritis.
Medications
The main goal of arthritis medication is to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms. This can be achieved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or other alternative methods.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) aim to slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
In some cases, where the disease is caused by an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Physical therapy
Improving joint flexibility, strength and range of motion can help with certain types of arthritis. Physical therapy is a great option to achieve this.
Additionally, you can reduce the strain on your joints by performing everyday tasks in different ways and maintaining a healthy weight. In some cases, splints or braces might be needed to help support the weakened joint, let it rest, and protect it from further damage.
Surgery
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Joint repair surgery aims to smooth and realign the joint surfaces to improve function. Joint replacement is a more drastic approach, where they replace the damaged joint entirely with an artificial one.
Pain relief for arthritis
As most forms of arthritis are incurable, the main focus of treatment should be on managing the symptoms. Reducing the pain can help you regain your normal quality of life, and make everyday movements easier.
While regular pain medications can do a good job at this, they often come with a plethora of side effects. Alternative pain relief options on the other hand, don’t usually cause severe side effects, but their effectiveness can vary greatly.
If you are suffering from arthritis-related pain, SuperPatch has your joints covered. Our pain patches are non-invasive, medication-free products, that can relieve the pain with innovative vibrotactile technology.
[get_custom_product_blog name=”FREEDOM Wellness Patch” image=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Freedom_Mock-e1672969927645.png” cta=”Shop Now” link=”https://shop.superpatch.com/#/shop/from/*|bdrepid|*?categoryID=65″ description=”For on-the-go relief from minor aches and pains, the Freedom Patch is the perfect solution for muscle and joint pain from exercise or daily activity.”]