Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain. Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. Regardless of the type of arthritis you have, it involves the breakdown of the cartilage surrounding the affected joint. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk.
TYPES OF ARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is one of the most common causes of pain. This condition is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage at the ends of your bones. As this hard, yet slippery, material wears away, the bone edges can be exposed and can rub against each other, causing swelling, fluid buildup, loss of motion and pain.
Osteoarthritis can affect all joints in the body, most commonly the hips, knees, shoulders, fingers and spine. Often described as the result of “wear and tear,” this painful grinding sensation may stop people from doing the activities they enjoy. Often, the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown. It is mainly related to aging, but other factors can also lead to osteoarthritis such as:
- Osteoarthritis tends to run in families
- Being overweight increases the risk
- Fractures or other joint injuries can lead to osteoarthritis later in life
- Long-term overuse at work or in sports can lead to osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, and it is considered an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances. As a result, the body attacks itself.
Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age and usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably. Infection, genes, and hormones may contribute to the disease.
Inflammation of a joint can occur after a fracture or other injury. The types of injuries that lead to arthritis is either caused by direct injury to the cartilage (if a joint is fractured) or if an injury alters joint mechanics, placing abnormal stress on the joint. Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, however with some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away, or destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis.
If you have arthritis, you may experience:
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Reduced ability to move the joint
- Redness of the skin around a joint
- Stiffness, especially in the morning
- Warmth around a joint
Your doctor will first listen to the story of how the pain affects you. Following this, you will be examined. X-rays are also a main part of the diagnostic process. Your doctor may also order other tests, such as an MRI or blood tests.
Many treatments exist for arthritis. Doctors most often start with non-operative treatment, including oral or topical medications, activity modification, assistive devices that include a brace or cane, and physical therapy (exercises to strengthen muscles, keep the joint limber and keep your whole body in shape). Often, with a combination of settling the inflammation with medication and exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joint, the pain from mild to moderate arthritis can be controlled. Eventually your doctor may offer an injection, either of a steroid containing mixture (a “cortisone shot”), or a series of synthetic joint fluid supplementation into the joint.
Ultimately, there is no way to build up diseased cartilage once it is diseased. As pain progresses, surgery might be an option. Arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery with a camera) is sometimes used in arthritis to “clean up” an inflamed joint. Eventually, joint replacement will be offered as a solution. In this procedure, the diseased cartilage is removed, and both sides of the joint are capped with metal. Patients often feel relief within weeks, and are back to their previous level of activity in a month or two.