According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly 43 million Americans have arthritis—that is one in every six people. Of these 43 million people, approximately two-thirds are women. And while arthritis often is thought to be an “old people’s disease,” it affects people of all ages, including more than 285,000 children. Some types are temporary and heal; others can be life-long. Most can be controlled through lifestyle, rest, medication and treatments.
What is Arthritis?
If you’ve ever exercised a little too much or pulled too many weeds out of your flowerbed, you know what being sore and achy feels like. Imagine having sore, achy joints all the time. For some arthritis patients, having stiff, painful joints is a way of life. But, what is arthritis? Arthritis comes from the Greek words arthron meaning “joint” and itis meaning inflammation. Arthritis isn’t one disease however; it actually refers to a group of more than 100 different diseases that affect the body’s joints and supporting tissues and muscles. Elbows or knees are joints - places with bones meet. Some of the diseases in the arthritis “family” also can cause pain and swelling in other body parts such as tendons, muscles, bones and even your body’s organs. These diseases are also classified as rheumatic diseases.
What Causes Arthritis?
The cause of arthritis is usually unknown, although sometimes stress to a joint may play a role. Being overweight and aging are two risk factors. Family history also is a risk factor for many rheumatic diseases, leading researchers to delve into genetic causes. Gender also plays a role, with more women getting lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.
The Two Most Common Types of Arthritis
Of the more than 100 types of rheumatic diseases (arthritis), the two most common ones include
- Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. Adults age 40 and older tend to get osteoarthritis, because over time, the cartilage between the joints wears out. Osteoporosis causes joint pain and limits your range of motion—your ability to move and bend your joints. If the disease becomes extreme, especially if it affects the knees, hips, or spine, a person may become disabled.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease (the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues, joints, and organs instead of it’s usual role of fighting infections). This disease affects joints on both sides of the body at the same time—both hands, both elbows, both knees for example. It also might affect organs such as the skin, heart, nerves, eyes, kidneys and lungs. It inflames joint linings, causing stiffness, swelling, pain and loss of function in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects people in midlife and women are two to three times as likely to get this disease as men.
Other Types of Arthritis or Arthritis-Related Conditions
Ankylosing spondylitits
This disease usually affects the spine, causing pain and stiffness, but can also affect knees, hips, and shoulders. It most often affects men usually in their teens and early adulthood.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursae (small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones between joints can cause pain and tenderness, making it uncomfortable to move affected joints.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Seen most commonly in women, especially during pregnancy and menopause. Pressure on the median nerve which supplies half the hand results in pain, burning, tingling, or aching of the wrist and hand. Repetitive motion of the wrists seem to cause this, as well as injury or some form of rheumatoid arthritis.
Fibromyalgia
This disorder causes pain throughout the tissues that support bones and joints, especially the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and localized tender spots.
Gout
Too much uric acid in the blood causes deposits to form in the body fluid and lining of the joints, resulting is an extremely painful type of arthritis. This type affects more men than women.
Infectious arthritis
Bacterial or viral infections can cause arthritis. Lyme disease is an example. If bacterial, early treatment with antibiotics can cure the disease.
Juvenile arthritis
This disease strikes children age 15 and younger and is the most common type of arthritis affecting children. Symptoms include stiffness, pain, swelling, and loss of joint function, as well as rashes and fevers.
Lupus (systemic lupus erthematosus)
This autoimmune disease results from the immune system attacking itself, killing healthy cells and tissue. Painful inflammation of joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain can result. African American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women; it’s also more common in Hispanic and Asian women.
Psoriatic arthritis
Those with a common skin problem call psorisis also get arthritis. This disease usually affects the ends of fingers.
Tendonitis
This type of disease occurs when tendons, the cords of tissue that connect bone to muscle, become inflamed. The cause is usually injury, overuse, or sometimes infection. Common Arthritis Symptoms
- Swelling in one or more joints
- Early morning stiffness
- “Flu-like” muscle aches
- Joint pain or tenderness - either constant or periodic
- Warmth or redness in a joint
- Joints are hard to move normally
For some types of arthritis, people may experience the following symptoms.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever or weakness combined with joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Rash
- Sleep disturbance
What Can You Do About Arthritis?
Between there are so many variations, diagnosis can be complicated. Some types such as tendonitis may be cured by rest; others like rheumatoid arthritis may cause problems throughout your life. The good news is that doctors can help you control arthritis with medication, combined with rest, good nutrition and exercise, and protecting the joints.
Your doctor will probably give you a full physical examination, not only checking your joints, but your heart, eyes, ears, throat and other areas to rule out infections and other ailments and run laboratory tests and X-rays. Once your diagnosis is made, you and your doctor will work together to develop your treatment plan. You may be referred to a rheumatologist, a specialist in arthritis and related diseases.
Medications
Medications can provide pain relief and reduce swelling. You may have to try different ones to find the best combination for your situation. Notice side effects and talk with your doctor to fine tune your solution.
- Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) medicines like aspirin to reduce swelling and provide pain relief
- Prescription drugs to relief pain
- Over-the-counter creams to provide pain relief
- Cortisteroids to decrease inflammation
Other Treatment Methods
- Losing weight can ease some of the pressure on your joints.
- When arthritis flares and your joints ache, exercise may be the last thing you want to do, but one of the best ways to counter arthritis stiffness.
- Reduce activity until pain eases.
- Ice packs may help during the initial stages of an acute condition to reduce swelling. Later, heat treatments may help blood flow to the area.
- Exercise can be very important in treating some forms of arthritis. Therapists may also suggest splints or other protective devices.
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- In severe cases, replacing joints with an artificial joint can improve life dramatically. Hip and knee replacements are the most frequent surgeries.
Living Daily with Arthritis
Depending upon the type and severity, arthritis can affect every part of your life, including home, work, and play. Occupational therapists may help you manage your living habits so you can compensate for loss of motion or develop ways to place less strain on aching joints, including the following.
- Conserve your energy. Plan activities ahead, breaking them into small tasks.
- Use good body mechanics and avoid strain.
- Sit rather than stand while working.
- Use larger joints when possible.
- When lifting, use both hands rather than one.
- Slide objects rather than lifting them.
- Avoid tight gripping and twisting motions of the hands.
- Use assistive devices when possible.
- Listen to your pain. Ease up when pain starts.
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