Understanding Arthritis

Arthritis can prevent you from doing all the things you love to do. It is, quite literally, a pain. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The good news is that you can live — and live well — with arthritis. You can get relief from its pain and its consequences.

Common symptoms

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Decreased range of motion
• Lumps or rheumatoid nodules below the skin
• Weight loss
• Low-grade fever and sweats
• Trouble sleeping
• Weakness and loss of mobility
• Depression

Types of Arthritis

1. Osteoarthritis: is the most common type of arthritis. It starts with the deterioration of cartilage, the flexible tissue lining joints. The space between bones gradually narrows and the bone surfaces change shape. Over time, this leads to joint damage and pain.

The first sign is often joint pain after strenuous activity or overusing a joint. Joints may be stiff in the morning, but loosen up after a few minutes of movement. Or the joint may be mildly tender, and movement may cause a crackling or grating sensation.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.

Gout: Uric acid crystals, which form when there’s too much uric acid in your blood, can cause gout. Infections or underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus, can cause other types of arthritis.

Risk Factors

• Family history: Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder.
• Age: The risk of many types of arthritis — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age.
• Your sex: Women are more likely than men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while most of the people who have gout are men.
• Previous joint injury. People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.
• Obesity. Carrying excess pounds puts stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips and spine. People with obesity have a higher risk of developing arthritis.

Do’s and Don’ts in everyday Routine

• Pay attention to your joints, whether sitting, standing or engaging in activity.
• Keep your joints moving. Do daily, gentle stretches that move your joints through their full range of motion.
• Use good posture. A physical therapist can show you how to sit, stand and move correctly.
• Know your limits. Balance activity and rest, and don’t overdo.
• Managing rheumatoid arthritis: Find a balance between rest and exercise. When your symptoms flare up — when your joints are sore, warm and swollen — take it easy and rest. You can continue to do range-of-motion exercises to keep your joints mobile, but be careful not to tire yourself or aggravate your joints. Avoid unnecessary walking, housework or other activities.

In addition, lifestyle changes are important for easing pain.

• Manage weight: Being overweight can increase complications of arthritis and contribute to arthritis pain. Making incremental, permanent lifestyle changes resulting in gradual weight loss is often the most effective method of weight management.
• Quit smoking: Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which can increase arthritis pain.

Exercise can:

• Decrease your pain and stiffness
• Improve your range of motion
• Strengthen your muscles
• Increase your endurance

What to do:

• Choose the right kinds of activities — those that build the muscles around your joints but don’t damage the joints themselves. A physical or occupational therapist can help you develop an exercise program that’s right for you.
• Focus on stretching, range-of-motion exercises and gradual progressive strength training. Include low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling or water exercises, to improve your mood and help control your weight.

What to avoid: Avoid activities that involve high impact and repetitive motion, such as:

• Running
• Jumping
• Tennis
• High-impact aerobics
• Repeating the same movement, such as a tennis serve, again and again

Treatment

Effective treatments can greatly improve a person’s quality of life by relieving pain, protecting joints, and increasing range of motion in the affected joint.

• Therapy usually involves a combination of nondrug treatments such as heat, ice, and exercise
• Medication for pain and inflammation
• Assistive devices such as canes or walkers.
• Surgery or joint replacement may be needed in some cases

Medications

Many types of medications are available for arthritis pain relief. Most are relatively safe, but no medication is completely free of side effects. Talk with your doctor to formulate a medication plan for your specific pain symptoms.

Edited & compiled by Anita Natu

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/in-depth/arthritis/art-20046440

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772

https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/arthritis

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/rheumatoid-arthritis-a-to-z