Arthritis is an umbrella term referring to several types of joint disease. It is a common chronic condition which can affect people of all ages. It causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis has no cure hence; treatment is designed to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the condition.
Arthritis
Overview
Types of Arthritis
The term arthritis comprises over 200 chronic diseases involving the joints and/or connective tissues. Broadly arthritis is classified into the following types:
- Degenerative Arthritis
Degenerative Arthritis is commonly known as osteoarthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that damages the cartilage and tissue around the joint. It is hence also called wear and tear arthritis. It can further be classified into primary and secondary osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is related to ageing while secondary arthritis manifests earlier in life due to reasons such as injury, obesity, diabetes and lifestyle. It is the most joint disease with a prevalence of 22%-39% in India. Studies show that secondary osteoarthritis is increasing due to an increase in risk factors such as obesity and sedentary lifestyle. - Inflammatory Arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the joints. It is an autoimmune disorder, causing the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues. It can also damage other body systems such as skin, lungs, heart and blood vessels among others. Some examples of inflammatory arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Of these, Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are significant in treating this condition. The main goal of the treatment would be to achieve remission (little to no disease activity). - Infectious Arthritis
Infectious arthritis is also referred to as septic arthritis. It is a painful infection in a joint. It can occur either due to pathogens reaching the joint through the bloodstream or by a penetrating injury to the joint. Infectious arthritis generally affects infants and older adults. It can affect all joints and is more common in knees. Urgent treatment is critical in preventing further damage caused by septic or infectious arthritis. - Metabolic arthritis
Metabolic arthritis is caused due to build-up of uric acid crystals in the joint. This results in sudden spikes of extreme joint pain or a gout attack. Treatment for this condition involves reducing the uric acid levels in the body. - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
This type of arthritis affects children and is further classified into the following types:- Oligo-articular JIA
It is the most common form of JIA. It impacts up to 4 joints in the body and usually doesn’t cause long term damage to the joints. - Polyarticular JIA
Commonly called polyarthritis, it affects 5 or more joints in the body. It can have a sudden or gradual onset and affects children of all ages. The symptoms of polyarticular arthritis are the same as that of adult rheumatoid arthritis. - Systemic onset JIA
Systemic onset JIA can affect children of any age. Early symptoms include fever, rash, fatigue and enlarged glands. - Enthesitis-related arthritis
This type of JIA typically affects the joints of the leg and spine, causing inflammation between the tendons and the bone. It is also linked to uveitis (a painful condition of the eye). In teenagers, it can present as stiffness in the neck and lower back.
- Oligo-articular JIA
About The Condition
A common misconception about arthritis is that it only affects older people. In reality, arthritis can affect people of all ages including children. The term arthritis is used to describe a wide range of conditions affecting the joints. It is usually chronic and can limit regular activities such as walking, sitting etc. In severe cases, it can also result in permanent deformation of the joints.
Risk factors for Arthritis
The exact causes of many types of arthritis are still not known. A few risk factors that can be attributed to arthritis are:
- Age: Age is a significant risk factor especially for degenerative arthritis.
- Gender: Statistics show that arthritis is more common in women, although the exact cause is yet to be determined.
- Weight: Being overweight or obese can notably increase the risk of developing arthritis. The additional weight creates stress on the joints supporting the person, causing wear and tear.
- Work Factors: Repeated movements over a prolonged duration can result in stressing or injuring the joints involved. This results in several types of arthritis. It is common in professions involving manual labour. It has also been observed that extreme sedentary work also results in several types of arthritis.
- Genetics: The extent of the role that genetics plays in increasing the risk of arthritis is still unknown. Although, arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis is known to have a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary according to the type of arthritis. The intensity also differs from case to case. Some of the common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Pain and stiffness in the joints
- Swelling around the joints
- Redness on the affected joint
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Loss of weight
Diagnosis of Arthritis
To arrive at a diagnosis of arthritis, your doctor would first take your medical history and conduct a thorough physical exam. Your doctor will also ask you to describe the intensity of the pain and discern if it is interfering in your daily life. Imaging procedures such as X-rays, MRI and CT scans can help determine the degree of damage to the joints.
Apart from the above preliminary tests, your doctor might also recommend additional blood tests as a part of your follow up care. These may include tests such as complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody.
Treatment of Arthritis
There is no cure for arthritis. Treatment is aimed at slowing down the progression, managing the pain associated with arthritis and restoring maximum function. Treatment course is based on the type and degree of the condition as well as the patient’s general health. Typically, arthritis treatment involves
- Medication: Prescription and over the counter medications are used to control inflammation and pain in the joints
- Physiotherapy: The patient is required to perform certain routine physical exercises. These are designed to improve mobility and strengthen the affected joints.
- Surgery: In severe cases, the doctor might advise surgical treatment such as joint replacement surgery as a long-term solution to arthritis.
Other treatment options also include the application of warm compress, massage therapy, water therapy, or orthotics.
Prevention
In most cases, you cannot completely eliminate the risk of developing arthritis. Certain lifestyle choices, however, can help you reduce the risk of you developing this chronic condition.
- Maintain a healthy body weight to reduce the stress on your joints.
- Perform routine joint strengthening exercises
- If your profession requires you to perform repetitive manual motion, make sure to give ample rest to your joints and consult your doctor for ways to mitigate the impact on your joints.
- For certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, environmental factors like smoking can be a trigger. This is especially true for people with a family history of arthritis.
FAQs
1. What really causes arthritis?
Arthritis is a generic term used for a wide range of conditions affecting the joints and the tissue around it. The cause depends on the type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis for example is one of the most common types of degenerative arthritis. It is caused due to wear and tear of the joints. Infectious or septic arthritis is caused due to any type of infection in the joint.
2. Can children get arthritis?
Contrary to popular belief, arthritis can affect children of all ages. The most common type of arthritis affecting children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It is critical to get the proper treatment for JIA to minimize the risk of permanent damage to the joints.
3. What are the most common types of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of degenerative arthritis. It becomes increasingly prevalent with age and is attributed to the gradual wear and tear of joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are other common types of arthritis.
4. What can I do to manage my arthritis?
Self-management plays a key role in slowing down the progress of this condition. You can take control of your arthritis management by:
- Integrating joint strengthening exercises into your daily routine.
- Maintain healthy body weight.
- Make dietary changes with the help of your nutritionist.
5. Can I exercise with arthritis?
Arthritis friendly exercise is an important aspect of arthritis treatment. These exercises would be designed to relieve pain and stiffness from the affected joints. It will also help you feel more positive and energetic. It is important to consult your doctor before performing any new physical activity.