As a regular gym-goer, you enjoy working with weights and using the treadmill. For the past few days, you have been experiencing a nagging pain in the knee. Ignoring it at first, you realise it’s been there since the day you slipped and hurt yourself. And now the pain shoots up whenever you run or climb up the steps.
Upon consultation, the orthopaedic informs you that it could be the initial stages, though you are perfectly healthy otherwise.
Arthritis is a disease of the joints and can affect anyone. Traditionally, it has been associated with ageing. However, it is quite prevalent today even among people in their 30’s and 40’s. In India, it affects over 180 million people and there are more people seeking relief for this ailment, than other concerns.
In this blog, we try to understand the nature, types, causes and the possible treatments.
Types of Arthritis
It is a condition in which there is pain and swelling in the joints. This causes stiffness, leading to a restricted range of motion. Let us understand the different types.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and can impact the legs, arms, hips and spine. It can even affect an entire joint. This is caused by wear and tear or overuse of joints.
In this case, the cartilage (a soft protective tissue that protects the joints) starts to break down or diminish. Resultantly, the joints grind against each other due to a lack of cushioning. Even the slightest physical activity can cause pain.
Furthermore, as the cartilage is reduced, the tendons and ligaments have to work harder to allow free movement, and this leads to swelling and pain. Osteophytes or bone spurs also gradually form, which worsens the condition.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is actually an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the joints. As a result, there is pain and inflammation. One has to take medication to treat the inflammation and pain. As rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to live with due to the frequent flare-ups, it is better to consult a rheumatoid specialist at the earliest. If neglected, it can lead to damage to the bone and cartilage.
Fibromyalgia
A dysfunctional central nervous system can trigger serious issues in people, especially in the brain and spinal cord. As a result, the person may feel disoriented and suffer from fatigue and a lack of focus. The pain threshold of people suffering from these types gets severely impacted as they become extremely sensitive and react at the slightest touch. They may have bouts of inexplicable pain and inflammatory conditions as well.
Gout
In this type of arthritis, the main cause of gout is the presence of excessive uric acid in the body. This causes redness, swelling, and pain. However, it may not occur in the entire body but in specific areas, such as the big toe joint. The excess uric acid may collect and form crystals, which form deposits in the joints, leading to painful areas.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Similar to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. The person’s immune system attacks the skin and the joints, causing a painful rash. Often the patch ups are red in colour and feel dry or itchy.
Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint in the body or even the attached ligament or tendon. It usually affects the heel, the bottom of the foot or the lower back.
Lupus
Lupus is also called ‘systemic lupus erythematosus’ and is a prominent autoimmune disease. It largely affects the kidneys, the brain, joints and other parts. Lupus can cause varying reactions in a person such as inflammation, pain, extreme light sensitivity or hair loss among several other outcomes.
Arthritis Symptoms
Do you know how to identify what kind of arthritic pain you are suffering from?
Although inflammation and pain are the most common symptoms of this debilitating disease, there are some specific features in each type. A generalised pain or heightened sensitivity to pain may signal fibromyalgia. Specific joint pain and limited range of motion are often indicative of osteoarthritis. Here are some symptoms of each arthritis type:
Osteoarthritis
- Painful joints
- Stiffness and difficulty in walking, especially upon waking up
- Pain increases while climbing steps or walking uphill
- Limited ability to walk and creaking knee joints
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- Joints on both sides are affected
- Stiffness in the joints, especially upon getting up in the morning
- Flare-ups in the mouth, eyes, or even the heart and blood vessels in severe conditions.
- Low RBC
- Painful joints
- Fever and extreme tiredness
Lupus
- Mouth sores
- Rash or a lesion that worsens with being in the sun
- Headaches, muscle or chest pain
- Severe hair loss
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
- Inflammation in the eyes, leading to redness
- Scaly, patchy skin on elbow joint, hair, scalp or on the knees
- The back of the heel or foot sole feels tender
- Swelling in the toe or a finger
- Joint stiffness upon waking up in the morning or evening. The pain could be in the lower back, hips, neck or even the spine.
Fibromyalgia
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
- Joint stiffness
- Extreme sensitivity
- Generalised pain overall
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Brain fog
- Some other symptoms can include nausea, dizziness and breathing problems
Gout
- Extreme pain in any joint- toe, elbow, knee or even the fingers. It is common symptoms for the pain to flare up at night.
- Swelling and redness in the affected joint
- Severe pain episodes can occur at different intervals.
- Movement is affected as joints get impacted
Arthritis Causes
There are no clearly defined causes of arthritis or why it occurs. However, there are common factors that could be the reason for its occurrence. For instance, osteoarthritis is common in athletes or people doing manual labour, as their joints and muscles are overused over the years. With age, the lubrication of cartilage reduces, and there is pain and stiffness.
Joint pain and inflammation are primary features in the case of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. However, both are autoimmune diseases. The effects are quite severe as the body’s immune system starts attacking the tissues, leading to complications. In rare cases, the chances of rheumatoid occur due to pre-conditions such as cancer or hepatitis B or C.
While there is no single cause of arthritis for lupus, genetics, hormonal health, and the environment can play a huge role. The intake of strong medication, overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun and even extreme trauma can cause lupus.
People with a family history of skin and joint disease are more likely to get psoriatic arthritis. If a parent has psoriasis, then the chances of the child contracting psoriasis arthritis is reasonably high. At times, a major joint injury can also set off symptoms of psoriasis arthritis.
Gout may be caused due to an intake of rich, high calorie food and alcohol. These cause high uric acid levels in the body, also called hyperuricemia. This results in uric acid crystals being formed and getting deposited in the joints. Obesity or diabetes can also be some of the causes for gout development.
Who is at a Higher Risk for Arthritis?
Some people are more likely to suffer from this ailment than others. Let’s find out how.
Age and Gender
Older individuals stand a higher chance of getting it. This is because physically they may be weak and the bones, muscles may not be at the prime level. Muscle strength is lower and the possibility of ligament tear is much higher.
Women are often seen to be more likely to get osteoarthritis than men.
Injury
Having a prior physical injury, even if it has occurred in childhood, can manifest later in the form of osteoarthritis.
Occupational Hazards
Certain occupations, requiring heavy manual work involving lifting, carrying, squatting or pulling heavy objects may even increase the risk of arthritic conditions. This would also apply to teachers or persons who are required to stand on their feet through the day.
Genetic conditions
In case rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, having a family history of the ailments, increases the chances of your getting it as well.
Weight
Being overweight can be risky, as it puts extra weight on the joints. Over a period of time, the joints start to weaken or wear out and subsequent it sets in.
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Arthritis Treatments
There are a few options for arthritis treatments which may provide some relief but for a short time. Doctors suggest these to bring down the inflammation and reduce the pain. Here are some of the standard treatment methods.
Medication
Since arthritic pain can be quite acute, the doctor may suggest medication for immediate relief. Some of these are NSAIDS. These may be effective but can be used for a limited time only.
Physiotherapy
Taking guided therapy with a physiotherapy can help to a great extent. The therapist
teaches exercises specific to the area where you are facing arthritic symptoms. At FlexifyMe, we have physiotherapists who can guide you with exercises to ease the pain and improve mobility. Regular exercises and staying active help maintain a range of motion.
Acupuncture
This age-old practice is used sometimes for pain relief. An acupuncturist uses thin needles over certain specific areas on the body.
Hot fomentation or cold compress
In case of a fall or for immediate pain relief, the doctor would suggest hot fomentation or cold compresses, depending on the situation. This helps manage the pain to some extent.
Joint Immobilisation
At times, the orthopaedic may suggest a brace as an treatment, to give rest to the injured joint.
Water therapy
In cases of osteoarthritis, mobility is impacted as the joints become weak. The doctor may suggest gentle exercises in the water or light swimming to strengthen the muscles so that they can support the joints.
Surgery
In case the non-invasive methods are not helping the patient, the doctor may suggest a joint replacement, such as a hip or a knee replacement for arthritis treatments.
Conclusion
NIAMS-NIH study says about Arthritis is a debilitating ailment that can impact a person’s lifestyle, mobility, and even emotional well-being. Being in pain and suffering from inflammation can be disheartening. Other symptoms include joint stiffness, fatigue, brain fog, and fever. As there are several types, one must consult an orthopaedic to ascertain which type it is and take the required treatment.
