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ARTHRITIS

The inflammation of the joints is generally referred to as Arthritis. Arthritis can affect single or multiple joints at a time. It has about 100 different types depending on different causes and treatment methods. However, two types of Arthritis that are commonly found include osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The disease is normally found in adults having an age of 65 or greater.  But in some cases, children, teens, and younger adults also become the victim of this disease. The disease is generally found more in women as compared to man. In rare cases, some overweighted people may also experience Arthritis. Let us discuss an overview of this disease.

Causes of Arthritis

As Arthritis has different types, hence the cause of the disease may differ too. Generally, a reduction in the normal amount of cartilage tissues results in Arthritis. Cartilages are connective tissues in the joints. The main cause of Osteoarthritis is a sudden injury or infection in the joints. And this infection or injury can damage the cartilage tissues in the joints. Risk factors of this type of Arthritis increase if you have a family history.

Another type of Arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which is an autoimmune disorder. This type of Arthritis is generally caused when your body’s immune system attacks the tissues of the body. The attack can also affect the synovium.

Symptoms for Arthritis

Signs & symptoms help you and your doctor to identify if you are having any disease or not. Arthritis also has signs and symptoms. Common symptoms of Arthritis are listed below:

• Joint Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Maybe a decrease in the range of motion
• Redness of the skin around the joint
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite due to inflammation
• Anemic (reduction of red blood cell counts)
• A slight fever

All of these are the symptoms or signs that show you are having Arthritis. Many people with arthritis notice their symptoms are worse in the morning. Few of these symptoms are of RA as well. Severe RA can cause joint deformity if left untreated.

Diagnosing Arthritis

Seeking a Physician is a good step if you are unsure who to see for an arthritis diagnosis. The physician will perform some physical exams in order to check for the fluids around the joints. Schedule an appointment with a rheumatologist through Global Patient Transfer platform if you experience any of these symptoms. We will surely help you with diagnosing and treating the disease faster.

In order to check which type of Arthritis you have, extracting and analyzing inflammation levels in your blood and the joints fluid will surely prove to be a helpful test. These tests include RF (rheumatoid factor), ANA (antinuclear antibody), and anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide).

Treating Arthritis

Treating arthritis refers to a reduction in the pain you are experiencing. It also helps to avoid any additional damage to the joints. Three possible ways to treat Arthritis are:

• Medications
• Surgery
• Physical therapy

A number of different types of medication treat arthritis. This medication includes analgesics such as hydrocodone and acetaminophen. This may reduce pain but it doesn’t help in decreasing inflammation. Other medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Menthol or capsaicin creams, and immunosuppressants.