Arthritis is among those medical conditions that, if left untreated, can affect your overall health because it causes chronic pain and limited range of motion of the body part whose joint is affected. Of importance to note is that there is no cure for arthritis, and all your care provider does is provide symptomatic relief and prevent complications. Therefore, if you have started experiencing joint pain and stiffness and seek relief, arthritis El Centro specialists provide a solution to your problem. They do so by accurately diagnosing and treating all types of arthritis. Below is all you need to know concerning arthritis.
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What is arthritis?
Generally, arthritis is a broad term used to refer to various diseases affecting your joint. Therefore, arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. A joint is where two bones meet, like a knee joint, hip joint, or shoulder joint. Usually, your joint has cartilage that allows you to move without pain and a synovium that contains synovial fluid, which reduces friction within the joint. On the other hand, in arthritis, the joints or surrounding tissues become inflamed, causing stiffness, pain, and reduced joint movements. Other types of arthritis usually affect other parts of your body, like vital organs and the skin.
What are the types of arthritis?
Some of the common types of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis
It is the common type of arthritis affecting people today. Osteoarthritis is due to tear and wear of the cartilage that prevents friction during joint movement. It makes your bones rub against each other, causing pain. Osteoarthritis is also a degenerative disease because your cartilage starts breaking down or degenerating as you age. It can affect any joint of your body but commonly affects weight-bearing joints and hands.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where your antibodies start attacking your joints, making them swell. The inflammation or swelling then spreads to surrounding tissues causing damage to the bone and cartilages. In severe cases, it can also affect other body parts like the skin, nerves, and eyes.
Gout
Gout occurs when your body cannot eliminate uric acid. Excess accumulation of uric acid in the body forms crystals in your joints, causing inflammation with severe pain and swelling. It commonly affects your knee, big toe, and wrist joint.
What are the causes of arthritis?
There are various causes of arthritis, including sex, where it is common in women, age, genes, injuries, infection, excess weight, or work. They are also factors that predispose you to have arthritis.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Some of the telltale symptoms of arthritis include warmth, pain, swelling, stiffness, and redness. In other cases, you might also experience a reduced range of motion where it becomes quite challenging to perform routine activities like climbing stairs.
How is arthritis treated?
Usually, treatment depends on the severity of your arthritis symptoms. In most cases, lifestyle changes like losing weight, eating a balanced diet, and exercising are recommended. Your care provider may recommend different medications if the above option is ineffective. Joint injections and corticosteroids may be administered to alleviate pain.
Arthritis can affect your productivity at work because your range of motion is affected, limiting you to specific tasks. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of the named symptoms of arthritis and seek relief, you can get started by consulting Prabhdeep Sign, M.D., F.A.C.P. today.
