Arthritis is a name for a group of diseases that are characterized by causing damage to the joints. There are over a hundred types of arthritis but the most common one is osteoarthritis which is classified as a degenerative joint disease. Other types of arthritis which are quite common include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis and various disorders classified as autoimmune disorders because the body starts to attack itself.
Though there are various symptoms to arthritis no matter what type it is, the main complaint is pain. Depending on the severity and type of this condition, the pain may be experienced everyday and it can be crippling while others may barely notice this aspect. The pain is may stay in specified areas of the body such as the back, neck, knees, fingers, and so on. This pain is caused because of the inflammation that happens around the joints and the damage that the disease is causing to these joints. More pain may be caused because of the use of these joints or by sudden or forceful movements of the same areas. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by pain that is normally worse in the morning and may be accompanied by stiffness.
Other symptoms of the disease include the inability to move or use limbs or parts of limbs as a person normally would, the feeling of fatigue or malaise, fever, loss of weight, muscles aches or pains, tenderness, inability to sleep or to obtain a good quality of sleep, and difficulty moving at any point of the day.
To diagnose any type of arthritis, there is a consultation and a physical examination to find out the location of the pain, if there is any tenderness or stiffness that accompanies the pain, at what times of day there might be an increase of pain, any locking of the joints at any time, and anything that might aggravate the situation. Radiographs are often used to determine the severity or progression of the disease.
The treatment of the condition depends on the type that is diagnosed. Osteoarthritis is a type that is due to wear and tear on the joints and cannot be cured. However, there are treatments available that can help to slow the progression of the disease as well as to ease the pain. In the advanced stages of the disease, joints can be replaced if necessary. For rheumatoid arthritis, in which the body is attacking its own tissues, again, there is no cure. Medicines can be prescribed to give a better quality of life but these are generally used for the short term. There is no one drug that is given to ease the progression of the disease on a long term basis that is proven to work. Medicine may also be used to ease the pain and in the later stages, replacement joints may be given.
For any type of arthritis or anyone who is suspicious that they may have it, is recommended to seek medical attention. The sooner the treatment starts, the better chances that the progression can be slowed.
