Arthritis is the joints biggest enemy

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Arthritis is the joints biggest enemy. Our joints cushion the impact of our

daily living, such as walking, carrying items, bending and playing. Arthritis

affects the joint in different ways depending upon the type of arthritis. The

exact cause of the over 100 types aren’t all known but some are brought on by

injury, disease or just the passing of time.

Arthritis is the number one cause of chronic disability in the United States. It

currently affects 40 million Americans in one form or another. Most, but not

all, of the 100 types of arthritis can be categorized into one of three basic

types; osteoarthritis, inflammatory and traumatic.

 

Osteoarthritis is the most common type that affects approximately 16 million.

This is a non-inflammatory degenerative disease that causes the joint cartilage

to breakdown which eventually allows the bones to grind together. The causes of

osteoarthritis is unknown.

 

Inflammatory arthritis is a chronic disease that happens for unknown reasons.

Often the immune system will mistakenly attack the tissue. A form of

inflammatory arthritis that is common is Rheumatoid arthritis. In Rheumatoid

arthritis the body attacks the synovium of the joint. This is a sack of fluid

that acts as a cushion between the joints. The synovium becomes inflamed which

causes chemicals to be released that in turn thickens the synovial fluid. The

damage to the synovium causes pain and swelling that leads to damage to the

cartilage.

 

Traumatic arthritis is the culprit in a serious hip, knee or shoulder injury.

This can be a fracture or severe traumatic event that leads to a condition

called avascular necrosis. In this condition the blood supply to the bone is cut

off and as a result the surrounding cartilage begins to deteriorate. The most

common area to occur is the hip.

 

Symptoms of arthritis are dependent upon the type that you have. Being able to

correctly describe the type of pain you are experiencing will help point your

doctor in the right direction for early diagnosis and treatment. Pain can be

continuous or intermittent; after an activity or exercise or just if you’ve been

resting; you may have pain in one spot or feel it all over your body. Daily

chores can become a challenge.

 

Early diagnosis and treatment tailored to the type of arthritis you have is

important to decrease the functional loss you may experience as the disease

progresses. Only a doctor can diagnose arthritis and give you the proper

treatment options to keep you functional and as pain free as possible. There are

arthritis specialists called Rheumatologists who are physicians who have

intimate knowledge of the arthritis condition and the appropriate therapies and

treatments for each individual case.

 

If you suspect you have arthritis check with your physician early. The more

quickly you find the root cause of the pain and discomfort the more quickly you

are able to begin therapies which will decrease your pain and increase your

mobility.

 

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