The following offers a summary of information
about arthritis.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is the number one cause of chronic
disability in the United States. Affecting nearly 40 million
Americans, it refers to more than 100 diseases that cause pain,
stiffness and swelling from the inflammation of a joint or the area
around joints.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of
arthritis affecting about 16 million Americans, usually middle-aged
and older people. This is a noninflammatory degenerative joint
disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage.
The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is the second most common type of
arthritis affecting 3.7 million Americans, mostly women; 70 to 90
percent of people who develop this disease are women aged 20 to 50.
Fibromyalgia is a disease involving pain in muscles or joints with
no clinical signs of infection. It is often misdiagnosed as chronic
fatigue syndrome, and usually does not require surgery.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
In some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid
arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed. This inflammation causes
chemicals to be released that thicken the synovium and damage the
cartilage and bone of the affected joint. This leads to
inflammation of the synovium causing pain and swelling.
What causes arthritis?
The causes of the 100 types of arthritis are
unknown. Because there are so many different forms of arthritis,
the causes are likely to vary. Scientists are currently examining
how the roles of major factors including genetics and lifestyles
affect the development of arthritis.
What changes occur in the cartilage of an
arthritic hip?
In a healthy hip, cartilage cushions the area
surrounding the hip ball and socket to allow easy movement without
pain. In an unhealthy hip, the cartilage is damaged or worn away
causing pain from bones rubbing and grinding together.
What changes occur in the cartilage of an
arthritic knee?
In a healthy knee, cartilage protects and
cushions bone surfaces that come together at the joint allowing
bones to move without friction. In an unhealthy knee, cartilage is
damaged or worn away causing pain from bones rubbing together.
What are some of the symptoms of
arthritis?
Pain from arthritis can be continuous or
intermittent. Pain may occur after activity or exercise but it may
also happen even if you've been resting and still for a period of
time. Pain may be concentrated in one spot or you may feel it all
over your body. Joints may feel stiff and difficult to move. Daily
chores such as climbing stairs and opening cans may become a
challenge. You may notice that pain is more severe during certain
times of the day or after performing certain tasks.
Some kinds of arthritis cause swelling or
inflammation. The skin over the joint may appear swollen and red,
and feel hot when touched. Arthritis may also cause fatigue.
How can I know if I have arthritis?
Early diagnosis and treatment tailored to an
individual's needs are crucial in slowing or preventing damage to
joints. Only a physician can determine if you have arthritis and
what type it is. Arthritis is diagnosed based on the overall
pattern of symptoms, medical history, physical exam, x-rays and lab
tests.
What are the treatment options for
arthritis?
Because there are so many types of arthritis,
each type of arthritis has different symptoms and treatments. The
good news is that many things work to help control arthritis. Care
for arthritis often involves more than one type of treatment.
Treatment may vary over time and may be different depending on the
kind of arthritis. Consult your doctor to discuss the best
treatment options for you.
Medication: Many drugs, both prescriptions and
over-the-counter medications, are used to treat arthritis. Common
medications are aspirin-free pain relievers, anti-inflammatory
drugs, corticosteroids, disease modifiers, and sleep
medications.
Exercise: Regular exercise is important to keep
the body moving and flexible. It helps to lessen pain, increase
movement, reduce fatigue, and helps you look and feel better.
Heat or Cold: Use of heat or cold over joints
may provide short- term relief from pain and stiffness.
Pacing Activities: Pacing helps protect your
joints by alternating periods of activity with periods of rest so
that your joints don't tire from the stress of repeated tasks.
Joint Protection: Joints can be protected by
learning to use them in ways that avoid excess stress. One way of
doing this is to avoid using sore and weak joints. Unless larger
joints are sore, for example, it is best to use them when carrying
heavy items. The second method is walking with assistive devices
like a cane. Lastly, weight control helps ease pain by reducing
stress on your joints.
Self-Help Skills: You can learn ways to better
manage how arthritis affects you emotionally by talking about your
feelings with family members and friends, doing mental exercises,
and by joining your local arthritis support group.
Surgery: Most people will not need surgery, but
in severe cases surgery may be effective in eliminating pain when
other treatment methods have failed.
The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org)
and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) web
sites contain many articles and patient education information that
you may find helpful as well.
