🦴 Arthritis
Arthritis is a general term for conditions that cause inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced motion. There are over 100 types of arthritis, ranging from mild to severe.
🔍 Most Common Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis (OA) | “Wear and tear” arthritis; most common; due to cartilage breakdown with age or overuse |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | Autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks joint linings |
| Gout | Caused by uric acid crystal buildup in joints, often affecting the big toe |
| Psoriatic Arthritis | Associated with psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disease |
| Ankylosing Spondylitis | Affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to stiffness and fusion |
| Juvenile Arthritis | Affects children under age 16; often autoimmune in nature |
⚠️ Symptoms
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Stiffness (especially in the morning or after inactivity)
- Reduced range of motion
- Redness or warmth over joints
- Fatigue (especially in inflammatory types like RA)
🧪 Diagnosis
- Medical history & physical exam
- Imaging: X-ray, MRI, ultrasound to assess joint damage
- Blood tests (for inflammatory or autoimmune types):
- Rheumatoid factor (RF)
- Anti-CCP antibodies
- ESR, CRP (inflammation markers)
- Uric acid (for gout)
💊 Treatment
🔹 Medications
- Pain relievers: Acetaminophen, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
- Corticosteroids: Reduce inflammation quickly
- DMARDs (for RA, PsA): Methotrexate, sulfasalazine
- Biologic drugs: Target specific parts of immune response (e.g., TNF inhibitors)
- Colchicine or allopurinol for gout
🔹 Non-Drug Therapies
- Physical therapy
- Weight management
- Exercise (low-impact like swimming, walking)
- Hot/cold therapy
- Assistive devices (e.g., braces, shoe inserts)
🔹 Surgery (in severe cases)
- Joint replacement (e.g., knee or hip)
- Arthroscopy or joint fusion
🛡️ Management & Prevention
- Stay active with joint-friendly exercises
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods (fruits, veggies, omega-3s)
- Avoid joint injuries or repetitive strain
- Control chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)
✅ Key Facts
- Arthritis is not just one disease—it includes many types
- Some forms are degenerative, others are autoimmune
- Early diagnosis and management can slow joint damage
- Exercise and weight control are key to living well with arthritis