Arthritis Symptoms


Arthritis: Definition

Arthritis can cause inflammation in joints. Inflammation is a defensive action by body tissues towards damage that could be caused by physical agents or by microbial infection. Arthritis can be identified with intense pain, swelling, and redness around that joint.

It could cause difficulty in using and moving that joint. Arthritis cannot be associated with any age group or gender, or pedigree. Arthritis is either a genetic disorder, although the wear and tear due to prolonged stiffness cause inflammation in joints, resulting in arthritis.

Types and symptoms

There are two main kinds of arthritis. They are −

  • Rheumatoid arthritis and

  • Osteoarthritis arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis and its symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease. An autoimmune disease is when the body's immune system starts attacking normal cells, tissues, or organs, as it identifies these cells as alien. As a result, it causes chronic inflammation in the joints and other body parts.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane, which is a thick membrane that encloses all the joints, gets inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis develops when friction between two bones in a joint decrease, causing the bones to erode. All age groups can be affected by this type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a symmetrical disease that happens in both body halves and can affect both the joints.

Common symptoms include −

  • Intense pain

  • Prolonged stiffness

  • Swelling,

  • Redness, and

  • Difficulty moving.

Adult Still Disease

A type of rheumatoid arthritis affecting young people is called adult still disease. Still disease is a rare inflammatory condition with a rash, joint pain, and high body temperature causing a fever. Still disease can be classified as an autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease. Severe symptoms are fever, rashes, swelling, sour throat, and muscle aches. Adult’s still mostly affected joints in the knee and wrist.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis commonly reported in elderly people.

Common symptoms include −

  • Stiffness

  • Tenderness

  • Intense pain, and

  • Swelling.

The most severe symptoms are paralysis in the lower body and loss of sensation. Server osteoarthritis could worsen, and paraplegia strangles the patient. In paraplegia, the lower body gets weak, or paralysis or lack of sensation happens to the patient.

The most common symptoms of arthritis are joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Severe symptoms of Osteoarthritis are −

  • Fatigue

  • Bumps on the affected joints

  • Aching muscles

  • Soreness

  • Difficulty moving the joint, and

  • Deformity.

There are cases in which loss of flexibility, even paralysis, and lack of sensation as severe symptoms of osteoarthritis. Arthritis can affect all the major and minor joints in the body. Arthritis can be predominant in genetics and the pedigree of the family.

Treatment

Doctors prescribe drugs and medication to help with the pain. Besides that, doctors also recommend physiotherapy. A healthy lifestyle and regular exercise are musts.

Prevention

A balanced lifestyle, regular exercise, and a balanced diet can be very beneficial in avoiding arthritis. Still diseases require proper care, a positive mindset, and healthy habits in day-to-day life.

FAQs

Q1. What are some of the symptoms of arthritis?

Ans. Symptoms of arthritis can be associated with intense pain, swelling, a burning , redness, and difficulty in movement.

Q2. What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

Ans. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are generally intense pain in the joints, crackles, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness. Severe cases report bumps on the joints and deformities.

Q3. What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Ans. Osteoarthritis can be seen only in the elderly population; however, rheumatoid arthritis can be detected in any person regardless of age.

Q4. What causes arthritic pain to flare up and disappear?

Ans. When one bone of the joint strikes another bone, pain can flare up. Whenever this connection happens, pain and symptoms prevail in the joint. In addition, pieces of cartilage and bones can become loose and induce more discomfort and symptoms.

Q5.  What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Ans. The most common symptoms include stiffness, tenderness, and swollen joints with tiredness and swelling.

Q6. What is the treatment for arthritis?

Ans. The treatment for arthritis is physiotherapy, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Physiotherapy will strengthen the muscles, which in turn support the joints. Resulting in restricted movement of the joints due to pain can be done. Stiffness will also decrease.

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Updated on: 13-Oct-2022

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