What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a term used to describe various conditions that cause joint pain or tenderness. The joints in the hands, elbows, feet, knees, hips, spine, and back are often affected. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The symptoms can range from mild to severe pain and can significantly affect the range of motion. The pain can come and go, or be continuous. 

Most (but not all) types of arthritis generally develop after the age of 40 and tend to get worse with age. However, other types of arthritis such as those caused by an injury or repeated stress on a joint can develop at any age. Teens can get arthritis too.

Types of arthritis

Two common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects about 32.5 million adults in the U.S. It usually affects the hands, hips, and knees. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage within a joint starts wearing down. Cartilage is a tough, smooth, and slippery tissue that lines the end of the bones in a joint. It allows the bones to glide over each other without friction. As the cartilage wears down in osteoarthritis, the bones start to rub against each other causing pain and inflammation. Over time as more and more cartilage deteriorates, the pain increases. In some cases, the joints can deteriorate enough to cause severe pain that can slow down or stop an individual’s daily functions and activities.

Osteoarthritis often develops with progressing age, but it can also be caused by overuse or injury of the joint. Being overweight or obese can exacerbate osteoarthritis in the hips and knees because carrying the extra weight puts more stress on these joints. Some genetic factors may also increase the risk of individuals for developing osteoarthritis.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis. However, doctors can help patients manage the disease by recommending weight loss programs, physical therapy, pain relievers, intra-articular steroid injections, or supportive gear such as canes and crutches. The physician will examine the patient’s arthritic joints using radiographic imaging (X-rays). Depending on the description, characterization, and severity of the patient’s arthritis, specific recommendations will be made. If the pain is significant and all other options have been exhausted, they may recommend surgical options such as joint replacement surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects over 1.3 million adults in the U.S. It is an autoimmune disease in which an overactive immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy cells in the joints. This causes inflammation which results in pain and swelling. Over time, it results in deformed joint structure and chronic pain. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect multiple joints at a time. It can also have harmful effects on organs such as the heart, eyes, and lungs.

Early medical intervention may be beneficial. A physician can help improve the symptoms with medications that provide relief, and some that can slow down the progression of the disease. Medicines called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that reduce the overall activity of the immune system. Since an overactive immune system causes rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs provide relief by bringing down swelling and pain and slowing down further damage to the joints.