Arthritis means swelling and tenderness of one or more joints in your body. It describes more than 100 conditions that attach the joints and tissues around the joint and often worsen with age. Specific symptoms of arthritis Dundalk vary depending on the type of arthritis, but classic symptoms include joint pain and stiffness. Read on to learn more about the most common forms of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease occurs when the cartilage within a joint break down, altering the structure of the underlying bone. These changes usually develop slowly but become worse over time. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees; classic symptoms of this form of arthritis include pain, stiffness, and swelling of the affected joints. In some people, osteoarthritis causes reduced function or disability, where they cannot do daily tasks or work.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, meaning your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in your body. The result is inflammation or painful swelling in the affected parts of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly attacks the joints and often many joints at once. The commonly affected joints are the hands, wrists, and knees. A joint affected with rheumatoid arthritis has an inflamed lining, which can cause damage to the joint tissue. Tissue damage can result in chronic pain, deformity, instability, or lack of balance. Although the joints are the most affected region, RA can also affect other body tissues and cause problems in organs such as the eyes, heart, and lungs.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is associated with widespread pain or pain all over your body. It also causes fatigue, sleep problems, and mental and emotional distress. Usually, people with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain than those without the condition; this is called abnormal pain perception. In the United States, about 4 million adults, about 2% of the population, have this condition. The cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, but your doctor can help you effectively treat and manage the disease.
This condition can affect people of all ages, including children, but most people with fibromyalgia are diagnosed during middle age. The risk of fibromyalgia increases as you advance in age.
Gout
A gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs when there is too much uric acid in your body. The body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines in your body and the foods you consume. When you have excess uric acid, the uric acid crystals can accumulate in your body’s joints, fluids, and tissues. Gout usually affects the big toe joint but can also affect the small toe joints, ankles, and knees. Patients with gout experience flares – times when symptoms are worse, and remission – times when there are no symptoms.
Repeated episodes of gout flare-ups can result in gouty arthritis, a worse form of arthritis. There is no cure for gout, but patients can manage the condition using treatments like medication and self-management strategies.
For further questions about arthritis, consult your physician at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center.
