Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that causes pain and immobility, ranging from mild to severe. Joints are places in the body where bones come together, such as the knees, wrists, fingers, toes, and hips. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis can cause loss of movement in some patients. The disorder limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing, and bathing for more than 40 million people worldwide. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans aged 15 and older. However, arthritis affects people in all age groups, including almost 300,000 children.
More than 27 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis and an estimated 1.3 million have rheumatoid arthritis. More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Nearly 60% of Americans with arthritis are women.
What it means? Arthritis is a disease of the joint. A joint is where the ends of two or more bones meet. The knee joint, for example, is formed between the bones of the lower leg (the tibia and the fibula) and the thighbone (the femur). The hip joint is where the top of the thighbone (femoral head) meets a concave portion of the pelvis (the acetabulum).
A smooth tissue of cartilage covers the ends of bones in a joint. Cartilage cushions the bone and allows the joint to move easily without the friction that would come with bone-on-bone contact. A joint is enclosed by a fibrous envelope, called the synovium, which produces a fluid that also helps to reduce friction and wear in a joint. Ligaments connect the bones and keep the joint stable. Muscles and tendons power the joint and enable it to move.
Types & Causes
Inflammatory Arthritis – A healthy immune system is protective. It generates internal inflammation to get rid of infection and prevent disease. But the immune system can go awry, mistakenly attacking the joints with uncontrolled inflammation, potentially causing joint erosion and may damage internal organs, eyes and other parts of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are examples of inflammatory arthritis.
Metabolic Arthritis – Uric acid is formed as the body breaks down purines, a substance found in human cells and in many foods. Some people have high levels of uric acid because they naturally produce more than is needed or the body can’t get rid of the uric acid quickly enough. In some people the uric acid builds up and forms needle-like crystals in the joint, resulting in sudden spikes of extreme joint pain, or a gout attack. Gout can come and go in episodes or, if uric acid levels aren’t reduced, it can become chronic, causing ongoing pain and disability.
Degenerative Arthritis – Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. When the cartilage – the slick, cushioning surface on the ends of bones – wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time, joints can lose strength and pain may become chronic. Risk factors include excess weight, family history, age and previous injury (an anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, tear, for example).
Infectious Arthritis – A bacterium, virus or fungus can enter the joint and trigger inflammation. Examples of organisms that can infect joints are salmonella and shigella (food poisoning or contamination), chlamydia and gonorrhea (sexually transmitted diseases) and hepatitis C (a blood-to-blood infection, often through shared needles or transfusions). In many cases, timely treatment with antibiotics may clear the joint infection, but sometimes the arthritis becomes chronic.
Diagnosing Arthritis – Arthritis diagnosis often begins with a primary care physician, who performs a physical exam and may do blood tests and imaging scans to help determine the type of arthritis. An arthritis specialist, or rheumatologist, should be involved if the diagnosis is uncertain or if the arthritis may be inflammatory. Rheumatologists typically manage ongoing treatment for inflammatory arthritis, gout and other complicated cases.
Risk Factors
Age – The risk of developing arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, increases with age.
Gender – In general, arthritis occurs more frequently in women than in men.
Weight – Being overweight puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints, increasing wear and tear, and the risk of arthritis.
Work factors – Some jobs that require repetitive movements or heavy lifting can cause stress in the joints and/or cause an injury, which can lead to arthritis.
Symptoms
Different types of arthritis have different symptoms, which can range in severity from person to person. Osteoarthritis generally does not cause any symptoms outside the joint. Symptoms of other types of arthritis might include fatigue, fever, a rash, and the signs of joint inflammation, including –
- Generalized fatigue
- Tenderness, pain and swelling over tendons
- Swollen fingers and toes that look like sausages
- Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
- A reduced range of motion
- Morning stiffness and tiredness
- Nail changes—for example, the nail separates from the nail bed and/or becomes pitted and mimics fungus infections
- Redness and pain of the eye, such as conjunctivitis
Treatment
Medications –
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often the first medicine tried. Take up to 4000 mg a day. To prevent damage to the liver, do not take more than the recommended dose.
- Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can relieve arthritis pain. However, they can carry risks when used for a long time. Possible side effects include heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers, bleeding from the digestive tract, and kidney damage.
- Biologics are used for the treatment of autoimmune arthritis. They include etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxan), golimumab (Simponi), certolizumab (Cimzia), and tocilizumab (Actemra). These drugs can improve the quality of life for many patients, but can have serious side effects.
- Corticosteroids – steroids help reduce inflammation. They may be injected into painful joints or given by mouth.
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used to treat autoimmune arthritis. They include methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, and leflunomide.
- Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide are used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis when other medications have not worked.
- For gout, allopurinol (Zyloprim) or febuxostat (Uloric) may be used to lower uric acid.
Surgeries – here are a number of surgical procedures. These include –
- Removing the diseased or damaged joint lining
- Realignment of the joints
- Fusing the ends of the bones in the joint together, to prevent joint motion and relieve joint pain
- Replacing the entire joint (total joint replacement)
Exercise and Therapy – Canes, crutches, walkers, or splints may help relieve the stress and strain on arthritic joints. Learning methods of performing daily activities that are the less stressful to painful joints also may be helpful. Certain exercises and physical therapy may be used to decrease stiffness and to strengthen the weakened muscles around the joint.
Alternative Treatment
Omega 3 Fatty Acids – Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are a strong anti-inflammatory, calming joint inflammation. Fish liver oil contains high levels of vitamins A, a strong antioxidant, and vitamin D, which plays an important part in helping to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system.
Glucosamine – Glucosamine is an amino sugar made from shellfish or prepared in the laboratory and is widely available in pharmacies, health food shops and supermarkets. It plays an important role in making essential building blocks of the joints, including the ligaments, tendons and cartilage. It’s been suggested that the way joint structures are built and maintained contributes to the development and the progression of osteoarthritis.
Flaxseed Oil – The flax or linseed plant is found in Europe and the US. Oil from the seeds is used to treat several diseases.
Magnesium is something our bodies need, but we can’t make it ourselves. It is used in over 300 different biomechanical responses in our body. It relaxes all our muscles and nerve endings, relieving stiffness and pain.
Dandelion is incredibly high in vitamins A and C, dandelion leaves can help repair damaged tissue and help the liver clear toxins out of the blood.
Blackstrap Molasses is high in valuable minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium, blackstrap molasses has been a cherished home remedy for arthritis for a number of years.
Bosweilla is a flowering plant native to Africa and Asia. The gum resin or extract of the plant works as an anti-inflammatory and pain-killer. It works against inflammation by ‘disabling’ white blood cells that would cause swelling, and also helps shrink tissue that has already become inflamed and painful.
Pectin is a water soluble carbohydrate substance found in the cell walls of plants, where it helps keep cell walls together, and gives fruit firmness as it ripens.
Reference –
https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriatic-arthritis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Arthritis
http://www.arthritisireland.ie/go/information/about_arthritis
http://www.twu.edu/downloads/inspire/Arthritis-5.pdf
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arthritis/
http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arthritis/
http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.php