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What is arthritis?
Arthritis is defined as the degenerative and chronic disease that damages the joints of the human body causing inflammation, wear and pain in the affected area.
Extensive information related to this condition is being developed today as there are one hundred or more types of arthritis.
Below we will tell you every detail of this disease in order to provide a functional guide to find the fastest path to well-being from the symptoms that this condition can develop.
Types of arthritis.
We refer to arthritis as a disease that degenerates the joints, among the various types we find the most common cases which are the following:
Rheumatoid arthritis:
This type of condition can occur in children and adults, it is suspected that it is an autoimmune disease where the body itself begins to attack and wear away the healthy tissue of the joints.
Psoriatic arthritis:
It is a condition that in addition to causing damage to the cartilage also develops psoriasis, which is damage to the skin and tendons adjacent to the affected joint.
Most cases of arthritis present with red patches on the skin and other damage to the surrounding tissue.
Ankylosing spondylitis:
A chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by affecting, in most cases, the lumbar area or base of the spine. This type of arthritis inflames and wears down the joints of the spine and where it connects to the pelvis.
Reactive arthritis:
It is characterized by its development after an infection in some area of the body, whether urinary or intestinal. It is a type of arthritis that affects areas other than the joints such as: eyes, skin, urinary system, etc.
Although there is no proven cause, doctors say that it occurs in most cases after certain infections such as the bacterium “Chlamydia trachomatis”.
Scleroderma:
In addition to developing as an autoimmune disorder, where the body itself and joint cells are attacked, this condition produces an increase in fibrous tissue that accumulates in the skin.
This buildup can affect the body as a whole and the arteries causing vascular deficiencies.
Symptoms of arthritis.
The symptoms of arthritis can vary depending on the type of condition that develops in each patient, however, the main signs are:
Pain:
Intense discomfort in the joint, at first it may appear when the joint is used, with the progression of the disease the pain persists even at rest.
Rigidity:
Due to inflammation and wear and tear, the joint loses its ability to mobilize, for this reason it is more difficult for the patient to achieve movements.
External inflammation:
Around the joint there is a growth.
Redness:
The skin turns red around the swelling of the joints.
Causes of arthritis.
A specific cause of arthritis has not been proven, however it can be related to the following causes:
- Development of an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack healthy cells in the joints.
- Bone fracture that triggers arthritis.
- A consequence of a bacterial infection.
- Crystal production.
- Accelerated wear and tear of the joints due to various causes.
Arthritis causes continuous wear and tear on the structure of the joint, this includes the cartilage mainly but also the adjacent bones and tendons. When the cartilage loses its ability to cushion movement, the symptoms of the disease begin to appear.
Diagnostic process of arthritis.
The diagnosis of arthritis comprises several phases that develop according to the doctor’s suspicions, that is, for each type of arthritis a different examination is recommended.
It all starts with the physical examination in which the doctor listens to your discomfort and checks the joint to evaluate inflammation, pain points and range of motion.
Once this stage has been completed with a suspicion of arthritis, he or she may recommend:
- Lab tests: Blood and synovial fluid tests are ordered to detect features of rheumatoid arthritis.
The synovial lichin is removed directly from the joint after the area to be treated is numbed.
- Imaging tests: These are tests that help to observe the internal condition of the joint and to rule out suspicions, among the options we have: ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray or computed tomography.
Treatments for arthritis.
Arthritis is a degenerative disease in which doctors recommend treatments that decrease symptoms and stop or slow the degeneration of the joints.
Among the options are the following:
- Steroids: These are medications that delay joint damage due to their corticosteroid component, they also help with discomforts such as pain and inflammation.
- Antirheumatic medications: They are specific for a rheumatoid disease, they are responsible for delaying damage to the joint.
- Therapy: Helps improve the condition of the joint as the exercises strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility in the affected area.
- Surgery: Among the surgical treatments there are several options that are recommended according to the characteristics of each patient, for example, there is the option of completely replacing the joint or repairing the worn area and making an alignment.
Other doctors recommend joint fusion.
What happens if I don't treat my arthritis?
As we said at the beginning, arthritis is a degenerative disease, this means that if it is not treated properly, the symptoms can advance causing irreversible damage to the joint.
Our recommendation is to see a professional as soon as possible when identifying the symptoms and starting specialized treatment.