Arthritis

The term Arthritis is often used to mean joint pain and disorders. Over a hundred conditions that affect the joints and tissues around the joints are referred to by the term. Though it is more common in women, anybody, irrespective of their age, gender, and race, can develop this condition.

Arthritis is characterized by inflammation and degradation of joints. Pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion are typical symptoms of an arthritic joint. The symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. It may recur, stay the same or worsen over time.

Types of Arthritis

There are over 100 types of Arthritis. Some of the common ones are:

• Degenerative Arthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of Arthritis. It is characterized by the wearing down of the cartilage between the bones that serves as a cushion and helps in free joint movement. This results in friction between the bones causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
• Inflammatory Arthritis: In the case of inflammatory Arthritis, the immune system, which otherwise protects our body from infections and diseases, fails to work properly and mistakenly attacks the joints causing uncontrolled inflammation and joint erosion.
• Infectious Arthritis: Also called Septic arthritis, it is caused by a bacterium, virus, or fungus. It develops when the joint gets infected by an infection that started in some other part of the body or when infection-causing germs enter the body during surgery through open wounds or an injection. In most cases, timely treatment with antibiotics cures the infection.
• Metabolic Arthritis: Also known as gout, this is caused by excessive amounts of uric acid in the blood. It is marked by excruciating pain in the joints, swelling, and tenderness caused by crystallization and deposition of excess uric acid. Gout can recur in episodes and cause long-term pain and disability if the level of uric acid is not corrected.

How is Arthritis Diagnosed

For detecting the actual cause, the doctor will conduct a thorough physical examination of the joints and check for swelling, redness, and warmth. He will also evaluate the range of the movement and recommend some lab and image tests, depending upon the type of Arthritis suspected. A complete blood picture and antibodies test will reveal if the patient is suffering from an autoimmune condition. X-rays help evaluate the extent to which the joint degenerated. Through an MRI will identify if the tissue around the joint is healthy or not.

How is Arthritis Treated

The treatment for Arthritis aims at relieving symptoms and improving joint functions. Therefore different treatments or combinations of different treatments are applied to determine the treatment plan best suited for the patient.

Medication:

• Painkillers: Painkillers act on the central nervous system and reduce pain but do not help the inflammation. Opioids such as Tramadol, Oxycodone are prescribed when the pain is severe.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs are prescribed in different forms. They reduce both pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs are available as ointment or gels, which can be massaged over the joint. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include Ibuprofen, Advil, and Motrin IB.
• Counterirritants: These ointments contain menthol or capsaicin and are applied over the affected area to provide relief from the pain.
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs): DMARDs are used to treat inflammatory Arthritis. They prevent the immune system from abnormally attacking the joints. Examples include Methotrexate, Trexall, and Rasuvo.

Physical Therapy:
In several cases of Arthritis, exercises and physical therapy have proven to improve the range of motions and strengthen the surrounding muscles and joints.

Surgery:
When conventional treatment options fail, the doctor may recommend surgery. Some surgeries that can be performed as part of the arthritis treatment plan are:

• Joint Repair: In this process, the joint surfaces are smoothened and realigned to normalize their functioning and reduce the pain.
• Joint Replacement: This procedure involves the removal of the damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial one.
• Joint fusion: It involves the removal of the ends of two bones and joining them until it heals and becomes one. This procedure is used for smaller joints, such as those in the wrist, ankle, and fingers.