The arthritis is the inflammation or degeneration of the area where two bones meetthe joints. It can affect people of any age and causes pain and stiffness for two or more weeks. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and associated diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout or lupus.
Causes of arthritis
Cartilage degradation
Cartilage, the tissue that protects the junction of two bones or a joint, breaks down due to autoimmune disease, bone fracture, wear and tear, infection, the buildup of uric acid crystals, and the buildup of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. (chondrocalcinosis). If, after receiving treatment, the arthritis persists, it is chronic arthritis.
The most common types of arthritis are:
– Osteoarthritis: injury or wear of the articular cartilage.
– Osteoarthritis: joint degeneration that worsens with age. It appears in elderly people or after trauma.
– Rheumatoid arthritis: chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that causes stable inflammation in the joints.
– Juvenile arthritis: inflammation and stiffness of the joints in children.
– Reactive arthritis: inflammation in the eyes and urinary and genital systems.
– Fibromyalgia: chronic muscle pain and fatigue.
– Gout: painful accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Causes joint stiffness.
– Pseudogout or chondrocalcinosis or calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD): redness, inflammation and heat in one or more joints.
– Ankylosing spondylitis: inflammation of the bones and joints at the base of the spine.
– Scleroderma: swelling, thickening and hardening of the skin.
– Psoriatic arthritis: chronic in patients with psoriasis.
– Systemic lupus erythematosus: inflammation of different tissues of the body including internal organs. It is of autoimmune origin.
The main risk factors for developing arthritis are:
– Age.
– Family history.
– Obesity.
– Previous joint injury.
Arthritis symptoms
Pain and stiffness
The main symptoms of arthritis are:
– Pain and stiffness in the joints.
– Inflammation in the joints.
– Redness in the joint area.
– Reduced range of motion or mobility.
Arthritis Diagnosis
Physical examination, analysis and imaging tests
Your primary care doctor or rheumatologist will perform a physical examination to check joint movement, pain reactions, swelling, redness, and temperature in the affected areas. He or she will likely order an x-ray to visualize cartilage degeneration, and a blood test can help identify the type of arthritis.
Other tests that confirm the diagnosis are:
– Computed tomography (CT) to visualize bones and the soft tissue that surrounds them.
– Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain cross-sectional images of soft tissues, tendons and ligaments.
– Ultrasound to check structures that contain fluid.
Arthritis treatment and medication
Medication, physiotherapy and surgery
The first measure of arthritis treatment is based on reducing pain by prescribing pain relievers such as paracetamol, tramadol, or even opiates such as oxycodone. The inflammation is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are also used in rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone inhibit the immune system and reduce inflammation, and biological response modifiers, in combination with DMARDs, such as etanercept and infliximab, capture protein molecules that affect the immune response.
A physical therapy exercise program aims to improve mobility in some cases of arthritis by strengthening the muscles surrounding the joints.
Surgery options include joint repair, placement of a prosthesis (usually knees and hips) or joint replacement, and fusion of the joint by removing the ends of the bones in the joint and fixing them together to create a rigid unit. . The latter is usually applied in case of small joints such as fingers, ankle or wrist.
Arthritis prevention
Weight control and chondroprotectors
The most appropriate measures to prevent arthritis or live with it are:
– Regular physical activity.
– Weight control avoiding overweight and obesity.
– Application of heat or cold if you feel pain.
– Orthopedic support: such as canes, walkers and assistive devices such as raised toilets.
– The intake of chondroprotectors, following the guidelines of the manufacturer and the medical specialist, allows working on the prevention of osteoarthritis.
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