Involves Inflammation
Arthritis is a disease that involves inflammation of one or more joints. ("Arthr" refers to joints, and "it is" to inflammation. Joint inflammation is the body's reaction to various disease processes. These include mechanical injury to a joint (including fracture), the presence of an infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses), an attack on the joints by the body itself (an autoimmune disease), or accumulated "wear and tear" on joints.
Long-Term Pain And Deformity Arthritis Often is helped , when the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is treated, or the infection has been cleared by the immune system, sometimes with the help of antibiotics. With some injuries and diseases,
the inflammation does not go away or destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. This is considered arthritis. There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis with many different possible causes.
Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common variety of arthritis in the United States. This arthritis often results from years of accumulated "wear and tear" on joints, and tends to occur in the elderly in hips, knees, and finger joints. Another form of arthritis Gout, seen most often in males over 40 years old, is caused by the formation of crystals in the joints with subsequent inflammation. Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that causes a so-called infectious arthritis.
Autoimmune DisordersAutoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma, can cause arthritis as well. In these diseases, something goes wrong with the immune system, which then attacks healthy parts of the body (such as joints).
Arthritis Can Occur In Anybody
Arthritis can occur in males and females of all ages. About 37 million people in America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out of every 7 people. In people over 55 years of age, women are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. Other risk factors for osteoarthritis are obesity, a history of trauma, and various genetic and metabolic diseases.
Some Arthritis Symptoms Are: Joint pain
Joint swelling
Early morning stiffness
Warmth around a joint
Redness of the skin around a joint
Reduced ability to move the joint
Unexplained weight loss, fever, or weakness that occurs with joint pain
What Is Effusion?
Arthritis signs are evaulated by a physical examination may show that fluid is collecting around the joint. (This is called an "effusion.") The joint may be tender (when it is gently pressed), and may exhibit warmth and redness, more typically in infectious arthritis and autoimmune arthritis. It may be painful or difficult to rotate the joints in some directions. (This is known as "limited range-of-motion.")
Joint Deformities In certain autoimmune forms of arthritis, the joints may become deformed, if the disease is not treated. Such joint deformities are the hallmarks of severe, untreated rheumatoid arthritis. Tests vary depending on the suspected cause. They may include blood or urine tests, as well as joint X-rays. In septic arthritis, joint fluid is removed from the joint with a needle and examined for the presence of infection.
Treatment For Arthritis Arthritis treatments are hard to follow as there are many different kinds of arthritis. Treatment varies, depending on the particular cause, how severe the disease is, which joints are affected, to what degree the patient is affected, and the person's age, occupation, and daily activities. Treatment may focus on eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis. However, the cause usually is NOT curable. Treatment therefore aims at reducing pain and discomfort and preventing further disability. It is critical to follow the prescribed therapy.
Arthritis Medications Arthritis Medications to
reduce joint pain and joint swelling may include acetaminophen, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and other immunosuppressive drugs (drugs that slow the immune system). Acetaminophen -- recommended by the American College of Rheumatology as the first line treatment for osteoarthritis. Taken in doses of up to 4 grams a day, it can provide significant relief of arthritis pain without many of the side effects of the drugs discussed below.
Combating Arthritis Pain However, do not exceed the recommended doses of acetaminophen or take the drug in combination with large amounts of alcohol, because these pose risks for liver damage. Aspirin and NSAIDs -- are available over-the-counter, and are often
effective in combating arthritis pain. Early studies indicate that these compounds are quite safe and may improve symptoms relating to arthritis.
Close Supervision Is Essential Steroids are used to treat autoimmune forms of arthritis but should be avoided in infectious arthritis. Steroids have multiple side effects, including upset stomach and gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, thinning of bones, cataracts, and increased infections. These risks are most pronounced when steroids are taken for long periods of time or at higher doses. Close supervision by a physician is essential.
MethotrexateA number of other immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat autoimmune diseases that cause arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and lupus. Rheumatoid arthritis traditionally has been treated with drugs that modify the immune system, such as gold salts, penicillamine, and hydrochloroquine. More recently, methotrexate has been shown to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and improve the patient's quality of life. Methotrexate itself can be highly toxic and requires frequent blood tests for patients on the medication.
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