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arthritis


Arthritis (arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation  from greek; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.

Arthritis is the inflammation and stiffness of the joints. This condition can be the result of over-use or age, such as in osteoarthritis. Or, it can be of autoimmune origin, in cases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoratic arthritis or lupus.

Arthritis is the number one cause of chronic disability. Affecting nearly 1 in 5 people in UK, it refers to more than 100 diseases that cause pain, stiffness and swelling from the inflammation of a joint or the area around joints.

The three basic types of arthritis that may cause hip and knee pain: osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis (most commonly rheumatoid arthritis), and traumatic arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting about 3 million Britons, usually middle-aged and older people. This is a noninflammatory degenerative joint disease characterised by the breakdown of the joint\'s cartilage. Cartilage that cushions the bones of the hip starts to erode, eventually allowing the bones to grind or rub together and causing hip pain and stiffness.The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

In some types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed. This inflammation causes chemicals to be released that thicken the synovium and damage the cartilage and bone of the affected joint. This leads to inflammation of the synovium causing pain and swelling.

Inflammatory arthritis is a  chronic disease which results when, the immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue that lines and cushions the joints. As cartilage wears away, the knee often becomes stiff and swollen. A well-known example is rheumatoid arthritis.
 
In traumatic arthritis  there may be a serious hip injury or fracture that often leads to a condition called avascular necrosis. In avascular necrosis, the blood supply to the ball portion (the femoral head) of the thigh bone is cut off and the bone begins to wither. As a result, the surrounding cartilage begins to deteriorate, producing pain and other symptoms.
The causes of the 100 types of arthritis are unknown. Because there are so many different forms of arthritis, the causes are likely to vary.


Early symptoms linked to arthritis usually include:

    * Joint pain.

    * Joint stiffness.

    * Tenderness in and around the joint.

    * Limited range of motion in one or more joints.

    * Redness and warmth around the affected joint.


Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, autoimmune disease. It is an inflammatory type of arthritis which affects the joints. The disease also may have systemic effects, affecting other organs of the body. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, joint stiffness, joint inflammation and joint deformity. Fever, malaise, severe fatigue, and morning stiffness lasting more than one hour are also common symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

About 80 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients test positive for rheumatoid factor (detected by a blood test). Approximately 20 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients are classified as having \"seronegative rheumatoid arthritis\" because they lack rheumatoid factor.

With rheumatoid arthritis, there is a symmetrical pattern of affected joints. For example, both knees of a patient are usually affected rather than one knee is considered the most common type of arthritis. About 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. The disease causes limited range of motion which affect daily living activities.

Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. It\'s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis so your doctor can properly examine you and recommend a treatment plan.

Typically, osteoarthritis develops gradually. You\'ll feel sore or stiff at first. The discomfort may be moderate and not be constantly present. Other signs and symptoms associated with osteoarthritis may include:

    * Joint soreness after inactivity or periods of overuse of a joint.

    * Stiffness after rest and disappears quickly as activity begins again.

    * Morning stiffness lasting no longer than 30 minutes.

    * Joint pain which is less in the morning and stronger at the end of the day following activity.

    * Muscle atrophy around joints caused by inactivity can increase pain.

    * Pain and stiffness can affect posture, coordination and ability to walk.

    * Joints of the knees, hips, fingers, lower spine, and neck are most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. The knuckles, wrists, elbows, shoulders and ankles are rarely affected by osteoarthritis except when you injure or overuse the joint.

    * Signs of hip osteoarthritis may include pain in the groin, inner thigh, or buttocks and a pronounced limp.

    * Signs of knee osteoarthritis may include pain exacerbated by moving the knee, knee locking or catching, pain when standing up from a chair, pain when going up and down stairs, and weakening thigh muscles.

    * Signs of osteoarthritis of the fingers may include pain and swelling of the finger joints, the presence of Heberden\'s nodes or Bouchard\'s nodes, enlarged joints, and problems with manual dexterity.

    * Signs of osteoarthritis of the feet may first be revealed by pain and tenderness in the large joint of the big toe. Certain shoes, such as high heels, can provoke pain in osteoarthritic feet too.

    * Osteoarthritis of the spine occurs when there is deterioration of spinal discs. The breakdown can cause osteophytes (bone spurs) to develop. The neck and lower back are stiff and painful. Pressure on nerves in the spinal cord can cause pain radiating to the neck, shoulder, arm, lower back, and legs or numbness in arms and legs.

    * Risk factors for osteoarthritis include: overweight, age (usually affecting middle age to older people), injury and genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis.

Treatments include:

    * Weight control.

    * Proper exercise..

    * Heat and cold therapy.

    * Pain medication.

    * Other pain relief options.

    * Stress control.

    * Injections into the joint.

    * Surgery.

 

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