The word “arthritis” means “joint
inflammation.” Inflammation is one of the body’s natural reactions to disease
or injury and includes swelling, pain and stiffness. If inflammation lasts for
a very long time or recurs, as in arthritis, it can lead to tissue damage.
A joint is where two or more bones come
together, such as the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a
smooth, spongy material called cartilage, which cushions the bones and allows
the joint to move without pain. The joint is lined by a thin film of tissue
called the synovium. The synovium’s lining produces a slippery fluid called
synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction. Strong bands
of tissue, called ligaments, connect the bones and help keep the joint stable.
Muscles and tendons also support the joints and enable you to move.
With arthritis, an area in or around a joint
becomes inflamed, causing pain, stiffness and, sometimes, difficulty moving.
Some types of arthritis also affect other parts of the body, such as the skin
and internal organs.
What causes this condition from occurring?
There are many different types of arthritis and the cause of most types is not
known. It’s likely that there are many different causes. Researchers are
examining the role of genetics (heredity) and lifestyle behaviors in the
development of arthritis. As a matter of fact, there are more than 100 different forms of arthritis and
related diseases. The most common types include osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). All of them are known for causing
pain in different ways.
In OA, the protective cartilage and fluid
inside the joint begin breaking down due to years of use or injuries. This makes
the movement of affected joints more difficult and painful. In time, bones may
rub directly against one another inside the joint, causing severe pain.
Inflammation can also result from this constant, painful friction. OA most
often affects knees, hips, hands, and the spine. In most cases, OA does not
affect the same joint on both sides of the body, such as both knees.
The intensity of pain varies from person to
person. It can range from mild to moderate and may be manageable with drugs and
regular physical activity. But for some it can be debilitating, making any
movement of the affected joint almost impossible.
To ease pain and reduce inflammation, regular
doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are needed. To only
relieve pain, acetaminophen may be effective with fewer gastrointestinal side
effects. If pain is severe, an analgesic combined with an opioid, such as
codeine or hydrocodone, is prescribed. In severe cases, surgery to replace the
damaged joint may be the only effective treatment.
Non-medicinal pain relief has proven very beneficial for people with
OA. These treatments include hot & cold therapy, topical rubs, exercise,
physical therapy, and others.
In RA, the joints are attacked by the body’s
own immune system. The immune system normally protects a person from viruses,
bacteria and other invaders. In people with autoimmune conditions (like RA), it
becomes overactive and attacks healthy tissue. In the case of RA, the immune
system goes after the lining of the joints, called the synovium. This causes a
severe, chronic inflammation in the affected joints as well as low-grade
inflammation throughout the whole body. Over time, the persistent inflammation
breaks down the joint and damages it permanently. RA typically affects the
joints on both sides of the body, such as both knees or both hands. Besides
joints, RA can also affect internal organs like the liver, heart, spleen, and
eyes.
People with RA often have flares of pain
caused by sudden onsets of severe inflammation. The flares may last for days or
weeks.
The pain caused by RA is usually treated by
medications to control the disease by calming down the malfunctioning immune
system. These include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and
biologic response modifiers (biologics). In addition, NSAIDs or analgesics may
be taken.
Like in RA, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) the immune system attacks the joints and causes inflammation
and pain. It typically appears in people who have psoriasis. PsA can affect any
joint in the body.
Besides swollen joints, PsA often causes
tenderness or pain in the connective tissue where tendons or ligaments attach
to bones (called the enthesis), such as at the heel or bottom of the foot.
Lower back pain is also common.
The pain and inflammation in PsA is managed
and treated similarly to RA.
Although the exact cause of arthritis may not
be known, there are several risk factors for arthritis. (A risk factor is a
trait or behavior that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease or
predisposes a person to a certain condition.) Risk factors for arthritis
include:
Age. The risk of developing arthritis,
especially osteoarthritis, increases with age.
Gender. In general, arthritis occurs more
frequently in women than in men.
Obesity. Being overweight puts extra stress
on weight-bearing joints, increasing wear and tear, and increasing the risk of
arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, San Antonio, has a
significant amount of individuals who are obese and are likely to develop with
arthritis.
Work factors. Some jobs that require
repetitive movements or heavy lifting can stress the joints and/or cause an
injury, which can lead to arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis. Construction
workers in San Antonio, for example, could develop arthritis due to all of the
construction that occurs in the city on a daily basis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis may include joint pain and
progressive stiffness that develops gradually.
Symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis may include painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the
fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of
the body, especially upon awakening.
Symptoms
of infectious arthritis may
include fever, chills, joint inflammation, tenderness, and sharp pain that is
associated with an injury or infection elsewhere in your body.
In
children, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, weight
loss, and anemia, or
blotchy rash on the
arms and legs, may signal the onset of some types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Other
forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are
associated with joint stiffness, a
limp, or joint swelling.
You
should call your local doctor from Gonzaba Urgent Care in San Antonio about
arthritis if:
●
The pain and
stiffness come on quickly, whether from an injury or an unknown cause.
●
The pain is
accompanied by fever.
●
The pain
develops quickly and is associated with redness and extreme tenderness of the
joint.
●
You notice
pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods
or after a night's sleep.
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