Dealing with Arthritis

The human body is a very delicate structure, with your bones forming a great part of your shape. The importance of the bone has made it a carrier or support for your body , and this makes your joint to be susceptible to arthritis. Arthritis is a disease causing painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. It causes pain and inflammation in a joint. This condition affects people of all ages.

Types of arthritis

The two most common types of arthritis are: Both forms damage joints in different ways. - mon type of arthritis affecting around millions of people. It most often develops in adults who are in their late 40s or older. It’s also more common in women and people with a family history of the condition. However, it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or be associated with other joint-related conditions, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis. The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to your joint’s cartilage — the hard, slick coating on the ends of bones. Enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. This wear and tear can occur over many years, or it can be - thritis initially affects the smooth cartilage lining of the joint. This makes movement more difficult cartilage lining starts to roughen and thin out, the tendons and ligaments have to work harder. This can cause swelling and the formation of bony spurs, called osteophytes. Severe loss of cartilage can lead to bone rubbing on bone, altering the shape of the joint and forcing the bones out of their normal position. The most commonly affected joints are those in the: when a person is between 40 and 50 years old. Women are three times more likely to be affected when the body’s immune system targets affected joints, which leads to pain and swelling. The outer covering (synovial) of the joint is the first place affected. This can then spread across the joint, leading to further swelling and a change in the joint’s shape. This may cause the bone and cartilage to break down. People with with other tissues and organs in their body. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining, known as the synovial membrane, becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint. run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you more susceptible to environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.

— including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age.

are men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.

injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis in that joint.

stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips and - oping arthritis.

Symptoms:

The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms - ence will vary depending on the type you have and this is why it is important to have an accurate diagnosis if you have: Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may become twisted and deformed. check your joints for swelling, redness and warmth. He or she will also want to see how well you can move your joints. Depending on the type of arthritis suspected, your doctor may suggest some of the following tests.

can help pinpoint the type of arthritis you may urine and joint fluid. To obtain a sample of your joint fluid, your doctor will cleanse and numb the area before inserting a needle in your joint space to withdraw some fluid (aspiration).

within your joint that may be causing your

reveal early arthritic damage, but they are often used to track progression of the disease.

and combine the information to create cross tissues.

- bining radio waves with a strong magnetic field, images of soft tissues such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments.

frequency sound waves to image soft tissues, cartilage and fluid-containing structures such as placement for joint aspirations and injections.

Treatment Of Arthritis: There’s no cure for arthritis, but there are many treatments that can help slow down the condition.

Osteoarthritisis themostcommon typeofarthritis affectingaround millionsof people.It most often develops inadultswhoare intheirlate40sor older.It’salsomore commoninwomen andpeoplewitha family history of the condition. However, it can occur at any age as a result of an injury or be associated with otherjoint-related conditions, such as goutorrheumatoid arthritis. The most commontypeof arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-andtear damage to your joint’scartilage—the hard, slick coating on theendsofbones. Enoughdamage canresultinbone grinding directly on bone,whichcauses pain and restricted movement. This wear andtearcanoccur over many years, or it canbehastenedbya joint injury or infection. Osteoarthritis initially affects the smoothcartilage lining of the joint. This makesmovement more difficult than usual, leading to pain andstiffness