All What you Need to Know about Arthritis

introduction

Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and swelling in a joint.

In the UK, about 10 million people suffer from arthritis. It affects people of all ages, including children (see below).

Types of arthritis

The two most common types of arthritis are:

• osteoarthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis

osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK, affecting about 8 million people.

It develops more frequently in adults who are in their fifties or older. It is also more common in women and people with a family history of the disease. However, it can occur at any age after injury or be associated with other diseases related to the joint, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis initially affects the good lining of the cartilage of the joint. This makes the movement more difficult than usual, leading to pain and stiffness.

Once the lining of the cartilage begins to thin and rough, tendons and ligaments have to work harder. This can cause inflammation and the formation of bone spurs, called osteophytes.

The loss of severe cartilage can cause bone rubbing against the bone, disrupting the shape of the joint and forcing the bone out of its normal position.

The most commonly affected joints are:

• hands
• spine
• the knees
• the hips

Rheumatoid arthritis

In the United Kingdom, rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 400,000 people. It often starts when a person is between 40 and 50 years old. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are two different conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's immune system targets affected joints, causing pain and swelling.

The outer (synovial) covering of the first joint is affected. This can extend through the joint, resulting in an increase in swelling and a change in the shape of the joint. This can cause degradation of the bones and cartilage.

People with rheumatoid arthritis can also develop problems with other tissues and organs in your body.

Other types of arthritis and related conditions

• Ankylosing Spondylitis - a long-lasting inflammatory disease that mainly affects the bones, muscles and ligaments of the spine, which causes stiffness and joints to mix. Other problems may include inflammation of the tendons, eyes and large joints.
• Cervical spondylosis - also known as degenerative arthritis, cervical spondylitis affects the joints and bones in the neck, which can lead to pain and stiffness.
• Fibromyalgia - causes pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons of the body.
• Lupus - an autoimmune disease that can affect many different organs and body tissues.
• Drop - a type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body. This can be left in the joints (usually affecting the big toe), but can develop in any joint. This causes severe pain, redness, and swelling.
• Psoriatic arthritis - an inflammatory joint disease that can affect people with psoriasis.
• Enteropathic arthritis - forms chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the two most well-known types are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Approximately one in five suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis will develop enteropathic arthritis. The areas most commonly affected by inflammation are peripheral to the extremities (joints) and spine.
• Reactive arthritis - this can cause inflammation of the joints, eyes and urethra (the tube that passes urine). It develops shortly after an infection of the intestine, genital tract or, less frequently, after an infection in the throat.
• Secondary arthritis - a type of arthritis that can develop after an injury to the joint, and often occurs after many years.
• Rheumatic polymyalgia - a condition that almost always affects people over 50, where the immune system causes muscle pain and stiffness, usually through the heights of the shoulders and legs. It can also cause inflammation of the joints.

Symptoms of Arthritis

The symptoms of arthritis you experience vary depending on the type you have.

It is therefore important to have an accurate diagnosis if you have:

• Joint pain, tenderness and stiffness
• Swelling in and around joints
• Restricted joint movement
• Warm and red skin on the affected joint
• Muscle weakness and loss

Arthritis and Children

Arthritis is often associated with older people, but it can also affect children. In the UK, about 15 000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.

Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA causes pain and swelling in one or more seals for at least six weeks.

Although the exact cause of JIA is unknown, the symptoms often improve as the child grows, which means they can lead a normal life.

The main types of JIA are discussed below. Arthritis Research UK has more information about different types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

oligoarticular JIA

Oligoarticular JIA is the most common type of JIA. It affects less than five joints in the body - usually on the knees, ankles and wrists.

The oligoarticular AIJ good recovery rate and long-term effects are rare. However, there is a risk that children with the disease develop eye problems, so regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist (eye care) are recommended.

Polyarticular JIA (arthritis)

Polyarticular JIA, or arthritis, affects five or more than five joints. It can appear at any age during childhood.

Symptoms of polyarticular JIA are similar to the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. The condition is usually accompanied by a rash and a maximum temperature of 38 ° C (100.4 ° F) or higher.

Systemic JIA

Systemic JIA begins with symptoms such as fever, rash, lethargy (lack of energy), and enlarged glands. Later, the joints may swell or become inflamed.

As polyarticular JIA, systemic JIA can affect children of any age.

Related to Arthritis

Arthritis related septicemia is a type of juvenile arthritis that affects children or older adolescents. It can cause pain in the feet and around the joints of the knee and hip, where the ligaments attach to the bone.

Arthritis Treatment

There is no cure for arthritis, but there are many treatments that can help delay the disease.

For osteoarthritis, medications are often prescribed, including:

• analgesics
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• corticosteroids

In severe cases, the following surgical procedures may be recommended:

• Arthroplasty (joint replacement)
• Arthodesis (fusion of the joint)
• The osteotomy (where a bone is cut and re-aligned)
• For more information on how osteoarthritis is treated.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is to slow the progression of the disease and minimize inflammation or swelling of the joints. This is to try to prevent joint damage. Recommended treatments include:

• Analgesics (analgesics)
• A combination of treatments is often recommended - Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• physiotherapy
• Regular exercise