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It's a common misconception that arthritis is an "old folks disease". In fact, people of all ages can develop many different forms of arthritis.
Most people think that arthritis describes one basic condition, however there are actually hundreds of different medical conditions that are commonly referred to as 'arthritis'. The underlying medical condition known as 'arthritis' involves inflammation of the affected joint. The condition is usually trademarked by stiffness, with pain and swelling in the affected area.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common forms of this potentially crippling disease:
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a disease in which the human immune system takes the cell lining of the affected joint as an invader, and attacks these cells. This chronic disease can potentially cause a complete disability of the affected joint. Those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis often live with daily joint pain and stiffness, swelling of the affected area, and even complete loss of function.
Osteoarthritis is a completely different type of affliction. Commonly referred to as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is usually caused by the general wear that our bodies endure over the course of a lifetime. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the hips, hands, knees and spine. Those living with this condition face pain and tenderness in the affected area, swelling and decreased function. The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, and the disease usually becomes more debilitating over time.
Other common forms of arthritis are fibromyalgia, juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, gout and pseudo gout. These different sub-classifications of the disease can be caused by a variety of factors, but they all relate in one way or another, to the inflammation of the joint or joints. Although the effects are the same, the treatment methods can vary greatly from one condition to the next. The severity of the condition will also dictate the treatment method used.
With more than two hundred different types of arthritis it is difficult to provide detailed information about every treatment, however the most common arthritis treatments involve medicine, exercise, physiotherapy and surgery.
Several techniques are used to make a clinical diagnosis for arthritis. Many health care professionals will commonly use blood and urine tests, and will review your past medical and family histories to search out any trace of arthritis. Further methods, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and X-Ray may also be employed to assist in a proper diagnosis.
Arthritis is a disease that can be very unpredictable. A person with arthritis may live quite comfortably for an extended period of time, and then experience a painful flare-up. If you have suffered with this type of arthritic pain, your doctor will determine a treatment plan based on the experiences you've had over time. If you have suffered with arthritis is the past, don't be fooled into thinking that the disease has disappeared. Arthritic pain will ebb and flow over time, and it's important to obtain proper treatment, even for seemingly mild flare-ups.
If you suspect that you may have arthritis, speak to your doctor. With so many treatment options available, there is no reason for you to spend a single day struggling with arthritic pain.
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