Arthritis is a disease that affects your joints, which are the areas where your bones meet and move. Arthritis includes the inflammation and degeneration of your joints, which causes pain as you use the joint. In the U.S. alone, about 50 million adults and 300,000 children are currently managing some form of arthritis, making arthritis the most common cause of disability in the country. Arthritis is most common in the:
- Feet
- Hands
- Hips
- Knees
- Lower back
Are there different types of arthritis?
There are several different types of arthritis that patients may encounter, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Juvenile arthritis
- Gout
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
What causes arthritis?
- High uric acid in the body
- Family history of arthritis
- Have a job or play a sport that puts repeated stress on your joints
- Have certain autoimmune diseases or infections
- Age: the risk of arthritis increases as you get older
- Lifestyle: smoking or lack of exercise can increase your risk for arthritis
- Sex: Most types of arthritis are more common in women
- Weight: Obesity puts extra strain on your joints, which can lead to arthritis
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
- Pain
- Redness
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Warmth
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Physical exam, which may include:
- Assessing mobility and range of motion in your joints
- Checking for areas of tenderness or swelling around your joints
- Evaluating your overall health to determine if a different condition could be causing your symptoms
Imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasound can reveal:
- Bone fractures or dislocations that may be causing you joint pain
- Cartilage breakdown around your joints
- Muscle, ligament or tendon injuries near your joint
- Soft tissue inflammation
How is arthritis treated?
- Medication: anti-inflammatories and immune-modulating medications
- Physical Therapy: improve strength and range of motion
- Therapeutic injections: steroid injections, regenerative injections
- Surgical fusion of the joint
- Joint replacement surgery
If you are dealing with any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, or feel that you are suffering from arthritis, Remedy Pain Solutions can help. Our physicians at Remedy Pain Solutions are specially trained to diagnose and treat the symptoms of arthritis, and are available for both in-person or virtual consultations. Contact Remedy Pain Solutions for a consultation today!
