What are the Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis?

Arthritis is a very common condition affecting most people atleast once in their lifetime. People of any age can show signs of arthritis with some signs of joint inflammation being present in most people in their middle age. Arthritis can be a debilitating condition in most people causing a loss of productivity and sometimes making simple day to day tasks difficult to perform. There are many symptoms accompanying arthritis as there are more than a 100 different types of arthritis.

The Two Major types of Arthritis are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition which can affect the whole body. In this condition the body can turn on itself and attack the healthy cells causing inflammation of the joints. Some of the symptoms accompanying rheumatoid arthritis are pain and tenderness in the joints. A general feeling of fatigue and muscle aches. Stiffness which increases after a period of rest, fevers, inflammation and swelling of major joints.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthritis which is caused when the cartilage in the joint wears down. Some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis are difficulty in sitting and standing, misshapen joints of the fingers. Some of the common areas affected by osteoarthritis are load bearing joints such as hips and knees making it difficult to perform simple daily activities.

Some of the other types of Arthritis include Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Spondylitis and Gout
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a type of rheumatoid arthritis which affects children upto 16 years of age. Some of the symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are pain, weakness and difficulty moving the affected joints. Abnormal growth and deformities of the joints affected. The condition could lead to eye diseases such as iritis or uveitis in more severe cases.

Rheumatoid Spondylitis: This is a type of arthritis affecting the spine. Rheumatoid Spondylitis affects more males than females. The symptoms of rheumatoid Spondylitis include back pain which flares up after intervals. Pain, tenderness and fevers also are symptoms of rheumatoid Spondylitis. In advanced stages of rheumatoid Spondylitis deformations of the hip and knees can also occur.

Gout: Gout is caused when uric acid crystals are deposited in the joints. This is a very painful arthritic condition which usually causes inflammation in the big toe. Some of the symptoms accompanying gout are acute pain, tenderness and swelling in the affected area with permanent damage to the joints in advanced cases.

Arthritis is diagnosed by a combination of physical examinations, medical history and discussions with the patient about the symptoms. The doctor may also order a series of imaging tests like X-rays, MRI scans or CT scans to make a diagnosis. Treatment of arthritis may be through self-care methods, physical therapy, medication and corticosteroid injections and surgery in more advanced cases. The symptoms accompanying arthritis can cause a lot of discomfort. Arthritis needs to be treated by any of the methods mentioned above in order to improve the quality of day to day living.