Battling Arthritis: All You Need To Know
When someone says they’re battling arthritis; that’s just one of over 200 different ways to understand their ailment.
Arthritis is an overarching term for several different types of chronic joint pain. The disease involves stiffness and inflammation in the joints and connective tissues.
Some common forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States and over 54 million people are affected by it.
Most cases of arthritis affect the knees, hips, wrists, ankles, and fingers but some types of arthritis can also affect the skin.
Causes
Generally, the reduction in the regular amount of cartilage tissue in the skin and joints can trigger arthritis. However, to fully understand the causes of the disease, it’s necessary to outline the kind of arthritis being talked about.
Osteoarthritis
Consistent wear and tear of the joints can damage its flexible cartilage, cause stiffness and immense pain when bones begin riding on bones.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis where physical wear and tear causes cartilage damage, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking a capsule that covers all the joint parts. This is called the synovial membrane.
Gout
Excessive concentrations of uric acid in the bloodstream can create crystals around the joints causing gout. This type of arthritis commonly occurs at the base of the toe.
Symptoms
Early signs of osteoarthritis can be noted from pain arising immediately after certain joint movements and feeling of tenderness when applied to pressure to certain areas. Grating sensations or the feeling of bones crackling are all also signs of osteoarthritis. The pain levels gradually increase if timely treatment is not sought.
Similar observations can be made when trying to gauge rheumatoid arthritis; however one factor that distinguishes it from other forms of arthritis is the onset of fatigue and fever. Early signs of rheumatoid arthritis involve pain in smaller joints such as the hands and feet. Over time the disease may spread to larger joints like the knees.
Gout attacks normally appear at a joint in the foot and happen most frequently in the night time. They characterized by a red shade of swelling caused by intense pain and leave the foot feeling extremely hot and tender.
Treatment
Treatment can be sought in the form of medications, non-invasive forms of therapy and surgery. In the case of non-inflammatory types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, patients can ask their doctor to prescribe them pain relievers and physical therapy. Alternatively, patients can seek sports medicine services if they wish to stick to non-invasive methods of treatment.
PRP therapy is also believed to be a good solution for joint and tendon-related diseases. As always, patients are recommended to maintain a healthy diet and incorporate sufficient physical activity in their daily routine to maintain joint health.
If you’re battling arthritis and are looking for different treatment options in Miami Beach, FL then give us a call at 3056957777. Alternatively, you can visit our website and book yourself an appointment immediately. The Foot and Ankle is home to some of the top foot and ankle surgeons in the country!