Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. The most common form is the osteoarthritis also referred to as the degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is caused by a trauma or an infection to the joint. Sometimes it could be as a result of age.
Other forms of this condition are rheumatoid, psoriatic and autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic is another form that is caused by a joint infection while gouty is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint causing inflammation. Pseudo gout is a rare form of gout that is normally caused by the formation of rhomboid crystals of calcium pyrophosphate.
Some of the symptoms of arthritis include pain and swelling in the joint, stiffness especially in the morning and feeling of warmth around the affected joint. Redness of the skin around the joint as well as inability to easily move the joint are other signs.
Pain patterns may differ depending on the type and the location of the affected area. Rheumatoid is normally worse in the morning and it leads to stiffness especially in the early stages. The stiffness normally disappears after a morning shower. Radiographs are normally used to asses the severity of the condition while blood tests and x-rays of the affected joints are used to make the diagnosis.
The type of arthritis you have determines the type of treatment to be administered. Available treatments include physical therapy and lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight control. Medications and dietary supplements are the other treatment options.
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