How to Recognize and Prevent Arthritis
You likely know one or two things about arthritis, perhaps you've even had a relative who has experienced the condition.
However, there are multiple types of arthritis affecting different areas of the body and important ways to prevent and even treat arthritis.
Types of Arthritis
In general, arthritis is a painful rheumatic condition that causes joint inflammation, which can be broken down into two main types: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. All types of arthritis cause similar symptoms like pain, swelling and stiffness.
Although they cause similar symptoms, there are key differences between the two main types, which are outlined as follows:
Osteoarthritis is typically described as "wear and tear" because it results from the worsening condition of the cartilage (connective tissue) in your joints. Osteoarthritis is most common at the base of the thumb, affecting more than 32 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Typical symptoms include pain and swelling around your joints as well as stiffness and a decreased range of motion.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that also causes inflammation in your joints, affecting roughly 1.3 million Americans, according to the CDC. Common symptoms are painful swelling in the joints, sometimes affecting multiple joints at one time, fatigue, muscle weakening, inexplicable weight loss and fever.
Diagnosing Arthritis
Depending on what type of arthritis you're experiencing, there are various ways you and your doctor will be able to diagnose your condition. Early diagnosis is especially important for rheumatoid arthritis in order to begin treatment quickly and slow the disease's progression.
The following are ways to diagnose osteoarthritis as well as rule out other conditions:
- Physical examination: Your doctor will likely start by examining your joint and your movement in their office to look for signs of arthritis.
- Diagnostic imaging: Through an x-ray or an MRI, your doctor will be able to see bone spurs around your joint or a narrowing of the joint, which suggest that the amount of cartilage in the joint is decreasing.
- Joint fluid analysis: This involves your doctor extracting fluid from your inflamed joint for analysis using a needle.
- Blood testing: Your doctor may conduct a blood test to ensure you're not experiencing other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
The following are methods to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis:
- Blood testing: Your doctor will conduct at least one of a number of blood tests that will help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and rule out other conditions.
- Diagnostic imaging: Similar to osteoarthritis, an x-ray and other imaging scans can give your doctor a better picture and understanding of what's happening in and around your joints.
- Physical examination and symptom history: Your doctor will examine any functional limitations for the joint in question as well as any swelling or deformity. They will also ask you how long your joint has been inflamed and how severe your symptoms are.
Prevention and Treatment
Preventing osteoarthritis starts with understanding risk factors like overusing your joint, joint injury, family history and obesity. That means proper rest and practicing injury prevention like proper exercise and stretching, especially if you have a family history of osteoarthritis, is key to reducing your risk of developing the condition.
No treatment can reverse the damage caused by osteoarthritis, but there are some strategies that can relieve pain and maintain mobility, including ice or heat packs, medications and occupational or physical therapy.
Age and genetic traits that cause rheumatoid arthritis are, of course, unpreventable. However, obesity and smoking increase your chances of developing the disease. Some options for treating rheumatoid arthritis are similar to osteoarthritis, like ice or heat packs, medications and certain therapies, but depending on the severity of your symptoms, surgery may be recommended in order to repair damaged joints, correct any deformities and reduce any pain you're experiencing.
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