The Most Prevalent Types of Arthritis

The joints in your body contain a thick fluid that lubricates them to promote smooth movement. Joints also rely on ligaments and cartilage to function properly. Often, body joints gradually deteriorate and become inflamed, causing arthritis Dundalk. The CDC records that arthritis affects more than 57 million adult Americans. Although arthritis is common in Americans aged 65 and older, it also affects people of all ages, including kids.

Inflammation can cause pain and stiffness in the affected joints and the surrounding tissues.  As a result, performing your routine activities, such as running, jogging, or other high-impact exercises, is a challenge.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Early diagnosis and treatment will help your doctor identify the form of arthritis affecting you and formulate the right plan for delaying or preventing disability and relieving debilitating pain.

Subsequently, below are the prevalent forms of arthritis that may affect you and require immediate diagnosis and management.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the most prevalent type of arthritis. When you have osteoarthritis, there is significant wear and tear of the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of bones in a joint.

Degenerative arthritis or wear and tear arthritis mainly affects the joints of your spine, hands, hips, and knees.

Conservative treatment options may provide relief if you have mild or moderate osteoarthritis. These treatments include cold and heat therapy and physical therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Also called RA, rheumatoid arthritis is a health condition characterized by the natural defense mechanism of the body wrongly fighting healthy, normal cells of the joints. That results in the affected parts of your body having painful inflammation.

Gradually, the autoimmune condition will cause erosion of the joint bones and deformed joints to make toes and fingers bent out of shape.

RA can also affect your internal organs, such as the heart and liver.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriasis is a skin condition associated with the accumulation of skin cells, which forms flaky, scaly, and raised patches of skin.

The itchy, dry, and scaly patches of skin often occur in the elbows, knees, face, palms, and lower back.

Psoriatic arthritis is thus a form of arthritis that may affect you if you have psoriasis.

Because there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, like with other forms of arthritis, the focus will be on controlling symptoms and safeguarding you against joint damage, especially in the short term.

Juvenile arthritis

Juvenile arthritis is a long-lasting and common type of arthritis that affects children. Kids and teens usually have juvenile arthritis between 6 months to 16 years old.

Juvenile arthritis may be due to improper working of the immune system, leading to the attacking and damaging of healthy tissues that trigger the inflammation of joints in children.

Other popular forms of arthritis include gout and spinal arthritis.

Contact CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center today to schedule an appointment with an arthritis specialist for professional diagnosis and management of joint inflammation.

Julio Jones