Arthritis Types and Risk Factors

The term arthritis means “joint inflammation,” and the most common types are known as Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Arthritis is a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different conditions that destroy joints, bones, muscles, cartilage and other connective tissues, hampering or halting physical movement and causing pain.

While arthritis is not a single disease, its symptoms are often universal and are largely experienced as stiffness, soreness, inflammation and pain. Over time, the cartilage between the joints can begin to wear down, exposing the joint to friction. When two bones rub together, inflammation and pain can take place. Redness and swelling of the joints and loss of joint function soon follow.

While the most common form, osteoarthritis, is a result of external factors like physical injury or wear and tear of joints through overuse, this is not the case with rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, despite advances in science, the exact causes of RA are unknown … but certain risk factors have been identified:- genetics, age, weight, injury, occupational hazards, sports, illness or infection, stress, etc.

Now we will go through two most common types of arthritis: osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis most commonly type of arthritis which is caused by poor lifestyle. It is degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the area where two bones meet to form a joint. When the cushion wears out or cracks, the bones rub together, causing intense pain. In severe cases, the joints can develop calcifications. This means that calcium builds up on the bones and soft tissues, making them stiff and painful to move. The pain of osteoarthritis gradually worsens with use over the course of the day.

This type of arthritis occurs slowly over time and is the type that many runners, martial artists and construction workers begin to feel by middle age due to over-extreme use of joints.

Prevention is always the best medicine. However, reversing damage already done is also essential.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a chronic disease of the autoimmune system that causes inflammation of the synovial membrane (joint lining). This causes destruction and deformity of bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscle tissue.

RA commonly called “crippling arthritis” is a “systemic” disease. Besides the tissues around the joints, other areas RA affects include the glands of the eyes and mouth, the lining of the lungs and the pericardium. When inflamed, the tissue lining between the joints becomes red, painful and swollen. The frequency and duration of these “flare-ups” vary widely. After repeated episodes, chronic inflammation begins to cause damage to the surrounding tissue, cartilage and bone. Eventually this damage can lead to loss of cartilage and weakening of bones, resulting in painful and permanent destruction and deformities.

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Juvenile Arthritis

The autoimmune trigger of RA also affects children causing Juvenile arthritis (JA). Actually, JA is a term used to group the various autoimmune disorders affecting children 16 and under. While JA affects the joints, it also can affect the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract as well.

JA, while similar to RA, is more easily diagnosed. Again, this autoimmune disease is not precise in how, or whom, it affects, but inherited genes and external factors can trigger it in a child. If you have a family history of RA and your child shows red inflammatory joints.

The natural solutions and plan for JA are the same as for RA. The difference is that usually a parent or adult will have to manage the lifestyle changes in the home and keep the child on course with the plan.

There Is Hope!

People think that because they experience excruciating pain today, they will experience it tomorrow and keep experiencing it for the rest of their life. It is as if the trajectory of arthritis, to them, is inevitable, and therefore there is no hope. This does not have to be the case. Nothing about arthritis is “inevitable” if you understand the condition and take steps to control it.

People suffering with arthritis do not believe anything can be done to help ease their pain. Why? Because the drug-based therapies they have been following are not useful in providing a change to the condition – only symptomatic relief. Yes, immediate relief of pain or stiffness or inflammation is a good thing and drugs are the fastest means for that relief. However, there are two problems with relying on synthetic drug therapies over the long term.

Problem 1: The drugs and cortisone injections are toxic to the system, causing in some cases damage to the liver and stomach lining, weakening of the joint cartilage and the immune system, and GI tract issues.

Problem 2: Drugs do not change the course of the condition and thus, as the arthritis worsens over time, drugs that are more potent are needed, causing more toxicity and potentially damaging side effects.

The good news is that a multi-pronged approach to arthritis can do wonders, and even feel like a miracle to those suffering its nasty symptoms. Because there is no cure, it is extremely important to become proactive in managing, treating and slowing down the condition

Dr Wilkhoo HS                                                                         www.wellnessdrwilkhoo.com