Arthritis Management: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Explained

Have your joints been aching more than usual? Does getting out of bed in the morning feel harder than it used to? If you’ve been noticing joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, you might have arthritis. This common condition affects millions of people worldwide but is often misunderstood. In this blog, we will break down what arthritis is, its causes, symptoms, and types, and we will guide you through the best treatment for arthritis.

A] What is Arthritis? 

Arthritis is a medical condition that means inflammation of one or more joints. It’s not a single disease but an umbrella term for over one hundred different types of joint-related disorders. These conditions affect the joints and surrounding tissues and cause symptoms like pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion. In severe cases, arthritis can lead to joint deformity and disability.

There are several causes of arthritis. These include:

• Genetic factors: If you have a family history of arthritis, your risk of getting it increases. Certain genes make you more likely to develop certain types of arthritis disease.
• Age: The risk of arthritis increases with age as joint cartilage wears down over time.
• Infections: Certain types of bacterial or viral infections can cause joint inflammation.
• Joint injuries: Previous trauma or repetitive stress on the joints can trigger arthritis later in life.
• Autoimmune responses: Some types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, occur when the immune system attacks the body’s joint tissues.
• Lifestyle factors: Obesity, poor eating habits, physical inactivity and smoking are all associated with higher risk of arthritis.

Knowing the reason for arthritis is key to accurate diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.

B] Types of Arthritis 

1. Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis which affects the joints. It happens when the cartilage that lines the joints is worn down over time, and the bones rub against each other. The most common joints affected by OA include the joints in the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back. When the cartilage in the joints breaks down, the bones underneath begin to change and can worsen over time, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Some people may also notice a decreased range of motion or flexibility. 

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis. In this condition, the immune system attacks parts of the body, especially the joints, which can lead to inflammation and cause severe damage. These form over joints that receive pressure, such as knuckles, elbows, or heels. You may have swollen or tender joints, stiffness, severe pain, and joint deformity. 

3. Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that is linked with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition where the body’s immune system attacks your own skin cells. Around 20% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. The symptoms include stiffness and skin lesions that are caused by joint inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis can affect the joints, skin, fingernails and toenails. 

4. Gout

Gout is caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. It most commonly affects the big toe and causes sudden, intense pain, redness, and swelling. Gout attacks can come on quickly and are often triggered by dietary habits like eating red meat, seafood and drinking alcohol.

5. Ankylosing Spondylitis

This is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine. Over time, it can cause the spinal vertebrae to fuse together, reducing flexibility and posture changes. Early symptoms are lower back pain and morning stiffness. It usually starts in early adulthood and is more common in men.

6. Juvenile Arthritis

Contrary to the assumption that arthritis only affects adults, children can also develop joint inflammation. Juvenile arthritis affects children under 16. It causes joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and mobility issues. In some cases, it can also affect growth and development. The exact cause is unknown, but autoimmune reactions are believed to be involved.

C] Symptoms of Arthritis 

The early signs of arthritis differ individually depending on the type of arthritis. Symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. Some of the common symptoms are:

• Joint Pain: This can be constant or intermittent. It can worsen with activity or during rest.
• Joint Stiffness: You may be stiff in the morning or after sitting for a long time. It can restrict your movement.
• Swelling Of The Joints: Swelling due to inflammation may make the joints larger than normal.
• Decreased Mobility: It can be hard to move the involved joints freely.
• Redness and Heat: In certain forms of arthritis, the joints can become warm and red due to inflammation.
• Fatigue and Overall Weakness: Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis may lead to tiredness and weakness.

Identifying these early signs of arthritis and getting timely medical attention will aid in controlling the disease before complications arise.  Dr. Tanay Prabhoo offers orthopaedic treatment in Andheri, which can help you identify and manage your arthritis and allow you to enjoy your daily activities without pain. 

D] Treatment Options for Arthritis

Managing arthritis involves a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle modifications to reduce pain and improve mobility.

1. Medications

• Painkillers: Over-the-counter medications like Acetaminophen or ibuprofen relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation.
• Disease-modifying drugs: DMARDs are used in autoimmune arthritis to slow down disease activity and avoid joint damage.
• Corticosteroids: These are strong anti-inflammatory medications that minimise severe symptoms and are frequently injected into the joints for rapid relief.

It is advised to visit a qualified physician who will help determine the best medication and create a treatment plan according to your requirements. 

2. Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle Changes

Make these changes in your daily lifestyle to enhance joint health and long-term arthritis management:

• Maintain a healthy weight: Reduce excess weight to decrease stress on weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips.
• Eat a well-balanced diet: Add anti-inflammatory foods such as fish which is high in omega-3, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and berries.
• Apply heat or cold therapy: Heat compresses help to loosen up stiffness, and cold packs help reduce swelling.

3. Physical Therapy and Exercise

Staying physically active helps strengthen muscles around the joints and helps improve mobility:

• Stretching and light exercises can help reduce stiffness.
• Strength training builds muscles that help support weak joints.
• Low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, and yoga.
• Occupational therapy helps reduce joint strain during everyday activities.

4. Surgical Options

When medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle modification no longer help, surgery could be the next option in the management of arthritis. Individuals with extreme joint damage, persistent pain, or restricted mobility may find surgery to be a viable option, although it is not the initial course of treatment. Surgery aims to regain joint function, reduce pain, and enhance the quality of life. These are the most frequently used surgical treatments for arthritis:

Joint Replacement Surgery (Arthroplasty)

One of the most effective surgical treatments for arthritis is joint replacement surgery, also known as arthroplasty. It involves replacing the worn-out parts of a joint with artificial parts made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. It is usually performed on weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips, but it can also be performed on the shoulders, elbows, and even the fingers.

There are two kinds of joint replacement:

• Total Joint Replacement: The whole joint surface is replaced by prosthetic parts. This is most typically done for severe arthritis in the hip and knee.
• Partial Joint Replacement: Only the damaged part of the joint is replaced. This can be done when arthritis is limited to one joint area.

Patients who have joint replacement surgery tend to experience a significant improvement in pain, mobility, and function. Many can resume normal daily activities and even low-impact exercise with proper rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which physicians can diagnose and treat joint issues through a small camera and specialised tools inserted via very small incisions. It’s most often used for arthritis in the knees, shoulders, and wrists, particularly in early to moderate stages.

During arthroscopy, a surgeon can:

• Remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage
• Trim or repair torn cartilage
• Clean the joint to reduce inflammation

The procedure has a shorter recovery time than open surgery. It can be very beneficial for certain types of arthritis, especially when symptoms are caused by mechanical irritation within the joint.

E ] When to See a Doctor?

If you have joint pain that lasts more than a few weeks or stiffness and swelling that affects your daily activities, it is time to see a doctor. Sudden and severe pain in the joints, especially in the case of gout, should not be ignored. As a renowned orthopaedic doctor in Andheri, Dr. Tanay Prabhoo is dedicated to providing expert evaluation and personalised care, always putting your well-being first to ensure you receive the best possible treatment.  Book an appointment, and don’t let your joints hold you back anymore.