Arthritis

The three most prevalent forms of arthritis include:

• Osteoarthritis: The most common type of arthritis. It is a chronic disease involving the joints, particularly the weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip, and spine. Osteoarthritis is characterized primarily by the destruction of cartilage and narrowing of the joint space. It can also include bone overgrowth, spur formation, and impaired function. It occurs in most people as they age, but also may occur in young people as a result of injury or overuse.
• Fibromyalgia: A chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: An inflammatory disease that involves the lining of the joint (synovium). The inflammation may affect all of the joints.
• Other forms of arthritis, or related disorders, include the following:
  • Gout: A result of a defect in body chemistry (such as uric acid in the joint fluid), this painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe. It can usually be controlled with medication and changes in diet.
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus): A very serious, chronic, autoimmune disorder characterized by periodic episodes of inflammation of and damage to the joints, tendons, other connective tissues, and organs, including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys, and skin.
  • Scleroderma: A very serious disease of the body's connective tissue that causes thickening and hardening of the skin.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis: A disease that affects the spine, causing the bones of the spine to grow together.
  • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA): A form of arthritis in children ages 16 or younger that causes inflammation and stiffness of joints for more than six weeks. Unlike adult rheumatoid arthritis, which is chronic and lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow JRA. However, the disease can affect bone development in the growing child.

The following are the most common symptoms of arthritis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently and may include:

• Pain and stiffness in the joints
• Swelling in one or more joints
• Continuing or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint
• Difficulty using or moving a joint in a normal manner
• Warmth and redness in a joint

Arthritis treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. You may need to try several different treatments, or combinations of treatments, before you determine what works best for you.

• Medications
  The medications used to treat arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis. Commonly used arthritis medications include:
  • Analgesics: These medications help reduce pain, but have no effect on inflammation.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs reduce both pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Some types of NSAIDs are available only by prescription. Oral NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation, and some may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. Some NSAIDs are also available as creams or gels, which can be rubbed on joints.
  • Counterirritants: Some varieties of creams and ointments contain menthol or capsaicin, the ingredient that makes hot peppers spicy. Rubbing these preparations on the skin over your aching joint may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs slow or stop your immune system from attacking your joints. Examples include methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine.
  • Biologic response modifiers: Typically used in conjunction with DMARDs, biologic response modifiers are genetically engineered drugs that target various protein molecules that are involved in the immune response. Examples include etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade).
  • Corticosteroids: This class of drug, which includes prednisone and cortisone, reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system. Corticosteroids can be taken orally or be injected directly into the painful joint.
• Physical Therapy
  Physical therapy can be helpful for some types of arthritis. Exercises can improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints. In some cases, splints or braces may be warranted.
• Surgery
  If conservative measures don't help, your doctor may suggest surgery, such as:
  • Joint repair: In some instances, joint surfaces can be smoothed or realigned to reduce pain and improve function. These types of procedures can often be performed arthroscopically — through small incisions over the joint.
  • Joint replacement: This procedure removes your damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one. Joints most commonly replaced are hips and knees.
  • Joint fusion: This procedure is more often used for smaller joints, such as those in the wrist, ankle and fingers. It removes the ends of the two bones in the joint and then locks those ends together until they heal into one rigid unit.
• Alternative Medicine
  Many people use alternative remedies for arthritis, but there is little reliable evidence to support the use of many of these products. The most promising alternative remedies for arthritis include acupuncture, glucosamine, yoga or tai chi, and massage therapy.