Degenerative and Inflammatory Arthritis: What You Need to Know

Degenerative and Inflammatory Arthritis: What You Need to Know

Arthritis is a condition characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion in the joints. Symptoms can be temporary or chronic and range in intensity from mild to severe. Symptoms may remain the same for long periods of time or may worsen over time. Severe arthritis can cause chronic pain and leave the sufferer unable to perform everyday activities. Arthritis can even cause physical changes in the joints (e.g. knobs in the finger joints).

Although some types of arthritis can affect other parts of the body besides the joints, most arthritis affects the joints. The two most common types of arthritis are degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) and inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid).

Degenerative arthritis

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a form of degenerative arthritis that causes the breakdown of cartilage in a joint. The cartilage, the padding at the ends of bones where they meet at a joint, wears away, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Additionally, the bones rub against each other at the joint, causing further difficulties. Over time, arthritic joints can lose strength and cause chronic pain. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include obesity, family history, age, and previous injuries to the joint or the ligaments, tendons, and bones in and around the joint. It is interesting to note that, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, damage to a joint increases the likelihood of developing arthritis seven times.

You can manage your mild to moderate osteoarthritis symptoms by maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough rest, strengthening the muscles around your joints with regular physical activity, using hot and cold therapies, taking pain relievers or OTC medications, and seeking help from a specialist for help with your specific condition.

Inflammatory arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are both forms of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that initially attacks the synovium, or the lining of the joints. The synovia covers the inside of the joint, which is not yet lined by cartilage.

The job of our immune system is to protect our body from infections and diseases. The way it tries to get rid of infections and prevent disease is to create internal inflammation. However, the immune system can sometimes become unbalanced by attacking the joints with uncontrolled inflammation, which can lead to joint erosion and even damage internal organs and other parts of the body such as the eyes. Genetics and environmental factors are believed to trigger autoimmune reactions. For example, smoking is an environmental risk factor that can trigger rheumatoid arthritis in people with genes predisposed to it.

For inflammatory types of arthritis, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are critical. The aim of treatment is to relieve pain, improve function and prevent further joint damage. The use of one or more medications known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is often the treatment of this type of arthritis with the ultimate goal of achieving remission of the disease.

Although arthritis treatments depend on the type of arthritis someone has, they all focus on reducing arthritis symptoms, which in turn relieves pain and improves quality of life. However, for severe symptoms where no other treatments have relieved pain or improved the person's quality of life, joint replacement may be necessary.

Acupuncture and Arthritis

Acupuncture has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years to treat a variety of medical conditions. The advantage of acupuncture over painkillers is the lack of serious side effects. There is scientific evidence showing how acupuncture provides pain relief. One of the ways acupuncture can provide pain relief is by stimulating the release of pain-fighting endorphins and enkephalins. Additionally, inserting an acupuncture needle produces cortisol, a hormone that helps control inflammation.

Inspired by Aram Nalbandyan