Arthritis is the swelling and inflammation of the joints. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, though the most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis is not a life-threatening condition, though it can affect your quality of life because it can reduce your mobility, decrease your ability to work, and increase your risk for other chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Knowing symptoms and available treatments for arthritis can empower you to seek medical advice right away so you can delay its progression and start feeling better right away.
Symptoms of Arthritis
Joint pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Pain is typically worse in the morning when you first wake up and when you stand up after a long period of rest. Symptoms of arthritis will vary based on the type you have.
Osteoarthritis
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects more than 32.5 million adults in the United States. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in a joint is affected by wear and tear and starts to break down, which causes the underlying bone structure to change. This form of arthritis occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees.
Osteoarthritis symptoms include:
- Stiffness in the joints
- Swelling in the joints
- Pain and aching in the joints
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle weakness around the affected joints
- Clicking or popping noises or sensations when bending
- Scraping or grinding sensation in the knees
- Bony growths in the fingers
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and causes inflammation in the joints. This form of arthritis usually affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees and is a chronic, long-lasting condition. In some instances, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to problems with your eyes, lungs, and heart.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis tend to come and go. Periods of severe symptoms are known as flares, and times when symptoms are mild or not present are known as periods of remission.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include:
- Stiffness in the joints (stiffness that occurs in the morning usually lasts for at least 30 minutes)
- Swelling and tenderness in the joints
- Pain and aching in the joints
- Fatigue, or extreme tiredness
- Weakness
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Same symptoms on both sides of the body, such as joint pain in both knees
- Inflammation of the heart and blood vessels
- Inflammation of the eyes and mouth
- Low red blood cell count
Treatments for Arthritis
The goal of arthritis treatment is to reduce your symptoms and to slow or halt the progression of your disease. Based on your symptoms, your doctor can help you choose one or a combination of treatments for arthritis to help you find relief.
Medications
Medications for arthritis may be used to reduce certain symptoms, including pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen, opioids, and ibuprofen can reduce these symptoms, as well as topical creams that contain capsaicin or menthol. Steroids may also help reduce inflammation, though they are typically only prescribed for a short period.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy involves learning exercises that can help strengthen the muscles around your joints. This can reduce pain and improve your range of motion and mobility. During therapy sessions, your physical therapist will show you movements and exercises you can do at home several times a week to improve your condition.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes can reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation in your joints. For instance, excess weight can put extra stress on weight-bearing joints in the knees and hips—therefore, losing excess weight may greatly improve your symptoms.
Other lifestyle changes you can make to reduce symptoms of arthritis include:
- Eating more anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits, dark leafy greens, and fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel
- Reducing your intake of inflammatory foods such as fried foods, processed foods, and dairy products
- Exercising regularly, which can improve flexibility in your joints and strengthen the muscles around affected joints
- Applying heat or cold packs to the affected joints
- Using assistive devices like canes, walkers, or custom orthotics to relieve joint pain and take pressure off certain joints
Surgery
Surgery for arthritis is typically only performed as a last resort if all other treatments, including lifestyle changes, fail to improve your symptoms. Joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion are all surgical options for arthritis.
Joint repair surgery involves smoothing or realigning the affected joints to reduce pain and improve the functioning of the joints. A joint replacement removes the damaged joints and replaces them with artificial joints, such as artificial knees and hips. A joint fusion welds the ends of bones together to eliminate problematic joints that are causing pain.
Contact your healthcare provider if your arthritis symptoms are affecting your quality of life and interfering with your ability to perform everyday tasks. Your provider can discuss all your available treatment options and work closely with you to improve your condition.