Arthritis is usually tenderness or swelling in one of your joints. Arthritis can cause a lot of pain and stiffness in your joints, which gets worse as you get older. The two common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the joints to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease, and in this disease, the immune system starts to attack the joints.Â
If there is too much uric acid in your blood, then uric acid crystals will start to form, and this can cause gout. There are many types of arthritis, and your treatment will change based on your arthritis.Â
Symptoms Of Arthritis
The symptoms do vary slightly depending on the type of arthritis you have. In general, you will see redness, pain, swelling, stiffness, and a lesser range of motion when you have arthritis. All the symptoms will be related to your joints, which can be a good indicator that you might have arthritis.
When people have rheumatoid arthritis people will experience more tiredness and fatigue. You may see some redness around the affected joint. There is also a risk of you becoming anemic, your red blood count might reduce, or you might get a slight fever.
What Causes Arthritis?
A reduction in your cartilage can cause arthritis. Cartilage is a connective tissue in your joints. It is flexible but firm as well. A major function of cartilage is to absorb any shock or pressure that might come on the joints when you move. If the cartilage reduces more than normal, then it can cause arthritis. Any injury or infection can also increase the likelihood of arthritis.Â
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks the synovium in the joints. Synovium is a soft tissue that produces a fluid that nourishes the joints’ cartilage and lubricates the joints as well.Â
The RA can destroy your cartilage and the bone in your joints. It can be very painful, so you should treat it as fast as possible.Â
The exact cause for these immune system attacks is unknown, but many scientists suspect it has something to do with genetics.Â
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
If you are unsure who to go to and who to see when you have arthritis, you can see your regular doctor, and they can tell you if you need to see a specialist.Â
The doctor will look at the fluid around your joints, red or warm joints, and check the range of motion in your joints.Â
You can visit a rheumatologist directly if you feel that the symptoms are very severe, and this doctor can help you get the treatment you need quickly. The doctor will look at the inflammation in your joints and blood and then decide which type of arthritis you have.Â
To get a good look at your cartilage and bones, the doctor will do a CT scan, C Ray, and MRI so that they can get a good idea of your condition.
