Arthritis: Common Types and Treatments

5/13/2024

Gustavo Barrazueta, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
Carlsbad Medical Center

Arthritis affects more than 58.5 million Americans and is the number one cause of disability in the United States. Defined as joint inflammation, arthritis is a broad term applied to a range of joint disorders. In most cases, arthritis is characterized by stiffness, swelling and discomfort of the joints. While there are various types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis types are most prevalent, affecting millions of Americans.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease resulting from gradually wearing away the protective cartilage found at the end of bones. This loss of cartilage causes bones to rub together, wearing the joint down and damaging surrounding soft tissues. Osteoarthritis is particularly common in the elderly and most commonly affects the hands and the weight-bearing joints of the knees, hips and spine. The shoulder is another common joint affected. While physicians do not know the specific cause of osteoarthritis, factors such as obesity, genetics and joint overuse are frequently associated with the disease.

Many of the 30.8 million Americans diagnosed with osteoarthritis experience no serious symptoms. Some, however, experience significant pain, which greatly impacts physical activity and lifestyle. Although there is no specific cure to restore damaged cartilage, treatment options focus on reducing pain and discomfort but could also include weight reduction, physical and occupational therapies and anti-inflammatory medications. Surgery to repair or replace damaged joints may be recommended in severe cases or when non-surgical treatment options have failed to help.

Whereas osteoarthritis most commonly affects the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.5 million Americans of all ages. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that generally begins as wrist, hand, ankle and foot inflammation before progressing to larger joints such as the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips. Unlike osteoarthritis, which involves the wearing away of cartilage, with rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks itself, resulting in pain, inflammation and extensive joint damage. In addition to joint pain, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis often experience fatigue, sleeplessness and severe discomfort after long periods of inactivity.

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and the symptoms are often severe and disabling. If treated early, however, symptoms can be managed, greatly decreasing the chances of permanent disability. Treatments often include medications to relieve pain and control inflammation, occupational and physical therapies, and periods of rest to allow damaged tissues to heal. As with osteoarthritis, surgery to repair or replace damaged joints may be recommended in severe cases.

When a joint has been previously injured, it is susceptible to developing arthritis at a much quicker pace than non-injured joints. This is called post-traumatic arthritis. Even a small injury to a joint can lead to the eventual development of post-traumatic arthritis. This form of arthritis is commonly treatment similar to osteoarthritis, where nonoperative treatment options are first line and surgery can be beneficial in severe or refractory cases.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the most common type of childhood arthritis and is characterized by joint pain, swelling and stiffness, often accompanied by fever and a rash. As with adult rheumatoid arthritis, physicians believe JRA is also an auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues, resulting in joint inflammation. JRA treatment focuses on helping children maintain normal physical activity by relieving pain and swelling and preserving full joint movement. Medications such as anti-inflammatory agents or corticosteroids are often prescribed in combination with physical and occupational therapies to manage symptoms and promote a full range of motion and muscle tone. The following treatments may also help reduce discomfort and restore damaged tissue:

• Applying heat packs before exercising
• Applying cold packs after exercising
• Performing exercise that does not strain the joints, like swimming
• Taking mild pain reliever
• Sleeping on a firm mattress
• Using paraffin wax dips

Advanced cases of JRA may interfere with bone development and normal growth, but with proper treatment, children generally recover without any lasting symptoms. It is important to seek medical care for children complaining of joint pain, limping, showing signs of decreased physical activity, joint swelling or a persistent fever for more than two days.

The pain associated with all types of arthritis can be life-changing, resulting in limited physical activity that interferes with a healthy lifestyle. It is important for those experiencing the symptoms of arthritis to seek medical treatment early to minimize pain and decrease the chances of permanent joint damage. Once diagnosed by a physician, many treatments can be performed at home or on an outpatient basis. Consult your physician if you are experiencing severe joint pain or other symptoms associated with arthritis.

For additional information to help you learn to manage your arthritis visit www.carlsbadmedicalcenter.com/health-library. To take an online joint pain quiz visit www.YourOrthopedicHealth.com/carlsbad.

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