Arthritis is a very common condition, known for causing pain and stiffness around the joints. On this blog, we will discuss symptoms of arthritis, as well as various types, causes and arthritis support services.
Arthritis affects adults and children, and of all ages, and is believed to be more than 5 million people in the Australia suffer from arthritis or other conditions that are very similar to the joints.
There are many types of arthritis. The two main types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you experience pain around your constant joints and don’t go after a few days, it is recommended that you see your GP. Although there is no cure for arthritis, early treatment and support can greatly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Symptoms of arthritis
There are many different symptoms with arthritis, and each will vary in both types of arthritis and individuals.
The main symptoms of arthritis are:
- Joint pain, tenderness and stiffness around the joints
- Inflammation (red, warm or hot, swollen connection)
- Limited movement of the joints
- Muscle weakness and waste
It is important to have an accurate diagnosis of your GP for arthritis because there are many types. For this type of arthritis and other related conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia, treatment is individual and given by general practitioners or your specialists.
Cause of arthritis
There are no right causes for arthritis but there are several factors that can increase the risk of arthritis. If it is in your family history, you may have an increased risk, even though there are no genes identified to support it.
Other factors that can affect your risk are:
- Previous joint injury
- Other related conditions such as gout
- Age
- Obesity as overweight makes extra tension on your joints
- Being a woman has an increased risk
- Smoke
- Lalai.
Various types of arthritis
Osteoarthritis is more common in women and usually affects larger joints such as hip and knees, but can sometimes influence the hand. Symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary from mild to severe. They include swelling, tenderness, and crunching or lattice when transferring the affected joints.
Treatment of arthritis
Until now, there is no cure for arthritis, but many treatments are available to slow it down and manage symptoms to help improve the quality of your life. The treatment of arthritis consists of drugs, lifestyle changes such as soft training, or sometimes operations.
Osteoarthritis treatment involves changes in lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight and exercise regularly. You might think if your joints are painful that doing exercises will be difficult or make arthritis worse, but in reality the practice helps build muscle and strengthen joints, which usually improve symptoms. Non-heavy bearing exercises are also good for arthritis and examples include cycling and swimming.
The drug used for osteoarthritis is painkillers such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), as well as various types of opioids, steroid injections or capsaicin creams.
Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments are used to slow down conditions, prevent damage and joint pain, and to allow you to be the same as active. Treatment options include drugs, physiotherapy, and operations. Early treatment and physiotherapy support can reduce the risk of joint damage and the impact of these conditions.
