How To Know What Type Of Arthritis You Have

How To Know What Type Of Arthritis You Have – Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center in the News PHSC in the News The Three Most Common Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints that can cause debilitating pain. Although it is most often diagnosed in those over the age of 65, arthritis can also affect children and younger adults.

How To Know What Type Of Arthritis You Have

The Arthritis Foundation estimates that arthritis affects over 50 million people in the United States today. To find the best treatment options, it’s important to understand what type of arthritis you have—there are over 100 different types. Here are three of the most common:

What Is Cmc Joint Or Thumb Arthritis?

Also called degenerative arthritis, OA affects an estimated 27 million people in the United States. More people are affected by this type than any other as it is usually caused by wear and tear on the joints with age. However, osteoarthritis can also occur with joint injuries or obesity.

More common in women than men, RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body, especially the joints. Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes RA, although some believe this common type of arthritis is triggered by a previous bacterial or viral infection.

Left untreated, inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis can lead to serious joint damage. The symptoms are often more severe and complex than osteoarthritis.

About 10-30% of people with the chronic skin disease psoriasis will also develop PsA. Although this type of arthritis usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, it can also affect children. For some people, PsA only causes problems in one joint, such as the knee.

Do You Know There Is More Than One Type Of Arthritis

If you experience limited range of motion or pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints, your primary care physician is a great place to start. Along with a physical exam, they may order blood tests and imaging scans to identify the causes of your symptoms.

For arthritis affecting your hands, wrists, arms, elbows and shoulders, the doctors at Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center provide advanced diagnosis and advanced treatment. Our main goals are to:

While there is no cure for arthritis, medications, surgery, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes are options that can significantly improve your quality of life. Contact our expert medical staff for the best orthopedic care in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis where your immune system attacks the tissue that lines the joints on both sides of your body. It can also affect other parts of the body. The exact cause is unknown. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional therapy, drug therapy, and surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is chronic (persistent). It occurs in joints on both sides of the body, which makes it different from other types of arthritis. You may have symptoms of pain and swelling in:

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Untreated inflammation damages cartilage, which normally acts as a “shock absorber” in your joints. Over time, this can deform your joints. Eventually, your bone will destroy itself. This can lead to joint fusion (the body’s effort to protect itself from constant irritation).

Special cells in your immune system (your body’s defense system against infection) help this process. These chemicals are produced in your joints but also spread and cause symptoms throughout the body. In addition to affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes affects other parts of the body, including:

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Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States. It is 2.5 times more common in people assigned female at birth than in people assigned male at birth.

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RA usually begins to develop between the ages of 30 and 60. But anyone can get rheumatoid arthritis. In children and young adults – usually between the ages of 16 and 40 – it’s called rheumatoid arthritis (yora). In people who develop symptoms after the age of 60, it is called late-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA).

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. In some people, joint symptoms appear over several years. In other people, RA symptoms get worse quickly. Many people have periods of symptoms (flares) and then periods of no symptoms (relapses).

Everyone’s experience with RA is slightly different. But many people with RA say fatigue is one of the worst symptoms of the disease.

Living with chronic pain can be exhausting. And fatigue can make it harder to manage your pain. It’s important to pay attention to your body and take breaks before you get too tired.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (ra) 101: Symptoms & Causes

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are not much different from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But people with RA have ups and downs. A flare is a time when you have significant symptoms after feeling better for a while. With treatment, you will likely have periods where you feel better. Then stress, weather changes, certain foods or infections trigger increased disease activity.

While you can’t prevent flare-ups altogether, there are steps you can take to help control them. It may help to write down your symptoms each day in a journal along with what is going on in your life. Share this journal with your rheumatologist, who may help you identify causes. Then you can work on managing these triggers.

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known. Scientists believe it is caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors.

Normally, the immune system protects your body against disease. With RA, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. Infection, smoking, or physical or mental stress can be triggers.

The 2023 Ultimate Guide To Arthritis

Researchers have studied many genes as potential risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. Certain genetic variations and non-genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing RA. Non-genetic factors include sex and exposure to irritants and pollutants.

People born with variations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. HLA genes help the immune system distinguish between proteins produced by the body and proteins from invaders such as viruses and bacteria.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a doctor who specializes in arthritis (rheumatologist). Rheumatologists diagnose people with RA based on a combination of several factors. They will do a physical exam and ask you about your medical history and symptoms. Your rheumatologist will order blood tests and imaging tests.

Blood tests look for inflammation and blood proteins (antibodies) that are signs of RA. This may include:

Arthritis Of Thumb Treatment

Ging Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the ends of the bones within the joints to wear away. The imaging tests may include:

In some cases, your provider may monitor your progress over time before making a definitive diagnosis of RA.

Diagnostic criteria are a set of signs, symptoms, and test results that your provider looks for before telling you that you have RA. They are based on many years of research and clinical practice. Some people with RA do not have all conditions. In general, the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis are:

The most important goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation. Doing so should help maintain or improve joint function. The long-term goal of treatment is to slow or stop joint damage. Controlling joint inflammation reduces pain and improves your quality of life.

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Joint damage generally occurs within two years of diagnosis, so it’s important to see your provider if you notice symptoms. Treating RA during this “window of opportunity” can help prevent long-term sequelae.

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis include lifestyle changes, treatments, medications, and surgery. Your doctor evaluates your age, health, medical history, and the severity of your symptoms when deciding on treatment.

Early treatment with certain medications can improve your long-term results. Drug combinations may be more effective than, and appear to be as safe as, single drug therapy.

There are many medications to reduce joint pain, inflammation, and swelling, and to prevent or slow the progression of the disease. Medicines that treat rheumatoid arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis Versus Rheumatoid Arthritis

COX-2 inhibitors are another type of NSAIDs. They include products such as celecoxib (Celebrex®). COX-2 inhibitors have fewer stomach bleeding side effects than typical NSAIDs.

Unlike other NSAIDs, DMARDs can actually slow the disease process by modulating the immune system. Your doctor may prescribe DMARDs alone and in combination with steroids or other medications. Common DMARDs include:

JAK inhibitors are another type of DMARD. Rheumatologists often prescribe JAK inhibitors for people who do not get better on methotrexate alone. These products include:

If you do not respond well to DMARDs, your doctor may prescribe biologic response agents (biologics). Biologics target the molecules that cause inflammation in your joints. Providers think that biologics are more effective because they attack the cells at a more specific level. These products include:

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Biologics tend to work quickly—within two to six weeks. Your doctor may prescribe them alone or in combination with a DMARD such as methotrexate.

The safest RA medication is the one that gives you the most benefit with the fewest negative side effects. This will vary depending on your health history and the severity of your RA