Joint pain is a nagging ache that can put a damper on daily activities. It’s a common experience, and often the culprit is different types of arthritis. But did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis? Each with its own cause, symptoms, and risk factors. This blog post dives into the world of arthritis, helping you decode the ache and understand the different types, the telltale symptoms, and who might be more susceptible. By getting informed, you can take charge of your joint health and manage any discomfort more effectively.
What is arthritis?
Forget the squeaky door; that ache in your joints could be arthritis. But hold on; arthritis isn’t just one kind of pain. It’s actually an umbrella term for over 100 conditions that affect those places where your bones meet, like your knees, fingers, and hips. These conditions cause inflammation (swelling) that can make movement uncomfortable. Millions of Americans experience this—over 23% in fact! While anyone can develop arthritis, it’s more likely in women and older adults, and it’s even a leading cause of people having to miss work. So, if your joints are grumbling, keep reading to understand the different types of arthritis and how to manage them.
What are the most common types of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis
Top the charts for joint pain goes to osteoarthritis, or OA for short. It affects over 30 million adults in the US, especially as we get older. Think of it as the “wear and tear” type of arthritis. Over time, the cartilage in your joints, which acts like a comfy cushion, starts to break down. This, along with changes in the bone itself, leads to inflammation, stiffness, and less flexibility. Your joints might feel achy and sore, and it can be harder to move around freely. While any joint is fair game, OA tends to target weight-bearing joints like knees, hips, the lower back, and even your hands (especially the fingertip joints and the base of your thumbs). In severe cases, it can even make daily activities a challenge.
Gout
Not to be confused with general achiness, gout is another common type of arthritis that likes to come and go in painful bursts. It affects about 8.3 million Americans and often targets the big toe. The culprit? Uric acid. When your body has too much of it (hyperuricemia), it can form crystals that settle in your joints, causing trouble. This uric acid comes from the breakdown of purines, found in things like seafood, red meat, and sugary drinks. So how does this excess happen? It’s a double-edged sword. Your body might be making too much uric acid, thanks to purine-rich foods, exercise, or even certain diseases. Or, it might not be able to get rid of uric acid fast enough due to kidney issues, medications, or thyroid problems. Men and those carrying extra weight are more likely to experience gout attacks.
Fibromyalgia
Millions of Americans grapple with a long-term condition called fibromyalgia—roughly 4 million American adults, to be exact. It’s most commonly diagnosed in women in their middle years and comes with a signature symptom: widespread pain and stiffness all over the body. The exact cause remains a mystery, but experts believe people with fibromyalgia have a different way of processing pain signals. This means they experience pain more intensely than others. The pain itself can flare up with activity, cold or wet weather, or even during stressful periods.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriasis isn’t the only battle some people face. Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA for short, affects about 2.25 million Americans and joins forces with psoriasis, a skin condition that causes rapid growth of skin cells. Both PsA and psoriasis are autoimmune diseases where the body’s defense system gets confused and attacks healthy tissue. On top of joint pain and swelling, PsA sufferers might also experience a distinctive red rash with silvery scales on their skin.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Joining the fight for 1.5 million Americans is rheumatoid arthritis, or RA for short. Like psoriatic arthritis, it’s a long-term autoimmune disease that brings flares of pain alongside periods of relief. RA mainly attacks the joints in your wrists, hands, feet, spine, and knees. But its impact goes beyond painful swelling and stiffness. This chronic inflammation can damage the joints themselves, leading to loss of function and even deformity. RA’s reach can extend beyond the joints too, affecting organs like the lungs, heart, and eyes. People with RA might also experience unintended weight loss, fatigue, weakness, occasional fevers, and a lack of appetite.
Lupus
Lupus, also known as SLE, throws another wrench into the body’s healthy functioning. Affecting around 1.5 million Americans, and possibly more undiagnosed cases, this chronic autoimmune disease disrupts the immune system and can target various parts of the body. Just like gout, PsA, and RA, lupus comes in waves, with periods of feeling well (remission) followed by flare-ups. The severity of symptoms can vary greatly, ranging from mild to debilitating. Common complaints include extreme fatigue, a distinctive butterfly-shaped rash across the face, fever, hair loss, and mouth sores.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Over 1 million Americans face an inflammatory condition called ankylosing spondylitis, or AS for short. It tends to target men more often and usually shows up in early adulthood. While AS primarily attacks the spine, inflammation can creep into other areas like the hips, ribs, shoulders, and even knees. If left untreated, this ongoing inflammation in the spinal joints can cause stiffness or even a fusion of the bones, leading to a spine that’s rigid and limits movement.
Reactive arthritis
Reactive arthritis, formerly called Reiter’s syndrome, is a unique type caused by an infection that triggers painful joint swelling. It’s more common in men and those between 20 and 50. Even though an infection sparks it, reactive arthritis itself isn’t contagious. The culprit can be a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia, or a bacterial infection in your gut from food like salmonella or shigella. Here’s the twist: the bacteria invade the bloodstream, and the body’s defense system overreacts, causing inflammation in various areas, including the joints. This reaction typically shows up within 2-4 weeks after the initial infection. Unlike other arthritis types like OA, gout, and RA, most reactive arthritis cases are good news – they clear up within a year.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Arthritis, despite various forms, has common ground in causing joint inflammation. Watch out for these early signs: pain (constant or occasional, during rest or movement, in one spot or widespread), swelling (including redness, warmth, and puffiness around the joint), stiffness (in the morning, after inactivity, or post-exercise), and difficulty moving a joint.
What are the risk factors for arthritis?
While risk factors vary by arthritis type, some general ones can worsen or increase your chances of developing it. These include:
Being overweight or obese
Excess weight can significantly worsen arthritis, especially in weight-bearing joints like knees and hips. This is because extra weight adds stress to these joints, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis and worsening existing arthritis. Obesity is also a risk factor for gout, another type of arthritis. This is because obesity can lead to hyperuricemia, a buildup of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid crystals can deposit in joints, causing gout attacks with sudden and severe pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness.
Getting an infection
Infections caused by germs like bacteria, viruses, and fungi can invade joints and trigger specific forms of arthritis, like reactive arthritis.
Sustaining injuries to the joints
Joint injuries and overuse, whether from repetitive stress or constant bending (like kneeling frequently), can damage the joint and contribute to osteoarthritis.
Occupation
Continuing the trend, occupations demanding frequent squatting or knee bending put you at a higher risk of osteoarthritis. This is because these repetitive motions can strain and damage the joints over time.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking isn’t just a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); it can worsen the condition across the board. Studies show smoking can exacerbate pain and inflammation in both RA and osteoarthritis (OA), and it can hinder the effectiveness of treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Having other medical conditions
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of developing specific arthritic forms. For instance, gout risk is heightened in individuals with congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, or impaired kidney function. Psoriatic arthritis affects roughly 30% of psoriasis patients. Additionally, those with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) or psoriasis are more prone to developing ankylosing spondylitis.
Age
Age is a major risk factor for most types of arthritis. As people get older, their risk of developing arthritis increases.
Gender
Arthritis doesn’t discriminate equally by gender. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia tend to target women more frequently, while gout and ankylosing spondylitis show a preference for men.
Genetics
Arthritis, a chronic condition marked by pain and potential disability, manifests in various forms. While genetics can heighten risk, particularly for autoimmune types like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, early detection and prompt treatment are key to managing the disease and maintaining a good quality of life.
