In the United States alone, roughly 53 million adults have been diagnosed with arthritis, making it the country’s top cause of disability. What’s even more concerning is that the number of people who develop the disease is expected to increase to 67 million by 2030. In addition, 300,000 children, ranging from babies to teenagers, also suffer from arthritis. Due to the prevalence of this condition, Carthage Area Hospital’s Tri-County Orthopedics is raising awareness during National Arthritis Awareness Month in May to help anyone who’s been diagnosed with or suspects they’re experiencing the symptoms of arthritis get the information they need.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis includes conditions that cause pain in the joints, as well as joint diseases. It does not discriminate by age, gender or race – everyone is at risk for arthritis. However, it is most common in women and most often develops as people age. Its symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe and include:
- Pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness in joints
- Fatigue
- Joints that are red and warm to touch
- Decreased range of motion and limping
- Development of a deformity in joint(s)
- Difficulty doing daily tasks, walking or climbing stairs
- Affected quality of life
Types of Arthritis
A part of Carthage Area Hospital, Tri-County Orthopedics treats over 100 types of arthritis, which may cause permanent changes in joints and can affect the lungs, kidneys, skin, eyes and heart. The most common type found in American adults is osteoarthritis, which occurs when cartilage wears away, causing bones to rub against each other. Joint replacement is often necessary, though symptoms can be managed by:
- Getting regular physical activity
- Maintaining an ideal weight
- Avoiding too many repetitive movements
- Utilizing assistive devices, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications and hot/cold therapies
- Physical therapy or other treatments as recommended by your orthopedist
Inflammatory arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints with the internal inflammation it ordinarily generates to rid the body of infection and prevent disease, otherwise known as autoimmunity. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis not only cause pain, but can also result in joint erosion and damage to internal organs. It can be triggered by environmental risk factors such as smoking. If you’ve been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, treatment can reduce pain and improve function, while antirheumatic drugs can put the disease into remission and minimize the risk of permanent joint damage.
Other prevalent types of arthritis include infectious arthritis, which is triggered by a virus or fungus entering the joint and causing inflammation, and metabolic arthritis, which affects people with high levels of uric acid. In both cases, treatment with antibiotics in a timely manner can be effective, but there is a risk for the pain becoming chronic and causing disability.
How Arthritis Is Diagnosed
Your primary care physician will be able to pinpoint the signs and symptoms of an arthritic condition by performing a physical exam, blood tests, imaging scans and more. For individuals experiencing inflammatory arthritis, a referral to a rheumatologist will likely be necessary. In more complex cases, patients are sometimes referred to specialists who can address additional causes and symptoms of their condition.
Learn More during National Arthritis Awareness Month
Whether you’ve been living with arthritis, have just noticed symptoms or want to support a loved one, National Arthritis Awareness Month is a great time to learn more about this condition. For help with arthritis, contact us online or call Tri-County Orthopedics today at 315-493-3333. After an assessment by one of our expert orthopedists, we’ll help determine the best treatment for your arthritis to help you achieve better mobility and reduce pain.