Arthritis is an umbrella term used for various conditions that trigger inflammation in joints thereby leading to severe and uncontrollable joint pain. As per the doctors from the leading total knee replacement hospital in Indore, there are around 100 different types of arthritis that affect both men as well as women. The causes, as well as treatment for a particular type of arthritis, varies depending upon its type and adversity.  Arthritis is found to be more common in adults above 60 years but it can also affect those belonging to the younger age group.

Causes of arthritis

Arthritis can trigger various symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In many cases, arthritis impairs a person’s ability to perform daily activities. The various factors which contribute to the development of arthritis, as listed by the best doctor in Indore, include:

• Abnormal metabolism
• Severe injury
• Chronic infection
• Genetic abnormality
• Dysfunctional immune system

Treatment and management of arthritis

Proper treatment and management of arthritis are very important to control the symptoms as the problem is progressive in nature, which means that if left untended, it can give rise to more and more complications with each passing day. Treatments offered by the doctors from the best hospital in Indore majorly focus oncontrolling pain, minimizing joint damage& inflammation and improving the quality of life. These include medication, therapies, injections and joint replacement surgery, in case the non-invasive treatments fail to give the desired results.

Types of arthritis

As stated earlier, arthritis is not a single condition but rather a hypernym used for a family of conditions that drastically affect the joints. In this blog, we are going to focus on some major types.

• Osteoarthritis

It is the most prevalent form of arthritis and refers to the wear and tear which is usually an outcome of excessive strain on the joints. It commonly happens with age, but can also develop due to an injury or accident. It is particularly common in joints bearing weight i.e. knee, feet and spine, and progresses gradually over months and years. Reports given by the best orthopaedic and joint replacement hospital in Indore suggest that the problem is more common in women as compared to men, especially after they have reached menopause.

The condition is marked by the weakening and gradual breakdown of the cartilage leading to immense pain and visible deformity, especially in the fingers. In a few cases, a grating sound might also be heard due to the rubbing of the bones which are now without any protective cushion.

Symptoms associated with osteoarthritis include pain, trouble sitting, running, gripping things, stiffness and swollen joints

• Rheumatoid arthritis:

It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system starts to attack the parts of the body, particularly the joints. It leads to severe joint damage and inflammation. The exact cause of the disease is still not known but some doctors suggest thatthe immune system might become confused and start attacking the joints.

Some of the symptoms related to RA include pain, stiffness and swelling near the joints.

• Psoriatic Arthritis:

People with this condition tend to experience chronic skin inflammation along with the other symptoms of arthritis. Psoriasis is marked by the formation of patchy, red & white inflamed areas on the skin with scales on it. It usually affects the tips of the elbows and knees, skin around genital areas, scalp and naval. Only 10-30 percent of people with psoriasis will get psoriatic arthritis.

It usually affects people lying in the age group of 30 to 50 years but it can also start showing its traces in childhood.

Some of the symptoms for PA includeswollen fingers and toes, often pitted and discolored fingernails, inflamed skin.  In a few cases, it might even affect the spine and fingers.

• Gout:

It is marked by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints which mostly affects the big toe or other parts of the foot. A person might notice a sudden sharp pain in the big toe of the foot or other parts of the foot after waking up in the morning. Drugs, drinking and illness can increase the risks of gout. The pain attack can last for 3 to 10 days, and repeat occasionally. If left untreated for long, it can even affect the kidneys.It results from the over-production of uric acid as a result of which there is an excessive load on the kidneys which eventually fail to process this uric acid.