Understanding Arthritis

By WLUK

Despite how common it is, arthritis is also one of the most misunderstood conditions. One reason for this is that the word "arthritis" is often used to describe one disease that causes achy joints, swelling and pain. When in fact, there are over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions that fall into one of four categories:

1. Degenerative/structural arthritis
2. Inflammatory/autoimmune arthritis
3. Metabolic arthritis
4. Infectious arthritis

Four Common Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
You may have heard the phrase "bone on bone arthritis." That describes osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of degenerative arthritis. OA is the result of a break down in cartilage - the tissue that acts as a cushion between bones in a joint. When the cartilage deteriorates, the bones within the joints start to rub together, causing pain, inflammation and stiffness.
Other symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Joint swelling
• Cracking or grinding in the joint during movement
• Decreased joint function and mobility

"The joint pain and stiffness osteoarthritis causes can make everyday tasks like making a bed, tying your shoes and walking seem impossible," says Michael Tressler, MD and orthopedic surgeon at Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists of Green Bay (OSMS). "Without treatment, OA can eventually prevent a person from working or enjoying the activities that they love."
OA is most commonly diagnosed in people 40 and older, and the average risk of developing OA in the knee is about 46 percent.
OA risk factors:

• Being overweight, which puts extra stress on knee and hip joints
• Family history of OA
• Previous traumatic injury (ACL tear) or overuse of joint

There are many medical options for treating osteoarthritis. However, if or when medical management fails to alleviate symptoms, your physician can discuss routine surgical treatment options that are also available.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common type of inflammatory arthritis. This form of arthritis is caused by an autoimmune condition that develops when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the healthy tissue in the joints. The result: significant inflammation, pain and stiffness. Overtime, this increased inflammation can lead to erosion and damage of the joint.
RA typically affects the smaller joints in the wrist and hands, but can affect virtually any joint. In addition to swelling and pain, other RA symptoms include:

• Prolonged stiffness in the morning
• Decreased energy
• Low fevers
• Lumps called rheumatoid nodes

"Symptoms of RA can flare up, lasting for several days or months, and then completely disappear for some, or result in mild chronic inflammation," says Debbie Lim, MD and rheumatologist at OSMS. "Chronic inflammation can eventually cause joint damage resulting in secondary osteoarthritis."
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a second type of inflammatory arthritis. While it is related to psoriasis, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, it can be diagnosed in people who do not present symptoms of the skin condition.
To diagnosis psoriatic arthritis, a rheumatologist - a physician who specializes in the care and treatment of arthritis - must rule out other forms like OA or RA through blood tests and imaging scans.
Gout
If you asked several people what gout is, many would likely say "pain in the big toe." This is because gout typically presents itself as an attack of extreme joint pain, most commonly felt in the big toe.
Gout is a form of metabolic arthritis caused by the buildup and crystallization of uric acid (a waste product created as the body breaks down a substance found in human cells and certain foods.) The crystals that form attract white blood cells, which results in severe inflammation and pain.

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