Know the difference between regular aches and pains and arthritis.
If your knees feel stiff after sitting a while or your joints hurt and swell, you might think it could be arthritis. Around one-third of adults between 18 and 64 might have it, but more might actually be affected since not everyone seeks treatment, says the Arthritis Foundation. Arthritis is a major reason people face disabilities in the U.S. But what is it, and how does it feel? Here’s the basic info you need.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis means that the joints are swollen and sore. There are actually many different kinds of arthritis, and they can impact people of any age.
Since arthritis has various types like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, it can be confusing. This leads to a lot of questions about what it feels like, how to treat it, and more. To clear things up, we got advice from experts to answer the most-searched questions about arthritis.
What Does Arthritis Feel Like?
Joint pain, like in the knees, hips, or fingers, is the main sign of arthritis, according to Dr. Gautam Yagnik, a specialist in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute.
However, how much it hurts differs from one person to another. Arthritis pain can be steady or come and go, and it can happen when you’re still or in motion, as stated by the Arthritis Foundation.
Arthritis can make your joints swell, notes Dr. Yagnik. For instance, your knee might have extra fluid and become larger.
This swelling can also make the area around the joint look red and feel warm. You might find it hard to move, and your joints may feel stiff, especially when you first wake up or after sitting for a while.
Stiffness is a common sign of arthritis. If your joints feel stiff, particularly after sitting for a while, like at a desk or in a car, it might be a sign of arthritis.
Crepitus is when you hear a grinding, cracking, or popping sound when you move a joint. According to Dr. Yagnik, this sound could be a sign of arthritis.
What Does Arthritis Look Like?
Often, just by looking at a joint, it’s hard to tell if someone has arthritis. Dr. Yagnik explains that people with severe cases might see changes in how a bone looks or how a joint lines up. These changes can become more noticeable as arthritis gets worse.
Dr. Yagnik explains, “There are visible changes. The bony parts can become a bit larger. So, for instance, if you have one knee with post-traumatic arthritis and the other one is normal, you might notice that the affected knee looks bigger, or if there’s swelling, it can make one knee appear different from the other.”
Tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs show the damage in the joints. However, the amount of pain someone feels doesn’t always directly match up with the extent of joint damage.
Dr. Yagnik explains, “There could be a person with just a little bit of arthritis in their knee, but it causes them a lot of pain and makes it hard to walk or stand up from a chair. On the other hand, there might be someone else who looks much worse when you see the X-rays. Their cartilage is almost gone, and their bones are rubbing together, but surprisingly, they’re doing okay in their daily activities.”
How to Get Rid of Arthritis In Fingers
Arthritis in finger joints is common, especially after age 50. While it’s not possible to get rid of arthritis in your fingers, treatment focuses on helping patients maintain function and relieve pain, and it’s individualized based on the level of pain and joint deterioration.
To treat arthritis in fingers, there are several common options. These include anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Injections of cortisone or hyaluronic acid are also used. Physical therapy and surgery are potential treatments as well.
Dr. Yagnik explains, “When we help people with their arthritis, we begin with the least invasive methods and move towards more invasive ones if needed. The most invasive option would be something like a joint replacement. However, often, therapy is the first step in treatment.
Hand exercises, like fist stretches, fingertip touches, thumb stretches and knuckle bends can also help lessen the pain of arthritis in fingers and increase flexibility.
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing arthritis is a multi-step process that starts with your doctor taking a medical history and discussing your symptoms, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Medical history includes general health, family history and habits, like smoking, diet, exercise, stress and sleep.
Your doctor will talk to you about when you first noticed arthritis symptoms, how long they’ve been going on, which joints are affected, and if they happen at specific times or after certain activities. They’ll also want to know about the pain level and any other symptoms like swelling and redness. They’ll ask if you’ve tried any over-the-counter medicines or exercises for relief.
During a physical exam, they’ll check your blood pressure, listen to your heart, and look at your joints for any signs of swelling or redness. They’ll also move the joints to see how far they can go. If needed, they might suggest imaging tests like an X-ray or MRI, or a nerve test to check if the nerves are working properly.
Dr. Yagnik emphasizes the importance of a thorough history and physical exam. He says, “Looking at the joint, checking for swelling, movement, and crepitus, along with basic X-rays, is very helpful in diagnosing arthritis.”
He explains that in X-rays, doctors focus on the “joint space.” Since cartilage doesn’t appear on X-rays, they look for signs of narrow space between the bones, which can indicate arthritis.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a kind of arthritis that causes inflammation and often impacts both the skin and joints. This information comes from The Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Yagnik explains that psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that belongs to the group of autoimmune diseases. This means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, leading to pain, swelling, and harm to the skin or joints.
Dr. Anthony Fernandez, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, adds that psoriatic arthritis is one way psoriasis, a skin condition, can affect the whole body. If not treated early, it can lead to serious and permanent damage to the bones and cartilage.
Dr. Fernandez emphasizes the need for finding out about the condition early. This way, the right medicines can be used, which helps to safeguard the quality of life and the ability to use your joints.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis:
- Itchy skin with painful red patches or an accumulation of dead skin cells that appear white, usually on the knees, elbows and scalp
- Pain, swelling or redness in the fingers, wrists, ankles and knees
- Cracking or white spots on the nail, and lifting from the nail bed
- Inflammation and swelling in areas where tendons or ligaments connect with bone like the back of the heel
- Fatigue and low-grade fever can also accompany psoriatic arthritis
What causes psoriatic arthritis?
The exact causes of psoriatic arthritis are unknown, according to the Arthritis Foundation, but researchers believe it’s both genetic and triggered by environmental factors like stress, infection or physical trauma.
Regular exercise, managing stress, eating healthy, keeping skin moisturized and using fragrance-free cleansers can help people manage their psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis treatments include over-the-counter and prescription medications, like ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, corticosteroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, which reduce inflammation. Surgery and physical therapy may also be needed.
Sources
- Gautam Yagnik, sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute
- Arthritis By the Numbers
- Cleveland Clinic: What is psoriatic arthritis?
- Arthritis Foundation: Do I have arthritis?
- Anthony Fernandez, MD, Ph.D., a dermatologist with the Cleveland Clinic
SOURCE:PARADE