(from Greek ''arthro-'', joint + ''-itis'', inflammation) is a group of conditions that affect the health of the
Bone Joint s in the body. One in three adult Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many women as men.
Arthritic
Disease s include
Rheumatoid Arthritis and
Psoriatic Arthritis , which are
Autoimmune Diseases ;
Septic Arthritis , caused by joint infection; and the more common
Osteoarthritis , or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can be caused from strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, and falls. Unlike the autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. Other forms are discussed below.
Arthritic joints can be sensitive to weather changes. The increased sensitivity is thought to be caused by the affected joints developing extra nerve endings in an attempt to protect the joint from further damage.
All arthritides feature
Pain , which is generally worse in the morning and on initiating movement, and resolves in the course of time. In elderly people and children, the pain may not be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuse to use the affected limb (children).
When faced with joint pain, a doctor will generally ask about several other medical symptoms (such as
Fever , skin symptoms, breathlessness,
Raynaud's Phenomenon ) that may narrow down the
Differential Diagnosis to a few items, for which testing can be done.
Monoarthritis (arthritis of one joint) and
Fever together are pointers towards ''septic arthritis'' (see below). This is a
Medical Emergency , and requires urgent referral to an
Orthopedic Surgeon for analysis of joint aspirate and consideration for joint washout.
The various types of arthritis can be distinguished by the pace of onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of (and which) joints affected, additional symptoms such as
Psoriasis ,
Iridocyclitis ,
Raynaud's Phenomenon , and rheumatoid nodules, and other clues.
Blood Test s and
X-ray s of the affected joints are often performed to make the diagnosis. X-rays can show erosions or bone appositions.
Screening blood tests:
Full Blood Count ,
Electrolytes ,
Renal Function ,
Liver Enzyme s,
Calcium ,
Phosphate ,
Protein Electrophoresis ,
C-reactive Protein and the
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR). Specific tests are the
Rheumatoid Factor ,
Antinuclear Factor (ANF),
Extractable Nuclear Antigen and specific antibodies whenever the ANF is found to be positive.
Treatment options vary depending on the precise condition, but include
Surgery , and drug treatment, reduction of joint stress,
Physical and
Occupational Therapy , and
Pain Management . There are also numerous herbal remedies that purportedly treat arthritis, including ''
Harpagophytum Procumbens ''. For specifics, see the articles on the individual conditions listed below.
Primary forms of arthritis:
Secondary to other diseases:
Diseases that can mimic arthritis:
While evidence of primary ankle osteoarthritis has been discovered in dinosaurs, the first known traces of human arthritis date back as far as
4500 BC . It was noted in skeletal remains of
Native Americans found in
Tennessee and parts of what is now Olathe, Kansas. Evidence of arthritis has been found throughout history from Ötzi, the name of a
Mummy (circa 3000 BC) found along the border of modern Italy and Austria, to the Egyptian mummies circ 2590 BC. Around 500 BC
Willow bark gained popularity when it was discovered that this bark could help relieve some of the aches and pains of arthritis. It wasn't until over 2000 years later in the early 1820s that European scientists began to scientifically study what the chemical compound was in willow bark that alleviated the arthritis symptoms. They discovered the compound was
Salicin . When they isolated salicin, however, they found it was very noxious to the stomach. Almost 80 years later, in 1897, an employee of Bayer Company -- then a dye production company -- named Felix Hoffman discovered how to isolate the compound and make it less irritating to the stomach. Hoffman was attempting to make the drug in order to help his father who was suffering with arthritis. In 1899, Bayer Company trademarked Hoffman's discovery under the name "Aspirin." Today it is believed that over a trillion tablets of aspirin have been sold worldwide.
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