Arthritis comes in many forms and is caused by numerous factors. It can manifest itself as a mild ache or be severe enough to render a person unable to function. It can severely impact a person's quality of life, to the point where even the most mundane of activities can be difficult, if not impossible, to perform. Although it is generally considered that arthritis is arthritis, regardless of type, each type of arthritis has its own unique causes, treatments and in some cases, symptoms.
Locations
We have hundreds of joints in our bodies, and none are exempt from the effects of arthritis. That being said, different types of arthritis tend to have an affinity for, and affect, certain joints.
For example, in the case of osteoarthritis, also known as the garden variety arthritis, while it can affect any joint in the body, there is a greater degree of presence in the shoulders, spine and lower extremities such as the hips knee and ankles. The hips and knee are far more frequently involved, mainly because they are weight-bearing joints and are responsible for locomotion and support of our upper bodies. Because of this, people who are morbidly obese exert extreme forces upon these joints, which can cause the joints to wear out prematurely.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is seen quite frequently in the hands and fingers. In severe or chronic cases of RA, it can be seen in the shoulders, spine and lower extremities.
Gout, another type of arthritis, is seen mainly in the lower extremities such as the big toe, ankle and knee. It is, however, no stranger to other joints such as the elbow, hands and fingers.
Causes
Arthritis can be caused by different factors, and many forms of this disease derive their names and descriptions from their causes.
One example of this terminology association is post-traumatic arthritis. As the name implies, this form of arthritis develops as a result of some traumatic incident perpetrated on the joint. These traumas manifest themselves in the forms of intra-articular fractures, which means fractures that extend into the joint proper, compressive trauma, which can be from repeated jumping, the pounding or long distance running, and falls from various heights with the legs extended, joint dislocations, dashboard injuries from motor vehicle accidents and penetrating trauma such as gunshot wounds.
Another example is that of septic arthritis. This type involves joint destruction as the result of an infection. In this scenario, microorganisms colonize within a joint and proliferate. In the process they form pus, which is produced by the organism and collects within the joint. Pus under pressure can rapidly destroy the joint cartilage and ultimately invade underlying bone.
Another cause is heredity. Diseases and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout all have a hereditary component to them. While there is no medication to treat heredity, knowledge of the hereditary implications may allow family members to be more aware of any symptoms, which may lead to early detection.
Treatments
Treatments can vary with types of arthritis, because of differing unique qualities of each. Rheumatoid arthritis is typically treated with powerful anti-inflammatory agents such as cortisone and immuno-suppressive drugs such as cyclosporine and methotrexate.
Gout, being a form of rheumatic disease, is caused by excessive uric acid production. Therefore, treatment would consist of uric acid-lowering agents, such as allopurinol, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as injectable cortisone, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.
Septic arthritis is treated with powerful antibiotics to eliminate the microorganisms causing the infection. Other treatments can include pain medication and surgical cleansing of the joint. One interesting departure from other treatments is the absolute contraindication of the use of any steroids, because of their immuno-suppressive characteristics and risk of resurgence of infection.
