Disease - What is Arthritis
Knee Arthritis, Hip Arthritis, Arthritis in The Hip & Knee
Arthritis literally means "inflammation of the joints". There are more than 100 distinct forms of rheumatic or clinical conditions considered as arthritis, making it difficult to diagnose and treat this complex disorder. Arthritis is not fatal but can affect any one from any age group. Age, anatomy and degeneration of joints are some of the reasons that cause arthritis. Pain, swelling and immobility are common manifestations of arthritis. Statistics indicate that every one in three Americans suffer from chronic joint pains or arthritis.
Arthritis needs to be diagnosed correctly to study the genesis of the disorder, as it can also be caused due to other ailments or disorders. Similarly, other disorders such as osteoporosis and multiple Myeloma have similar symptoms that can be mistaken for arthritis.
Types of Arthritis:
There are different distinct types of Arthritis. The various types of Arthritis can also be categorized as primary and secondary types. Primary arthritis is the onset of the disorder as a result of arthritis causing factors, while secondary type of arthritis is the onset of the disorder due to or caused by another disease.
Primary forms of Arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Septic Arthritis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis etc.
Secondary forms of Arthritis are:
- Systematic Lupus Erythematosus
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Reactice arthritis
- Hepatitis
- Inflammatory Bowels Disease etc.
The most common types of arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of Arthritis (Knee & Hip Arthritis)
The most common symptoms are:
- Joint Pains
- Swelling
- Redness
- Loss of appetite
Joint pains are among the first symptoms that surface incase of arthritis. The pain experienced could be in or around the hip or the knee joint, bone, muscle or pain in the ligament or tendon. Though all joint pains may not be arthritis, it is advisable to diagnose and eliminate the possibility at the earliest.
Causes of Arthritis:
The nine main causes of Arthritis are:
- Obesity
- Age
- Gender
- Anatomy
- Genetic Defects
- Inflammation of Joints
- Injury caused to joints
- Occupation
- Infection
The factors that attribute to arthritis are also bifurcated as reversible and non-reversible factors. For e.g. factors such as obesity, infection and joint injury can be treated and hence reverse the condition of arthritis. Some of the non-reversible factors that cause arthritis are: age, gender and genetic defects.
Knee & Hip Arthritis Treatment
Arthritis of the knee & hip can be diagnosed either by: x-ray, physical examination or assessment of past medical history. The key area of focus in treating arthritis is to control knee joint pains, reduce joint damage, improve the quality of life and enable normal functioning. The modes of treatment to treat arthritis are:
- Medication
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Weight Loss and Management
- Surgery etc.
Dr. Emmanuel - Providing services in orthopedic surgery to the area of Culver City, Los Angeles and Beveraly Hills, California (CA).
