Joint pain can also be a symptom of other diseases, but in this case, arthritis is considered to be secondary to the main disease or cause of the pain.
Arthritis can affect one joint or multiple joints at the same time. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods. It is commonly seen in adults over the age of 65, but research found that it can also develop in children, teens, and younger adults.
Arthritis is more common in women than men and in those who are overweight. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, gets worse with age and is caused by wear and tear over the years.
Causes of Arthritis
The causes of arthritis is dependent on its various types and the part of the body where it originated. According to MNT, potential causes for arthritis may include:- Injury - leading to degenerative arthritis
- Abnormal metabolism - leading to gout and pseudogout
- Inheritance - such as in osteoarthritis
- Infections - such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease
- Immune system dysfunction - such as in RA and SLE.
Areas of severe pain
Most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of many factors working together, although some arthritis conditions have no obvious cause and appear to be unpredictable in their emergence.
Diet and nutrition can play a role in managing arthritis and the risk of arthritis, although specific foods, food sensitivities or intolerance are not known to cause arthritis. Foods that increase inflammation, particularly animal-derived foods and diets high in refined sugar, can exacerbate arthritis. Similarly, eating foods that provoke an immune system response can exacerbate arthritis symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis
Just as the causes of different types of arthritis can vary widely, the pattern and location of symptoms of arthritis can also vary depending on the type. Arthritis symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly, and as arthritis is most often a chronic disease, symptoms may come and go, or persist over time.According to MNT, there are four key warning signs of arthritis that should prompt a discussion with a health care provider. These include:
- Pain. Pain from arthritis can be constant, or it may come and go. Pain might be isolated to one place or felt in many parts of the body
- Swelling. Some types of arthritis cause the skin over the affected joint to become red and swollen, and to feel warm to the touch
- Stiffness. Stiffness is a typical arthritis symptom, with some forms of arthritis causing increased stiffness upon waking up in the morning, after sitting at a desk, or after sitting in a car for a long time, and others resulting in stiffness after exercise or characterized by persistent stiffness
- Difficulty moving a joint. Moving a joint or getting up from a chair should not be hard or painful and can indicate arthritis or other joint problem.
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