| When a patient is diagnosed with arthritis, it's important | | | | almost impossible. Rheumatoid arthritis will either |
| to know what kind of arthritis type it is and, of course, | | | | worsen or often stay stable for a number of years |
| their doctor should tell them. Typically, there are three | | | | before deteriorating further. |
| common forms of the degenerative disease. To learn | | | | The disease is often diagnosed in 5 stages. Stage 1 |
| more about each keep reading. | | | | has no visible or apparent symptoms other than those |
| Osteoarthritis | | | | that can be detected through lab analysis. Stage 2 is |
| Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It's | | | | accompanied by small amount of stiffness (usually in |
| often called degenerative joint disease and tends to be | | | | the mornings) and some swelling. |
| more common in older adults. However, osteoarthritis | | | | Stage 3 causes the synovial membrane to proliferate, |
| can still appear in younger people, when it is normally | | | | and drug treatments are often required. During Stage |
| the result of injury, a hereditary disorder or metabolic | | | | 4, this disease continues to spread to the cartilage and |
| problem. | | | | joint swelling becomes more pronounced. At Stage 5, |
| Osteoarthritis attacks the smooth cartilage on the | | | | irreversible destruction has been caused and the |
| bone ends. After it's worn away, new born forms, | | | | patient is typically under high duress. |
| causing an overgrowth along with intense pain when | | | | A diagnostic conclusion of rheumatoid arthritis is |
| the dry and exposed joints move and grate together. | | | | typically founded on the existence of the following |
| The disease is not usually associated with | | | | symptoms for a period longer than six weeks - |
| inflammation. | | | | stiffness of the joints after awakening, swelling in finger |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | | | | or joints of the wrists, soft tissue swelling around joints |
| When assessing rheumatoid arthritis, the body joints | | | | and swelling on each side of a joint. |
| are essentially attacked by the immune system just | | | | Spondyloarthropathies |
| like it were an external foe. This response of the | | | | The term spondyloarthropathies actually refers to a |
| auto-immune system is something of a chain reaction | | | | number of arthritic disorders that affect the spine. |
| since there is an inflammation of the synovial joints - | | | | Though it's the third most common form of arthritis, it's |
| shifting fingers and thumbs apart - ligaments are | | | | actually a blanket term to cover conditions such as |
| weakened from the swelling, and alignment of muscles | | | | psoriatic arthritis, intestinal arthropathy, reactive |
| are damaged. | | | | anthropathy, Reiter's syndrome and more. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis can not only lead to deformity, but | | | | If you suspect you have arthritis, knowing the arthritis |
| it can also be very painful. When a patient is | | | | type of disease is critical to understanding your |
| experiencing an inflammation, simple tasks like opening | | | | treatment. And remember, early diagnosis is critical, so |
| a bottle or using a pen can be extremely painful and | | | | see a doctor. |