Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis symptoms may appear similar with each type of arthritis although some symptoms may be present or absent in a particular type. The following are the most common types of arthritis with their symptoms:

• Degenerative arthritis – or what is also called and known as osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis is simply explained as the wear and tear of the joints in the body of the person affected with this disease causing inflammation and pain in the said joints. In persons suffering from osteoarthritis, their cartilage which covers and protects their joints tend to wear off causing pain to the patient due to his body weight whenever he is moving, especially when he is walking and standing. OA or osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – is usually considers as a chronic disease. It involves the immune system because it is an autoimmune illness. In this case the immune system attacks the joints of the patient. It can result to loss of the mobility of the patient and can affect other body parts such as the skin and blood vessels. Many patients of this type of disease, an estimated 60% of them are unable to continue their job around 10 years after they get the disease.
• Gout – is one of the arthritis symptoms which is due to an abnormality in the uric acid wherein blood and crystals form in the joints. This causes a sudden, severe pain in the big toe of the patient but any joint can also be affected. To prevent and control this disease, one should have the proper diet and drugs prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner. This usually starts at the age 40 to 50 years.
• Juvenile Arthritis - involves the spine which can cause it to become rigid. It has different symptoms in children and adults. Some children get cured completely from this disease while others will have to continue to suffer throughout their lives.
• Psoriatic arthritis – is an arthritis symptom which can affect the whole body. It is due to a chronic skin disease. Systematic lupus erythematosus arthritis affects the skin, joints, muscles and sometimes even the internal organs of the patient. In women, this disease appears at childbearing age but it can also happen at any age. This can be mild or it can be severe and can cause death. More women are affected by this disease than men, occurring nine to ten times more in women than in men.
• Septic arthritis – is when an infection enters the joints of the patient. This may be due to bacteria, virus or fungi which are transported by the bloodstream from an infection the patient obtained elsewhere due to a skin lesion that enters the joints.

The types of arthritis each pose unique problems. Arthritis symptoms should be diagnosed at an early stage and treatment may vary with each type.