Arthritis refers to the swelling of the joints. Severe arthritis can result in permanent disability in people. The word arthritis has been derived from the Greek word arthro meaning joint and itis meaning inflammation. Combined together these two words means the inflammation of the joints.

Arthritis results in damage to the joints in a person’s body. This malady is often associated with severe pain and at times Arthritis causes disability in people who have crossed the age of 55. People generally consider arthritis, especially osteoarthritis to be associated with old age. This however is not always true and at times even young people might be plagued by this malady. Some of the common types of arthritis include Ankylosing spondylitis, gout and cervical spondylosis.

What Causes Arthritis

There are different types of arthritis.Osteoarthritis, one of the common forms of arthritis occurs when the cartilage that protects the bone is worn away. This wearing of the cartilage takes place because of the normal wear and tear of the joints. This mostly happens in old people as the cartilage in their bone gets worn away with time. This can also happen among younger people due to some accident. Even a sports injury, where the joint faces unnatural strain can result in osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid takes place when the lining of the joint is attacked by the immune system of the body.

Symptoms of Arthritis

The main symptom ofarthritisis pain in the joint. Osteoarthritis makes the joints painful, stiff and creaky. Besides, rheumatoid makes the joint unstable, painful and deformed. However, severe arthritis can result in permanent disability. People suffering from severe arthritis often get bedridden and are not able to continue their normal life.

Types of Arthritis

There are about 200 different types of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis and may be caused because of old age or some kind of infection in the joint. Other kind of arthritis like rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis may be caused because of the join being attacked by the immune system of the body. Septic arthritis is another kind of arthritis that may caused because of an infection in the joint. Gouty arthritis is another type of arthritis caused by the deposition of the crystals of uric acid. Some other kinds of arthritis include Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Still's disease, etc.

Treatment of Arthritis

There is no permanent treatment of arthritis. However, there are means to control this problem. The conventional treatment involves the consumption of painkillers like paracetamols. In case of severe pain doctors prescribe ibuprofen. However, one should consult a doctor prior to consuming any medicine for prolonged period. This is because the stomach’s lining gets damaged by these NSAIDS. Besides, these drugs can also cause ulcers. However, a new range of NSAIDS, the cox-2 inhibitors have been launched that are used for treating arthritis.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of arthritis. This not only relieves pain, but also helps to make the muscles around the joint strong. Besides, regular exercise also forms an important part of the treatment process. The treatment of arthritis also includes knee and hip replacement.

These replacements are done by the means of surgery. Rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled by the consumption of drugs that slow the progress of the disease. Consumption of healthy food also helps in the treatment of this disease. The pain can also be relieved by the treatment of cod liver oil and different omega-3 essential fatty acids. Chondroitin and Glucosamine can also help in reducing the pain and repairing the joints that are damaged.

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