While walking, bending your knees to reach the stairs, or moving your fingers to button a shirt, are some simple movements that most of us do without thinking about. However, when people with arthritis start to feel pain, they might begin to give these movements a lot of thought.
The condition known as arthritis is a progressive disease that affects the joints, which are parts of the body that have two or more bones. It can be caused by an overactive immune system or wear and tear. It can make it hard to perform everyday activities, and it can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life.
According to the CDC, the number of Americans diagnosed with arthritis is expected to increase by about 78 million by 2040. It’s considered one the leading causes of disability in adults and can also increase a person’s risk of experiencing depression and body fat.
Even the simplest of tasks can become difficult with arthritis, making it hard to perform certain activities. According to Elizabeth Ortiz, a medical director at Motto Health, people with arthritis can find it hard to perform certain activities, such as hiking or playing with their pets.
Different Types of Arthritis
Although there are various types of arthritis, most of them can be grouped into two major categories.
- Osteoarthritis
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by the wear and tears on the joint’s cartilage. This type of arthritis is referred to as degenerative arthritis. The cartilage is a flexible, smooth tissue that helps bones move without friction. When it gets damaged or roughened, it can cause the joint bones to grind against each other, leading to pain and stiffness.
Although osteoarthritis can affect different joints, it usually affects the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. According to Benjamin Bengs, an orthopedic surgeon at a hospital in Santa Monica, California, one can have mild or severe osteoarthritis in different joints.
Getting older is the main risk factor for developing arthritis. It can cause the joint’s cartilage to wear down and increase a person’s chances of experiencing it if they’ve been involved in high-impact activities, such as running, dancing, and basketball.
- Inflammatory Arthritis
Another type of arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, is an autoimmune condition that attacks the healthy joint tissue. This can cause pain and stiffness and affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.
One of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis or RA. This condition affects the joints on both sides of the body, such as the hands, knees, ankles, wrists, and feet. Its problems can also go far-reaching, as it can cause fatigue, digestive issues, hives, slow-to-heal wounds, lung scarring, and heart disease.
Symptoms
Due to the varying types of arthritis, the symptoms of the condition can vary depending on the joint. For instance, people with knee osteoarthritis might feel like their knee is buckling when they bend down. On the other hand, those with rheumatoid arthritis in the fingers might find it hard to perform specific tasks, such as writing a grocery list.
One in five people with arthritis will experience depression or anxiety. According to Dr. Ortiz, it’s natural for people with this condition to feel depressed when they cannot perform the activities they used to enjoy. The feelings can then zap a person’s motivation to keep working on their arthritis. Some main symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, swelling, redness, less movement, and joint weakness.