Arthritis (inflamed joints) is the leading cause of disability in the United States. At least half of older adults have arthritis. This disease limits the ability of millions of older adults to walk, climb stairs, bend, or kneel, or do daily activities. Arthritis also can make daily work routines more challenging.
Black people and people who come from Spanish-speaking cultures are more likely to have arthritis than Whites. Societal factors may contribute to some people having less access to healthcare services and other things they need to stay healthy.
Basic Facts
There are several common types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
This is the most common type of arthritis. The ends of bones in joints have a slippery, cushioning substance called cartilage. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber and allows bones to slide smoothly against each other.
Cartilage can weaken with age, injuries, or infections leaving bones unprotected. Bones then start to grind against each other with movement, causing pain.
Small holes and breaks can start in the bone surface. Then, bony growths—called osteophytes or bone spurs—may begin to appear. Sometimes, small bone fragments or bits of cartilage break off and interfere with the movement of the joint, causing more swelling and pain.
Bones, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles can become irritated and inflamed.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is the second most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects many joints in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and feet. This disease is often a life-long disease that can get worse with time.
In this type of arthritis, a person’s immune system starts attacking the tissues in their joints. One of the tissues is the synovium. This is a thin lining over bones that helps keep joints moving.
Rheumatoid arthritis also can attack muscles, blood vessels, heart, lungs, nerves, and skin.
Many people get rheumatoid arthritis before age 60. Others get it as older adults. The older group is more likely to have:
• Much early morning stiffness
• Pain in the shoulders, wrists, and hands.
Gout
Gout is caused by the build-up of uric acid crystals within a joint. Uric acid is a waste product found in the blood. The body makes uric acid when it breaks down chemicals found in certain foods and drinks. Usually the kidneys filter out uric acid into the urine. Sometimes the body makes too much uric acid, or the kidneys are not able to remove it fast enough. High levels of uric acid can settle in the joints, creating crystals which clump together. This build-up causes intense pain, swelling, warmth, and redness.
Infectious Arthritis
This type of arthritis occurs when an infection spreads into a joint, causing pain, swelling, warmth, and redness.
- Warning Signs of Arthritis
- Signs of arthritis are:
- • Pain, swelling, or tenderness in one or more joints
- • Cracking or crunching sounds with movement
- • Stiffness, especially morning stiffness or stiffness after rest
- • Warmth or redness in the joints
- • Bony knobs that appear on the joints of the fingers
- • Reduced range of motion (a decrease in how much the joint can move)
- • Rheumatoid arthritis has additional signs, such as:
- • Anemia (low numbers of red blood cells)
- • Dry eyes and mouth
- • Inflammation in other places such as blood vessels or the lining of the lungs
- or the heart
- • Joints on both sides of the body affected at the same time (for example, both ankles)
- • General fatigue, fevers, feeling sick
- • Weight loss—especially when it starts in an older person
- • A person may feel arthritis pain and other symptoms in unexpected areas.
- • Tingling, weakness, or numbness in arms or legs may mean arthritis of the spine. This can put pressure on the nerves coming out from the spinal cord. Sometimes this type of arthritis affects bladder or bowel function.
- • Pain in the groin, buttocks, inner thigh, or knees can mean arthritis in the hip.
Diagnosis and Tests
Your healthcare provider will take a medical history and do a physical exam. They may order several tests to find out what type of arthritis a person has.
Care and Treatment
Physical Activity
Regular physical activity is a critical part of arthritis treatment. Activity can reduce pain and improved a person’s ability to move. Physical activity may lead to weight loss, which can reduce osteoarthritis pain. Among the activities that may help are:
• Physical therapy can help people with osteoarthritis have less pain and disability.
• Occupational therapy can help people carry out daily activities with less pain and more mobility
• The following activities can help people with osteoarthritis:
• Tai Chi (a form of meditative movement that began in Asia)
• Yoga (a practice that involves meditation and poses that can strength joints)
• Balance training
• Walking
• Braces for knees and hands
• Medications Treatment
• Medication for the Pain and Inflammation of Osteoarthritis
Lifestyle & Management
Everyone living with arthritis has a different experience. Healthcare providers offer the following methods of coping with the disease.
Control the Disease
A person with arthritis need to create a plan with their healthcare professional that includes:
• Understanding the treatment routine
• Doing new diet and exercise programs, if needed
• Learning relaxation techniques
• Monitoring of medication effects
• Getting regular check-ups
• People who control their treatment feel less pain and spend less time having to visit their healthcare providers.
Diet
A person with gout likely needs to avoid certain foods that can raise the risk of gout flares. These include shellfish, organ meats, full-fat dairy, and alcohol. Weight loss will also improve management of gout. Consider a whole-food, plant-based diet to help manage symptoms.
Find Support Groups and Other Resources
Steps people can take include:
• Finding support in the community or online.
• Involving family and friends.
• Sharing experiences and hear how others cope with their arthritis.
• Learning about arthritis self-management. These programs teach people about the disease and help them take charge of their own care.
• Other Therapies
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (a type of talk therapy) may help people improve their pain, fatigue, quality of life, and abilities.
From the CEO