What Are The Main Types Of Arthritis

Is It Possible To Prevent Arthritis

Yes. Arthritis can be prevented by following the preventive and safety measures along with the nutritious food. As we all know, there is no proper and permanent cure for arthritis. Therefore it is better to prevent arthritis before developing it. The preventive steps include:

Anatomy Of Arthritis Pain

Get more familiar with the parts of the joint and how they can be affected by arthritis conditions and pain.

To better understand the different types of arthritis and the causes of pain, start by familiarizing yourself with the parts of a joint. Please click on the image below to view a larger version.

• Joint: This is the place where two or more bones come together and motion occurs. Examples include shoulders, wrists, hips and knees. The bones in the spine also form joints, which may be involved in certain types of arthritis.

• Cartilage:Joints have a thin cushioning layer called cartilage on the surfaces of the ends of bones. This cartilage is a shock absorber and provides a smooth surface for joint movement. Cartilage has no blood vessels or nerves. However, when it wears down, bone rubs against bone causing painful movement..

Pain Generators in the Joint

Different types of arthritis affect different parts of the joint. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is primarily a disease of the joint lining . The main problems in osteoarthritis affect the cartilage and bone. The pain in arthritis comes from disease processes including inflammation and mechanical stresses that occur in these different parts of the joint. The areas of the joint where pain is coming from are called the pain generators.

Managing Pain

How Different Types Of Arthritis Affect Your Joints Differently

Do you believe your joint pain is caused by arthritis? With over 100 different types of arthritis identified, knowing the type you have could be the key to relieving your pain and inflammation. A qualified specialist can correctly diagnose your arthritis type and properly manage your symptoms with a targeted regimen.

At Western Orthopaedics in Arvada and Denver, Colorado, our team of orthopaedic specialists has many years of combined experience diagnosing and treating the various forms of arthritis. They can properly classify your arthritis type and treat your joint pain and any other symptoms.

• Challenges With Diagnosis

Rheumatic diseases are those characterized by inflammation and impaired function of one or more connecting or supporting structures of the body. There are more than 100 different types of rheumatic diseases, including arthritis and its various types, which are conditions that specifically produce joint inflammation. Pain, stiffness, and swelling are common symptoms associated with rheumatic diseases, but there can also be systemic effects with certain conditions.

In the United States, the most common rheumatic diseases are osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. It is estimated that 52.5 million people in the U.S. have arthritis or one of the rheumatic diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

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Seronegative Ra: What Are The Symptoms Of Seronegative Ra

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis without the presence of certain antibodies in the patients blood. It is one of two main types of rheumatoid arthritis diagnoses.

In most cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the patient tests positive for rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated peptides antibodies. These indicate that the patient is seropositive and that they possess the antibodies that cause an attack on joints and lead to inflammation. These patients tend to have a more severe disease course with more joint deformities, x-ray damage, disability and inflammation outside of the joints.

Autoimmune Conditions That Can Overlap With Ra

RA is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis and it overlaps with a lot of other rheumatologic conditions, Dr. Wallace says. This isnt that commonthe prevalence is about 1.5%, Dr. Wallace says. But still, its common enough that when we see someone with RA we will ask them a list of questions to see if they have any features of other autoimmune diseases and if they do, wed look for them with blood tests, exams, or imaging.

When two inflammatory rheumatic diseases overlap, its aptly called an overlap syndrome. The conditions that can overlap with RA include:

• Sjogrens syndrome

In these situations, you may be diagnosed with RA and that other condition, or the other condition with a RA phenotypemeaning you have some characteristics of RA but not enough diagnostic features for a secondary diagnosis. In these cases, you would get treatment for RA on top of the other condition, Dr. Wallace says.

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Where Is Arthritis Most Common In The Body

One question people often have is, Where is arthritis most common in the body? The answer is that there isnt one specific area thats the most commonly affected. If you have arthritis, it typically affects more than one joint. But its true that the joints we use the most in our daily lives can be the most noticeably affected by pain or stiffness. Those joints typically include our knees, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, hips and shoulders.

Understanding The Antibody Factor In Ra

But heres an important twist you need to know: You dont need to have these antibodies in your blood at all to get a definitive RA diagnosis. And having them doesnt necessarily mean you have RA, says Dr. Giles. Rather, they simply help your doctor distinguish between rheumatoid arthritis typesif you happen to have RA to begin with, which can be determined in part through scans and other diagnostic tools.

These blood tests don’t mean anything unless you have actual clinical RA, Dr. Giles explains. RF can also be present in other types of diseases, including ,Sjogrens syndrome, and , he says. Anti-CCP is more specific to RA so it can be a more sure sign of diagnosis, but it can occasionally show up in similar diseases, like . Ultimately, diagnosis of RA comes down to physical exams that identify the right pattern of joint involvement and X-rays, Dr. Giles says.

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What Is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

When a patient tests negative for RF and anti-CCP antibodies, yet they still display strong symptoms consistent with rheumatoid arthritis, they are given a diagnosis of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

The term seronegative means they dont possess the antibodies that seropositive patients do. In other words, seronegative patients may also simply possess extremely low levels of the antibodies not enough for the test to detect.

Many seronegative rheumatoid arthritis patients go on to develop antibodies years after their initial diagnosis, which then changes their diagnosis to seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. This is one of the many reasons that a patient can still be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis even if they are seronegative.

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How Is Arthritis Treated

Theres no cure for arthritis, but there are treatments that can help you manage the condition. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of the arthritis, its symptoms and your overall health.

Conservative treatments include:

• Medication: Anti-inflammatory and pain medications may help relieve your arthritis symptoms. Some medications, called biologics, target your immune systems inflammatory response. A healthcare provider may recommend biologics for your rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
• Physical therapy: Rehabilitation can help improve strength, range of motion and overall mobility. Therapists can teach you how to adjust your daily activities to lessen arthritic pain.
• Therapeutic injections: Cortisone shots may help temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in your joints. Arthritis in certain joints, such as your knee, may improve with a treatment called viscosupplementation. It injects lubricant to help joints move smoothly.

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Other Conditions Associated With Seronegative Patients

A seronegative result along with what are thought to be rheumatoid arthritis symptoms could potentially indicate other conditions altogether. Often times when inflammation is present or consistent it means that the seronegative patient may have osteoarthritis instead of rheumatoid arthritis. This is a common confusion.

Spondyloarthritis conditions are sometimes associated with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis because they are inflammatory. These are conditions like ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, as well as psoriatic arthritis.

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Is Arthritis Always A Chronic Condition

No, arthritis isnt always a chronic condition. For example, if its caused by an underlying illness that resolves, then arthritis symptoms may go away along with it.

But unfortunately, its much more common for arthritis to be a long-term condition that people need to manage with ongoing treatments, like medication and lifestyle changes. This is especially true in the case of osteoarthritis, the most common type. When you have wear and tear on your joints and the cartilage has degenerated, the cartilage cannot grow back. But variables such as your age, weight and history of joint injuries can determine the severity of the condition over time.

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Common Types Of Arthritis

At its core, arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in your joints. The road to these symptoms, however, isnt a single one as there are more than 100 different types of the disease. These types are typically grouped into four categories.

To help you better understand the many forms of arthritis, the team here at Summit Pain Alliance thought wed take this opportunity to explain the four major categories of arthritis and how they all lead to the same result joint pain and inflammation, which can greatly affect your ability to move without pain.

Degenerative Or Mechanical Arthritis

Degenerative or mechanical arthritis refers to a group of conditions that mainly involve damage to the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones.

The main job of the smooth, slippery cartilage is to help the joints glide and move smoothly. This type of arthritis causes the cartilage to become thinner and rougher.

To compensate for the loss of cartilage and changes in joint function, the body begins to remodel the bone in an attempt to restore stability. This can cause undesirable bony growths to develop, called osteophytes. The joint can become misshapen. This condition is commonly called osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis can also result from previous damage to the joint such as a fracture or previous inflammation in the joint.

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Other Conditions And Joint Pain

Other forms of arthritis, and other conditions, can also cause joint pain. Examples include:

• fibromyalgia syndrome, a condition in which your brain processes pain in your muscles and joints in a way that amplifies your perception of the pain
• scleroderma, an autoimmune condition in which inflammation and hardening in your skin connective tissues can lead to organ damage and joint pain

Types Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The type of RA you are diagnosed with depends on whether or not you have antibodies in your blood called anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides and/or rheumatoid factor these antibodies are known to attack proteins in the joints. When anti-CCP and/or RF are detected in the blood of someone with RA, they have seropositive RA when they are not present, its called seronegative RA, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

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Therapeutic Effects Cold Laser Treatment

Cold laser can penetrate deeper skin surface without causing damage to the tissues and surrounding skin.

These lasers bring focused doses of ultraviolet light to affected areas of your skin to reach its deeper parts.

Cold laser treatment is safe to use because it does not generate scorch or heat. It also uses a precise healing technique with no known side effects.

You dont have to worry about skin reactions because it works on any skin type. Cold laser treatment also gives the following advantages-

• It aids in healing the wounds fast.
• It helps in the development of your muscle tissue and collagen.
• It helps produce new and healthy tissues and cells.
• It increases repair of cell tissues.
• It protects your skin from free radicals thereby slowing the aging process of your cells and tissues. It also prevents the development of degenerative diseases or conditions that are associated with aging, like-
• Alzheimers disease

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Think You Might Have Arthritis Talk To Your Doctor

A little joint soreness here and there can be normal as we go through our lives. But if youre experiencing recurring pain in your joints, whether its sudden or increasing as you age, its a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Primary care doctors can listen to you about your symptoms, look at your health history and help you understand what youre experiencing. Depending on the diagnosis, they may suggest treatments that can help, or recommend that you see a rheumatologist or an orthopedist for more specialized care.

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Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Prognosis

Determining a prognosis or outcome for any rheumatoid arthritis patient is difficult. Seronegative patients are no different. The disease itself may start out with mild symptoms and involve into more severe symptoms that make treatment more difficult.

Seronegative patients are often regarded as having a milder set of symptoms compared to seropositive patients. Generally, seronegative patients dont develop rheumatoid nodules, which are commonly displayed in seropositive patients. This is never a certainty, however, and each patients individual symptoms and disease progression will differ.

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Va Disability For Arthritis: Service Connection

There are three main service connections for arthritis: direct service, presumptive service, and secondary service. Since arthritis is a gradual disability, there does not have to be an event or injury to prove service connection.

Wondering how to prove arthritis is service connected? Direct service connection is easier to show if you documented pain throughout and after your service. It will be much easier to determine your rating if you have past medical records indicating the presence of arthritis. Yet, arthritis is characterized as a presumptive service connection, so if you do not have any past records, you are still eligible for service-connected benefits.

Its important to mention that arthritis commonly worsens over time. Veterans who wait to claim VA disability for arthritis or to even receive an immediate VA disability rating may find it harder to make a VA claim. The closer to your discharge your arthritis begins to flare up, the easier it is to claim service connection.

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Is Arthritis Hereditary

Research and genetic studies show that arthritis can be hereditary, especially if your parent or someone in your close family has osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Its important to note that even if youve inherited those genes, not everyone will develop an arthritic condition or experience the same symptoms.

Its just as common for arthritis to develop outside of genetic causes. It can happen as a result of the normal aging process, wear and tear from repeated stress on a joint, your unique anatomy, and a variety of other factors. Your doctor will look at your health history, symptoms and any imaging or examination findings to provide a diagnosis and help you understand the most likely cause.

How Hot Is Hot

Hot peppers have their own rankings. The Scoville heat scale rates the capsaicin level based on how much sugar water it takes to neutralize the heat. It ranges from 0 to 1,641,183 Scoville heat units . The top score is for the Carolina Reaper, the hottest pepper on earth. Buying tips: Dried peppers are hotter than fresh. The thinner the stem, usually the hotter the pepper.

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Lifestyle And Home Remedies

In many cases, arthritis symptoms can be reduced with the following measures:

• Weight loss. Excess weight puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints. Losing weight may increase your mobility and limit future joint injury.
• Exercise. Regular exercise can help keep joints flexible. Swimming and water aerobics may be good choices because the buoyancy of the water reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
• Heat and cold. Heating pads or ice packs may help relieve arthritis pain.
• Assistive devices. Using canes, shoe inserts, walkers, raised toilet seats, and other assistive devices can help protect joints and improve your ability to perform daily tasks.

Conditions Often Confused With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis , and that can sometimes be confused with RA, Dr. Wallace says. The main differences? OA gets usually better when you rest, and worse when you use the joint and it doesn’t cause much joint swelling, warmth, and redness compared to RA, she says.

RA can also be confused for various tendon and ligament problems. RA can affect the tendons, the rubbery bands that connect muscle to bone, and ligaments, which connect bone to bone, Dr. Wallace explains. Because of this, the pain and discomfort of RA can feel like a sprain, strain, or other acute ligament problem. This confusion most commonly happens with rotator cuff pain, she adds. When the tendons in the shoulder are inflamed from RA, its hard to tell that sort of pain apart.

Its important to get a proper diagnosis because treatments for all of these conditions vary widely. A rheumatologist can help you sort out whats going on and help you take the necessary steps to improve symptoms, no matter what type of RA you have.

Especially if your symptoms have yet to be diagnosed, its best to get the ball rolling with a visit to your doctor since there are .

Seropositive vs Seronegative RA: Arthritis Foundation. What You Need to Know About Seronegative RA.

JIA: Arthritis Foundation. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis .

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