Home » Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
Home » Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
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Posted:07/09/2021
Learn about the types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, so you can work out the best course of action to get moving again.
Here we give you the low down on everything arthritis and what you can do about it. There are many differences between the various types of arthritis. However, even though not all arthritis is the same, there are some shared commonalities among the different forms. This page will shed light on arthritis, the types of arthritis, what causes arthritis, arthritis symptoms, and what you can do about it.
Let’s start with: what is arthritis? Arthritis is inflammation, which creates swelling or tenderness of one or more of your joints. Arthritis can affect children and adults alike but is more common among adults. All arthritis affects joint function. This means arthritis symptoms can include limited range of motion, joint stiffness and pain, warmth and swelling around their joints, and increased intensity of symptoms after periods of inactivity, such as early in the morning.
Read on to see which arthritis types there are and how you might be able to manage them.
Types of Arthritis
There are differences between the various types of arthritis. Ultimately, these differences will affect your treatment protocol. Here is an overview of some of the more prevalent types of arthritis.
The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the more common out of the two(2). Other forms of arthritis include juvenile arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a degenerative joint disease. It’s also known as wear-and-tear arthritis or arthrosis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that tends to develop over time. So, if you have joint pain in one or more joints that are getting steadily worse over time, speak with your doctor about the possibility that you may have osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis results from reduced cartilage, which acts as a lubricant between the bones in your joints, ensuring smooth, functional movements. When cartilage gets worn down, the bones in the joint rub against one another, causing pain, stiffness, and a diminished range of motion.
Cartilage deterioration exposes a lot of little nerves that become inflamed. This bone-on-bone rubbing makes movement painful and can create bone spurs at the site of friction. This rubbing movement can also cause flareups of inflammation at the site of the osteoarthritis, which can be very painful.
You are more likely to find OA in overused joints. For example, a baker may get OA in the hands, or a runner could get OA in the knees. It can also be caused by excess body weight, leading to muscle strain and extra stress on the joints. You can use Voltarol products to treat symptoms of some kinds of osteoarthritis, such as in the knees or fingers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body attacks the membrane surrounding your joints, causing inflammation. This inflammation can cause severe joint damage if left untreated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis principally in that it’s systemic – i.e. it affects the whole body and not just the joints. This can mean issues with your heart, lungs, or eyes.
When it comes to joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, the membrane known as the synovial membrane that protects your joints becomes inflamed. This may then result in joint degeneration. Often, nodules are formed around joints as a result of extreme swelling and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis damages your joints, cartilage, and nearby bone over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis can worsen over time resulting in joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation in other parts of the body. This can also result in a feeling of tiredness and lack of wellness. Therefore, rheumatoid arthritis must be assessed and diagnosed by your doctor. Voltarol products are not indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Juvenile Arthritis
As the name suggests, juvenile arthritis appears in childhood or young adulthood and is characterised by joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion. The most common form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis – or arthritis from “unknown causes.” However, juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder, which means the immune system turns inward and attacks some of the body’s healthy tissues. Again, Voltarol products aren’t indicated to treat juvenile arthritis caused by autoimmune disorders, so it’s best to talk to your health care professional in this case.
Causes of Arthritis
What causes arthritis depends on what type of arthritis is being addressed. The most common causes of arthritis include:
– Injury – the site of an old injury can be where osteoarthritis hits
– Abnormal metabolism
– Genetics – some studies have shown that osteoarthritis can have a genetic cause, as well as getting more likely the older you get, or if you are a woman
– Infection, such as arthritis from Lyme disease
– Immune system dysfunction, for instance, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosing Arthritis
To diagnose arthritis, a doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about family health history, order lab or blood tests and x-rays. Be sure to talk to your doctor about whatever arthritis symptoms you may be experiencing and when they occur to reach a proper diagnosis.
Arthritis Pain Relief
What helps arthritis? For arthritis pain relief, speak with your doctor or pharmacist to map out the best treatment plan for your type of arthritis.
If you have osteoarthritis, Voltarol Osteoarthritis 1.16% Gel can be a fast and effective way of managing the pain and flareups of inflammation. That’s because Voltarol contains a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that penetrates deep into the joint to fight pain and inflammation. So try Voltarol Osteoarthritis 1.16% Gel for targeted relief and get back the joy of movement in your life.
Voltarol
Voltarol Osteoarthritis Joint Pain Relief Gel 1.16% 50g
£8.75
(4) “Juvenile Arthritis” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/juvenile-arthritis Accessed Oct 2020
(5) Ibid.
(6) “What are the causes and types of arthritis?” Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7621#causes Accessed Oct 2020
Home » Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
Home » Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Pain Relief Methods
Learn about the types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, so you can work out the best course of action to get moving again.
Here we give you the low down on everything arthritis and what you can do about it. There are many differences between the various types of arthritis. However, even though not all arthritis is the same, there are some shared commonalities among the different forms. This page will shed light on arthritis, the types of arthritis, what causes arthritis, arthritis symptoms, and what you can do about it.
Let’s start with: what is arthritis? Arthritis is inflammation, which creates swelling or tenderness of one or more of your joints. Arthritis can affect children and adults alike but is more common among adults. All arthritis affects joint function. This means arthritis symptoms can include limited range of motion, joint stiffness and pain, warmth and swelling around their joints, and increased intensity of symptoms after periods of inactivity, such as early in the morning.
Read on to see which arthritis types there are and how you might be able to manage them.
Types of Arthritis
There are differences between the various types of arthritis. Ultimately, these differences will affect your treatment protocol. Here is an overview of some of the more prevalent types of arthritis.
The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the more common out of the two(2). Other forms of arthritis include juvenile arthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is a degenerative joint disease. It’s also known as wear-and-tear arthritis or arthrosis. Osteoarthritis is a condition that tends to develop over time. So, if you have joint pain in one or more joints that are getting steadily worse over time, speak with your doctor about the possibility that you may have osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis results from reduced cartilage, which acts as a lubricant between the bones in your joints, ensuring smooth, functional movements. When cartilage gets worn down, the bones in the joint rub against one another, causing pain, stiffness, and a diminished range of motion.
Cartilage deterioration exposes a lot of little nerves that become inflamed. This bone-on-bone rubbing makes movement painful and can create bone spurs at the site of friction. This rubbing movement can also cause flareups of inflammation at the site of the osteoarthritis, which can be very painful.
You are more likely to find OA in overused joints. For example, a baker may get OA in the hands, or a runner could get OA in the knees. It can also be caused by excess body weight, leading to muscle strain and extra stress on the joints. You can use Voltarol products to treat symptoms of some kinds of osteoarthritis, such as in the knees or fingers.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body attacks the membrane surrounding your joints, causing inflammation. This inflammation can cause severe joint damage if left untreated.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis principally in that it’s systemic – i.e. it affects the whole body and not just the joints. This can mean issues with your heart, lungs, or eyes.
When it comes to joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, the membrane known as the synovial membrane that protects your joints becomes inflamed. This may then result in joint degeneration. Often, nodules are formed around joints as a result of extreme swelling and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis damages your joints, cartilage, and nearby bone over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis can worsen over time resulting in joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and inflammation in other parts of the body. This can also result in a feeling of tiredness and lack of wellness. Therefore, rheumatoid arthritis must be assessed and diagnosed by your doctor. Voltarol products are not indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Juvenile Arthritis
As the name suggests, juvenile arthritis appears in childhood or young adulthood and is characterised by joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of motion. The most common form of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis – or arthritis from “unknown causes.” However, juvenile arthritis is usually an autoimmune disorder, which means the immune system turns inward and attacks some of the body’s healthy tissues. Again, Voltarol products aren’t indicated to treat juvenile arthritis caused by autoimmune disorders, so it’s best to talk to your health care professional in this case.
Causes of Arthritis
What causes arthritis depends on what type of arthritis is being addressed. The most common causes of arthritis include:
– Injury – the site of an old injury can be where osteoarthritis hits
– Abnormal metabolism
– Genetics – some studies have shown that osteoarthritis can have a genetic cause, as well as getting more likely the older you get, or if you are a woman
– Infection, such as arthritis from Lyme disease
– Immune system dysfunction, for instance, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosing Arthritis
To diagnose arthritis, a doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about family health history, order lab or blood tests and x-rays. Be sure to talk to your doctor about whatever arthritis symptoms you may be experiencing and when they occur to reach a proper diagnosis.
Arthritis Pain Relief
What helps arthritis? For arthritis pain relief, speak with your doctor or pharmacist to map out the best treatment plan for your type of arthritis.
If you have osteoarthritis, Voltarol Osteoarthritis 1.16% Gel can be a fast and effective way of managing the pain and flareups of inflammation. That’s because Voltarol contains a powerful anti-inflammatory ingredient that penetrates deep into the joint to fight pain and inflammation. So try Voltarol Osteoarthritis 1.16% Gel for targeted relief and get back the joy of movement in your life.
(1) “Arthritis” Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772 Accessed Oct 2020
(2) (2) “Arthritis” Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772 Accessed Oct 2020
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/risk-factors.htm
(4) “Juvenile Arthritis” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/juvenile-arthritis Accessed Oct 2020
(5) Ibid.
(6) “What are the causes and types of arthritis?” Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7621#causes Accessed Oct 2020
(7) Arthritis, How CDC Improves Quality of Life for People With Arthritis https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fchronicdisease%2Fresources%2Fpublications%2Faag%2Farthritis.htm Accessed June 2021
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