Arthritis is one of the most debilitating conditions, mostly affecting people over the age of 55. However, it is not limited to this age group as it can also affect a percentage of younger adults. It’s not one single disease but a group of conditions that may cause damage not only to your bones but also to other organs in the body.

Different forms of arthritis manifest different symptoms. Common symptoms of arthritis include: persistent joint pain; tenderness in a joint which is aggravated by movement; inflammation indicated by joint swelling, stiffness, redness, and/or warmth; pain and stiffness in the body, especially around the joints; joint deformity; loss of range of motion or flexibility in a joint; unexplained weight loss; non-specific fever; and crepitus (weird crackling sound in the joints.)

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Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in the US. 20% of arthritis sufferers are unable to perform vital life activities such as working or housekeeping because of their condition. Arthritis sufferers endure more days in severe pain, experience more days with limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more difficulty performing personal-care routines than people without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, arthritis can also have a negative effect on mental health. Some forms of arthritis also make your body age faster.

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An early diagnosis will be effective in managing and treating arthritis, so it is a good idea to check with your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms.

You may experience stiffness or pain in one or more of your joints. You will usually experience this pain in the neck, knees, fingers or hips, but your toes and elbows can also become affected. This stiffness or pain may be more apparent on waking or after sitting for long periods of time. As the joints naturally loosen with use, the pain may ease during the day, but may return in the evening.

The joints may become hot or swollen, and in the event of Osteoporosis bony growths may develop, usually on the knuckles.

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Hip arthritis is generally caused by wear and tear of the hip joint- the protective cartilage in the joint wears away to expose the bones, which then rub against each other, causing pain and further damage.

Hip arthritis can differ from other forms of arthritis in that it does not always follow a natural progression; sufferers report that the severity of symptoms can fluctuate month by month, and that these can be influenced by the weather and climatic conditions. This means that it can be difficult to determine the progression of hip arthritis.

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There are several possible causes of arthritis, and these may vary from one individual to another.

Whilst rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, osteoarthritis is generally caused by wear and tear to the joints in the body over the years. The joints are protected by cartilage and other tissues, which are able to repair and heal themselves on a daily basis.

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Spinal arthritis is also known as Spondylosis. It is generally caused by degeneration and wear and tear, although can also be triggered by injury or spinal surgery. It is thought that there may also be a genetic link. Spinal arthritis can affect any area of the spine, and due to the high number of nerves present within the spinal structure can be very painful.

Symptoms; You may notice increased stiffness in the spine, which can be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. There will also be pain, which may be exacerbated by movement and which may come and go. There may be additional pain or numbness in the neck, shoulders, arms or legs, including the Sciatic nerve.

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It is possible to identify Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in its early stages if you learn how to recognise the common symptoms of this condition. RA usually starts with one or more symptoms which can change over time with its progression.

RA often starts in middle age, but can also develop in younger people and even children. It causes inflammation of the joint linings (synovium), which results in excessive joint fluid being produced, causing stiffness, pain, characteristic swelling and loss of joint function. In worse cases, it can cause inflammation of the lining of the lungs, heart and surrounding blood vessels. RA can also cause the glands around the mouth and eyes to become inflamed, causing dryness- this is known as Sjogren’s syndrome.

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Sometimes in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, subcutaneous nodules can develop. These tend to be firm and are not tender to touch, and develop on around a quarter of rheumatoid arthritis patients. They can vary in size and usually develop at pressure points such as the back of the forearm, the elbow, metacarpophalangeal joint and pressure points on the knees and feet. The nodules mainly occur in chronic cases of rheumatoid arthritis, and can be associated with joint deformity and extra- articular menifestations of the condition, where organs such as the lungs and eyes are affected.

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The two most common types of shoulder arthritis are Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms The most common signs of shoulder arthritis are a  stiffness of the shoulder, limited range of motion of the shoulder joint, swelling around the joint area, and pain on moving the shoulder. There may also be a grinding feeling within the joint, or a feeling that something’s ‘catching’. These symptoms can vary in severity and tend to progress as the arthritis become worse. Interestingly though, the symptoms of shoulder arthritis do not always follow a logical progression; they can come and go from one month to another and often appear to be influenced by weather cycles.

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Neck arthritis is more commonly known as Cervical Spondylosis. It is a degenerative arthritis of the upper (cervical) part of the spine. The cause is generally age related wear and tear of the vertebrae and discs in the neck, although it can also be brought on by excessive and prolonged strain on the area, such as in jobs requiring much manual handling or certain sports. The discs in the neck become thinner as we age, and the vertebrae can develop rough areas of bone on the edges. These can cause irritation to the nearby nerves and ligaments.

We all undergo these changes to some extent, but Cervical Spondylosis is diagnosed when the degeneration is severe or having a greater impact than expected for an individual’s age.

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