What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a common condition that causes an inflammation of the joints, causing stiffness, pain and swelling of the joint. The condition can affect one or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis that affect people of all ages. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It usually develops gradually, over time. Several different joints can be affected, but osteoarthritis is most frequently seen in the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine. There is no known cause for osteoarthritis, but it is more common among women. OA can develop at any age, although it occurs more frequently in older people. Injury to a joint can also trigger OA, even many years later. There are a number of things you can do to relieve the symptoms, and especially the pain. Here are the most common prescribed treatments.

* Analgesics (painkillers) which relieve pain.
* Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which reduce inflammation and, in turn, pain.
* Steroids, which also reduce inflammation, and can be directly injected into a joint for fast relief.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease, mainly affecting joints and tendons. An inflamed joint looks swollen and red, and appears warm to the touch. The disease usually starts in the wrists, hands or feet, and can spread to other joints and other parts of the body. It is not known why rheumatoid arthritis occurs. People of any age can develop it, but it is most common between the ages of 30 and 50 years, and among women. Certain genes may trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

The main aim of treatment for RA is to reduce the inflammation. There are different kinds of drugs that will be used to treat RA

• Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are given soon after diagnosis to slow down the disease process
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be given alongside DMARD to tackle the inflammation and pain
• Steroids are used in case of severe inflammation.

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