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The term arthritis is commonly used for a wide spectrum of illnesses. To many people, arthritis simply refers to pain and inflammation of the joints. However, arthritis is much more complex than pain and inflammation. The term arthritis is derived from the Latin phrase, arth which means joint and it is which means inflammation. Over 100 illnesses are associated with the term arthritis and can range from something as simple as tendonitis to chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Three Common Types of Arthritis
· Osteoarthritis This is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects over 16 million Americans. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage surrounding the ends of bones begins to degenerate causing the bones to no longer have the protective cushioning cartilage provides. As a result, the joints rub together and in severe cases, the bones can be heard grating against one another. At the onset of the disease, symptoms are mild and include pain and stiffness of the joints. As osteoarthritis progresses, inflammation and loss of motion usually occur. In severe cases, deformity of the joint can occur when the grinding wears one side of the joint more than the other.
· Rheumatoid arthritis The second most common type, rheumatoid arthritis is also the most severe type. While the symptoms usually begin to appear between the ages of 25 and 50, children and senior citizens are also susceptible to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which means that factors other than wear and tear of cartilage can contribute to the onset of the disease and it can also affect other organs, including the eyes, lungs, and heart. This is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the joints on both sides of the body for instance, both hands will be affected, both wrists will be affected, and both legs will be affected. Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, stiffness, redness of the skin, weight loss, fatigue, and sometimes a low-grade fever. This disease can be debilitating in nature, although patients sometimes experience periods of remission during which the symptoms may disappear, allowing the patient to lead a normal life.
· Fibromyalgia This form of arthritis does not directly affect the joints. Instead, the pain and inflammation affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues under the skin. Some patients have tender spots under the skin that are painful if any type of pressure is applied. Symptoms of Fibromyalgia can include muscle pain, fatigue, loss of sleep, and depression. These symptoms may come and go, but Fibromyalgia is a long-term and chronic disease.
Other Forms of Arthritis
· Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis There is no known reason for the onset of arthritis in children. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children sometimes outgrow the disease and the symptoms completely disappear. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints and are usually worse when children awaken in the morning or after a nap.
· Infectious Arthritis This form of arthritis can be caused by either bacterial or viral infections. The onset of Infectious Arthritis is usually sudden and symptoms can include swelling of the joint, warmth around the joint, soreness, leakage of tissue fluid, fever, and chills.
· Cervical Arthritis This form of arthritis affects the upper back. Pain in the neck and arms is also experienced with Cervical Arthritis. This disease is caused when the cartilage that protects the disks supporting the neck begin to deteriorate. While chronic neck pain is the most common symptom, other symptoms can include headaches, muscle weakness, loss of balance, and stiffness.
· Anklyosing Spondylitis This chronic, inflammatory disease affects the spine. Common symptoms include lower back pain and stiffness lasting more that three months, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and low-grade fever.
· Gout This form of arthritis usually affects the joints of the big toe, but can also extend to the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbow. The most common symptoms are pain, tenderness, warmth, redness, and swelling of the affected joint.
WHAT IS Anklyosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare autoimmune disease that affects an individual's spine. This article details the known symptoms, causes, and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is also known as Bechterew syndrome, Bechterew's disease, Marie Struempell disease, and Rheumatoid spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is arthritis in the spine and causes several symptoms, including chronic pain in the spine, especially in the lower part of the spine, which may alternate from one side of the spine to the other, back stiffness, eye pain caused by uveitis, ulcers in the mouth, and increased light sensitivity, according to Wikipedia. The inflammation of the spine may eventually cause complete fusion of the spine, which results in reduced mobility.
According to the National Institute of Health, the condition most often presents itself in adolescence or early adulthood. However, children and older adults may also be affected with ankylosing spondylitis.
Currently, there are no diagnostic tests that can be used to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis directly, according to the National Institute of Health. However, rheumatologists use x-rays, blood tests, and function tests to make a diagnosis of the condition. Rheumatologists also take into consideration an individual's medical and family history when making a diagnosis of this particular condition.
The exact cause of the condition is not known, but researchers believe the condition has a hereditary component. According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 90% of all individuals with ankylosing spondylitis possess the HLA-B27 gene, which can be detected with blood tests. Researchers also believe that this genetic component is merely one aspect of the entire cause of the condition.
Ankylosing spondylitis is classified as an autoimmune disease as the immune system attacks the body in this condition, and while there is no cure for this disease, there are several treatment possibilities that improve symptoms of those who suffer with it.
Medication is often used to reduce the pain one experiences as a result of spine arthritis. Analgesics such as non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin and naproxen), COX-2 inhibitors, and opioid analgesics, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, corticosteroids, and cyclosporin, and Tumor Necrosis Factor medications (TNFa) are most commonly used in the treatment of this disease. Tumor Necrosis Factor and Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic medications reduce inflammation in the spine by acting as immunosuppressants, according to Wikipedia.
Physical therapy as well as alternative medicine such as massage are also used in combination with medication in order to reduce the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.
If you think you may suffer from arthritis of the spine, please talk to your primary physician about your symptoms and concerns. He or she will be able to refer you to a rheumatologist, if needed, who can make an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan for your specific situation.
For more information on ankylosing spondylitis, please visit the National Institute of Health at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ankylosingspondylitis.html#cat5.
Sources:
National Institute of Health: Ankylosing Spondylitis:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ankylosingspondylitis.html#cat5
Wikipedia: Ankylosing Spondylitis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankylosing_spondylitis
Spondylitis Association of America: Ankylosing Spondylitis: Symptoms:
http://www.spondylitis.org/about/as_sym.aspx
Arthritis Foundation: Ankylosing Spondylitis:
http://ww2.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/ankylosing_spondylitis.asp#What%20Causes%20It
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