How Do I know What Type of Arthritis I Have?

Arthritis is a painful, at times, debilitating form of inflammation of one’s joints. At this time, there are more than 100 types of arthritis that affect at least 50 million adults and 300,000 young children in our nation. Given these numbers, it is imperative that you have a starting baseline to understand arthritis and if may be affecting your life.

Common types of arthritis

Although there are over 100 different types of arthritis, researchers have narrowed that list to roughly five common types of arthritis that may affect your life. Read on to learn more about these common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most popular forms of arthritis, affecting more Americans every year than any other form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the result of the breakdown of the protective cartilage within your joints. Over time, osteoarthritis makes it difficult to move and become more painful, although the severity of the pain can vary from sufferer to sufferer.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by:

• Lack of coordination.
• Joint soreness
• Increasing disability

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your joints are attacked by your body’s own immune system. In addition to the terrible pain, rheumatoid arthritis can result in permanent damage to your joints.

Common signs of rheumatoid arthritis, includes: 

• Morning joint pain
• The formation of joint deformities
• Trouble sleeping
• Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet. 

Psoriatic arthritis

Much like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition that attacks the body, causing both pain and inflammation. It primarily attacks the joints, leading to a diagnosis of arthritis. 

Lupus

Lupus is another autoimmune condition that can lead to a diagnosis of arthritis. As is the case in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, lupus is an autoimmune disease, in which your autoimmune system begins attacking your body. It is a cause of arthritis because it can result in inflammation in your joints, but it can also cause similar inflammation in other bodily organs, including your brain. Like all other forms of autoimmune disease, the arthritic pain that lupus causes can be unbearable.

Common symptoms of lupus include:

• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity to light
• Swollen lymph nodes

Given the amount and complexities of different forms of arthritis, it is imperative that you reach out to a physician trained to diagnose your condition and help you develop a tailored treatment plan. Dr. Louis Keppler and Associates are a team of orthopedic surgeons devoted to providing you with excellent care. Please give us a call at (234) 430-0079 to schedule an appointment so that you can get back on the road to optimal health.