Understanding the Most Common Types of Arthritis

Over 24% of adults in the United States have some form of arthritis. There are more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, connective tissues, and tissues surrounding the joint. Arthritis involves inflammation and swelling of the joints, but specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis.

The experienced Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center team offers diagnosis and treatment for arthritis. Here’s what you need to know about the most common types of arthritis.

Main types of arthritis

The three most common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout, damage the joints differently and cause different symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks the tough membrane around the joints, called the joint capsule. The lining of the joint capsule becomes swollen and inflamed. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis destroys bone and cartilage within the affected joints.

Osteoarthritis

If you have osteoarthritis, your joint’s cartilage experiences wear-and-tear damage. As the cartilage at the ends of your bones become damaged, the bones grind against each other, which causes pain and restricts movement.

Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis that typically affects one joint at a time, most often the big toe joint. People with gout may have times when symptoms are worse (called flares) and times of remission when they don’t have symptoms. Repeated episodes of gout lead to gouty arthritis, a more severe form of the condition.

How to manage your arthritis symptoms

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for arthritis, but there are steps you can take to help manage your symptoms and improve mobility.

People with arthritis commonly experience soreness and stiffness, swelling, or a limited range of mobility. You may also hear cracking or clicking sounds when you move affected joints, or feel a scraping sensation. Arthritis symptoms tend to worsen as the day goes on and you go about your daily activities.

At-home treatment includes reaching and maintaining a healthy weight and participating in regular physical activity. You can also apply hot or cold therapy to painful areas or take over-the-counter pain relievers.

Arthritis treatment options

At Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center, we offer several treatment options to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, including:

• Physical therapy sessions
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Corticosteroid injections

If you suspect you have arthritis, schedule an appointment online at the Henderson or Las Vegas location nearest you, or call Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center for a consultation.