Types Of Arthritis

What are the types of arthritis ?

There are several diseases where joint pain is the main feature. Generally when a person has "arthritis" it means that they have one of these diseases, which include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout and pseudo-gout
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Septic arthritis
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Still's disease

Joint pain can also be a symptom of other diseases. In this case, the arthritis is considered to be secondary to the main disease; these include:

• Psoriasis (Psoriatic arthritis)
• Reactive arthritis
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
• Haemochromatosis
• Hepatitis
• Lyme disease
• Sjogren's disease
• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
• Henoch-Schönlein purpura
• Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with recurrent fever
• Sarcoidosis
• Whipple's disease
• TNF receptor associated periodic syndrome
• Wegener's granulomatosis (and many other vasculitis syndromes)
• Familial Mediterranean fever
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Post Traumatic Arthritis

An undifferentiated arthritis is an arthritis that does not fit into well-known clinical disease categories, possibly being an early stage of a definite rheumatic disease.

Which type of arthritis do I have?

Even the best possible investigations may be non-specific in diagnosing the type of arthritis one has. Treatment is usually started based on both the clinical judgment of the doctor and the supportive investigations. The course of treatment is then altered according to the patient’s response.

Is it curable ? What your doctor can do for you ?

There is no permanent cure for Arthritis, so beware of 'miracle cures'. However this does not mean that it cannot be treated. Today wide variety of treatment is available for arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine. They may recommend physiotherapy, exercises, hot or cold compress for the joint.

If you are diagnosed with secondary arthritis you may be given treatment for your underlying condition.

Sometimes your doctor may give you an injection in the affected joint.

Can I have arthritis after injury ?

It is possible that you have permanent damage to your cartilage and ligaments of your joint due to an injury. In such cases your joint is likely to fail early and you will have post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Can I have more than one type of arthritis ?

Usually people have only one type of arthritis. However long standing cases of arthritis ultimately lead to secondary osteoarthritis. Sometimes you may have two types of arthritis simultaneously ( e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout).

What is Knee Replacement ?

Knee Replacement is an operation done in severe osteoarthritic knee to relieve pain and restore function.

More about Knee Replacement..

What is Hip Replacement ?

Hip Replacement is an operation done in case of fracture of hip or damaged hip to restore its function and control pain.

More about Hip Replacement..