Very often, we will hear someone say that they suffer from arthritis. Even most medical forms ask if someone has been diagnosed with arthritis. However, arthritis is not just one disease. In fact, there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis forms that someone can be diagnosed with. The umbrella term of arthritis is generally used to refer to a joint disease that causes pain in varying degrees. Any person can have arthritis regardless of age, gender, race, or other identifying factor. It is, however, more often found in older women specifically. Arthritis can cause swelling, pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go, but they often become worse as someone ages. It can even cause permanent disability and the changes that occur in the joints may even be visible to the naked eye. While we cannot go over every kind of arthritis, we will touch upon the most common types.
- Degenerative Arthritis. This is when the cartilage in your joints, that is the cushioning substance in between your bones, begins to break down and wear away. This means that bone is rubbing against bone and can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain. This can be caused by excess weight, family history, previous injury, or any combination of the three.
- Inflammatory Arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is what occurs when your immune system goes off the rails and begins to attack your joints. It can also damage organs, eyes, and other parts of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common kind and may be tested through bloodwork. It is believed that family history and environmental factors can cause inflammatory arthritis.
- Infectious Arthritis. Sometimes a virus can be introduced to our bodies that causes arthritis or arthritis-like symptoms. Things like salmonella, certain sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis C, and other disorders may cause this. Generally, quick treatment with antibiotics will clear this up, but it can become chronic. Sometimes Lyme’s Disease can result in these symptoms as well.
- Metabolic Arthritis. This is caused when uric acid builds up in the joints and forms sharp crystals that cause severe pain. There are some treatments, but these symptoms often come and go for life.
If you are someone who suffers from arthritis, come into DiBella Chiropractic and see just how much better you can feel after chiropractic care. It just may change your life!
