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Do you have painful, stiff, or swollen joints? If so, you may wonder if you have arthritis.

“Arthritis” literally means joint inflammation. There are several types of arthritis with different of arthritis with different causes. Treatment can help reduce joint pain and help you feel more comfortable.

Arthritis is a term used for conditions that cause joint pain, stiffness, swelling and other joint symptoms. About one in four adults in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis by a doctor.

Here are some types of arthritis:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. In joints with OA, the protective cartilage between bones starts to wear away. This allows the bones to rub together, which cause pain and stiffness.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own joint tissue.

• Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that can affect the joints, skin and nails.

• Infectious arthritis is caused by an infection in the joint from bacteria, viruses or fungi.

• Reactive arthritis causes joint symptoms that are triggered by an infection in another part of the body.

• Gout is a painful type of inflammatory arthritis in which too much uric acid forms and then crystallizes and deposits in the joints.

What Causes Arthritis?

There are several possible causes of arthritis, depending on the type, such as:

• Inflammation
• Joint damage
• Genetics
• Immune system dysfunction
• Infection caused by bacteria, viruses, or fun

Common Arthritis Risk Factors

Some risk factors increase the chances of developing arthritis, such as the following:

• If you do a repetitive motion in your job or a sport, it may cause joint stress, overuse, or injury that can increase the risk of arthritis.
• Older age increases your risk of developing arthritis.
• Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are more common in females, but gout is more common in males.
• Family history and genetics can increase the risk of some types of arthritis.
• If you are overweight, the added weight puts extra stress on the joints and increases the risk of developing arthritis.
• Smoking cigarettes increases the chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis.
• Infection with bacteria, viruses, or fungi can lead to arthritis.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis

Different types of arthritis have different signs and symptoms shat most commonly affect the joints. The symptoms may come and go, (they may flare-up suddenly), or symptoms may persist over time.

What does arthritis feel like? Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include:

• Joint pain may feel like a dull ache or burning sensation. The pain may be worse if you have been using a particular joint a lot.
• Joint stiffness may be worse after times when you haven’t been moving as much, like after sitting for a long time or when you wake up in the morning.
• Joint swelling may look like puffiness or fluid in the area of a joint.
• Redness or warmth you can feel on the skin can result from inflammation around the affected joint.
• Decreased range of motion can make it difficult to move your joints in certain directions or to do certain daily activities.

How is Arthritis Diagnosed?

If you are having joint signs and symptoms, the Arthritis Foundation recommends make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of the following.

• Your joint symptoms last three or more days.
• You have several episodes of joint symptom within a month.

Your doctor may use different methods to diagnose the cause of joint symptoms, such as physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging. They will also evaluate your overall health to determine if a health condition could be causing your joint symptoms.

A physical exam will help your doctor check your joints for swelling, redness, warmth, and range of motion.

Your doctor may also order blood or urine laboratory tests to help determine the cause of joint symptoms.

Imaging tests create a picture of your joints to help your doctor determine what might be causing your symptoms. Types of imaging tests include X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound.

Arthritis Treatment

Treatment for arthritis varies depending on the cause of arthritis and the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend treatment with medication, physical therapy, or surgery.

Healthy eating and arthritis

Your body works best when you eat a wide range of healthy foods. Most people find that they feel better if they eat a balanced and varied diet to get all the vitamins minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients their body needs.

Health weight and arthritis

If you’re overweight or obese, the extra load on your joints may be making your arthritis symptoms worse, especially if the affected joints include your hips, knees, feet or spine. There’s also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Gout and diet

Gout occurs when uric acid, a normal waste product, builds up in your bloodstream and forms crystals in a joint, such as the big toe, causing inflammation and pain. It’s believed that lowering uric acid levels through small changes in your diet may help reduce the chance of future gout attacks. These changes include:

• Restricting or avoiding alcohol
• Restricting or avoiding offal meals, such as liver, kidneys and brains
• Restricting or avoiding shellfish
• Restricting or avoiding products containing yeast, such as beer and Vegemite
• Drinking plenty of water
• Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Making sure you don’t overeat on a regular basis.

I experienced arthritis in my left wrist years ago to the point of barely being able to use my left hand. Initially, I had acupuncture treatments and over time the inflammation subsided. I began taking the supplement glucosamine chondroitin daily about fifteen years ago. A bit over five years ago, I completely changed my food plan and ingestion of food. I have eliminated all flour, sugar and excessive foods. I weigh and measure three meals per day with nothing in between. I am pain free and healthy.

Your doctor or dietitian can help guide you in making healthy changes to your diet.

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