Arthritis Types and Symptoms

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is inflammation of joints that occurs due to the loss of the smooth cartilaginous layer that lines the joints. The function of this cartilage layer is to make a smooth, slippery layer between joints. When this cartilage layer gets damaged, it causes friction that leads to pain, inflammation, and stiffness of the affected joint. Arthritis restricts joint mobility, which can be moderate or severe. This can significantly affect mobility and quality of life by making normal everyday life activities painful.

It is a very common condition. According to a WHO survey, there are an estimated 195.29 million Indians (roughly 1 in 6 people) who suffer from arthritis-related ailments and pains.

Arthritis can affect any joint, but most commonly it occurs in the knees, ankles, feet, hip joints, shoulders, hands and wrists, and lumbar spine (lower back).

Types of Arthritis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but some of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

1. Osteoarthritis:

This is the most common type of arthritic condition. It occurs due to age-related wear and tear of joint cartilage. Most people beyond age 50 who are suffering from joint pain are due to osteoarthritis. Obesity and joint injury can increase your risk of getting this condition as it increases the load on joints and accelarate the natural wear and tear.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are:

• Joint pain.
• Stiffness of affected joints in the morning (lasting less than 30 min).
• Swelling near the joints.
• The joint is warm to the touch.
• Not feeling strength and stability in the joint.
• The pain feels better while resting.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):

This is an autoimmune condition in which your own immune system starts attacking healthy body tissues due to some reasons. RA affect the synovial membrane of the joints. The synovial membrane holds the synovial fluid, which provides lubrication between joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a common form of arthritis. Its symptoms slightly vary from osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, the pain is asymmetrical. That is, there can be less or more pain on one side of the joint than on the other. But in rheumatoid arthritis, the pain will be symmetrical.

Symptoms of RA:

• Joint pain (symmetrical in nature).
• Morning stiffness (lasting more than 30 minutes).
• Joint pain increases at rest and is relieved while moving.
• Swelling, tenderness, and redness.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Rheumatoid nodule formation (firm lumps under the skin)

3. Gout Arthritis

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that develops due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals in your joints. It most likely affects the great toe and other toes, but can also affect other joints. When your kidneys can’t process uric acid properly, or you are eating too many foods that increase uric acid in your blood, it leads to uric acid accumulation in your joints. There is swelling, redness, and pain in the joint. The gout comes in sudden attacks (flare-ups) and resolves on its own in a few days, but you need treatment when flare-ups are more frequent and longer lasting.

Gout symptoms:

• Sudden intense joint pain (usually starts at night and reaches peak within 12–24 hours).
• Severe tenderness in joints.
• Redness and swelling.
• Swelling at the base of the great toe (and other toes).
• Tophi (firm nodules of urate crystals under the skin) formation in chronic cases.

4. Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that affects spinal joints. It usually develops in the lower part of your spine. This causes lower back pain but can also involve other parts of the spine. In rare cases, AS can affect other joints, including shoulder joints, hips, and knees.

How Our Constitutional Homeopathy Treatment can Help you in Arthritis Treatment

Constitutional homeopathy treatment has given very good results in Arthritis treatment. Constitutional homeopathy treatment is when a homeopathy doctor takes your complete case with all the minute details. And find the specific medicine suitable for your case. It is more time-consuming than a normal doctor visit. And this is the method that is recommended in homeopathy textbooks.

In homeopathy there is not the same medicine for the same disease in different people. The homeopathy doctor needs to investigate the case individually for each patient and decide on the medicine for the case based on their investigation and analysis.

At ConsultHomeo, we follow all these recommended steps of proper homeopathy treatment to provide you with the best care. We also do routine follow-ups to properly monitor the progress of your treatment.