What is arthritis?
Arthritis is the tenderness and swelling of the body’s joints. Arthritis can occur at any age but tends to be more prevalent in older people. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage (the slippery hard tissue that covers the bone where it meets the joint) to break down over time. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, causing painful inflammation.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Signs and symptoms of arthritis often revolve around the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis symptoms can include:
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Pain
- Decreased range of motion
- Redness
When to see a doctor for arthritis
Once diagnosed arthritis can often be managed at home with medications, but you should see a doctor if the joint pain lasts for more than three consecutive days or you have several episodes of joint pain within a month, or if you have redness, swelling, and warmth to touch occur around the joint. Immunosuppressive medications often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, can have serious side effects. You should seek medical care if you are on this type of medication and experience the following:
- Flu or flu-like symptoms, like fever, headache, and body aches
- Mouth sores
- Rash
- Bruising and easy bleeding
- Acute joint pain and swelling not typical of a flare
- Sudden onset of abdominal pain
Loved my time with them. Very hospitable and empathetic. Don’t like a doctors office but they did a great job making it easy.
– Cap
