Arthritis

Arthritis refers to a number of conditions which involve inflammation in the joints.   In fact, there are over 100 types of arthritis affecting over 49 million Americans.  21 million Americans suffer from chronic joint pain. The following are some of the most common types of arthritis we see:  

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, occurs when cartilage covering the end of bones gradually wears away, rubbing bones together and causing pain and swelling.  Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but is most often found in the hips, knees and spine. It also affects finger joints, base of the big toe and of the thumb. It rarely affects the wrists, elbows or ankles.  Osteoarthritis is common where there has been previous injury to a joint, leading to the saying of being an "athlete's disease".  Other conditions that contribute to cartilage breakdown include being overweight, disease of adjacent bone, muscle weakness, damage to nerve supplying the joint area, disease of the synovium, and heredity. Risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age and affects both men and women.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic condition where the body's immune system turns on itself and causes the joint lining and surrounding tissues to swell.  Some people confuse osteoarthris with rheumatoid arthritis, but there are distince differences in the symptoms.  Joints commonly affected include hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck, hips, knees, ankles and feet.  Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) can be diagnosed with blood tests  and  x-rays.   RA is not inhereted, although one can inherit genes which  create a susceptibility to develop RA.  Scientists are currently researching genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors which may cause RA to develop, as not everyone with a predisposition develops RA.

Gout is a type of arthritis caused by buildup of excess uric acid, which forms crystals in joints that cause swelling and pain.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease which can affect several different parts of the body, the skin, kidneys, nervous system, lungs, heart and/or blood-forming organs.  Some forms of lupus can be brought about after stopping medications taken for another condition.  It is sometimes difficult to diagnose lupus because there is sometimes no single set of symptoms, pattern of disease or set of tests.  There are, however, 11 symptoms which help doctors diagnose lupus (see links on Treatments for more details).  Lupus affects women about 10 times as often as men, and often appears when women are in childbearing years.  Some studies suggest it may be hereditary, others suggest a virus or other environmental substance may trigger predisposition to lupus.

Lyme Disease is a treatable form of arthritis if diagnosed and treated early.  Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete bacterium most commonly spread by the deer tick.  A few weeks following a tick bite, flu-like symptoms appear, a rash resembling a bulls-eye, followed by joint, tendon, muscle and bone pain.  Antibiotics administered promptly can halt the disease.  

A rheumatology specialist is the professional who can help you sort through the conflicting array of symptoms and get you started towards a less painful and more fulfilling life.

 Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a common form of generalized muscular pain and fatigue.  It is estimated to affect over 5 million Americans. The cause is unknown and difficult to diagnose, since there are no laboratory tests for it.  Laboratory tests can, however, rule it out. Although people with fibromyalgia experience aches similar to arthritis, they do not experience inflammation.  Widespread musculoskeletal pain is the most common symptom, along with fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbance and depression or anxiety.  

Because the complaints are so general and mimic other medical conditions, sufferers can be misdiagnosed for years.  Diagnosis and treatment plan from an experienced rheumatologist can help alleviate the confusing array of symptoms experienced by those with fibromyalgia.

Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common conditions and often a symptom of arthritis and many other conditions.  It is one of the leading causes of disability and lost work time.  There are many causes of back pain, including:  Ruptured or herniated disc, Spinal stenosis, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis (a form of arthritis affecting the joints in the spine), Polymyalgia Rheumatica (rheumatic disorder affecting neck, shoulders, lower back, thighs and hips), Fibromyalgia and Paget's Disease (a calcium disorder affecting lower back, pelvis and tailbone).  

It is often difficult to determine the exact cause of back pain.  A rheumatologist is a physician specially trained to diagnose back pain and find appropriate treatments.