Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Tests

Arthritis refers to a variety of conditions that impact joints, tissues surrounding the joints, and other connective tissues. More than 100 different types of arthritis exist, and some have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. People can develop arthritis at any age, and it can affect the hands, knees, hips, feet, neck, or spine.

Some of the most frequent symptoms of arthritis include joint problems, such as pain and stiffness. Other signs and symptoms depend on the type of arthritis, such as swelling, warmth, decreased movement, and fatigue of other organs. Closing the loop on the type of arthritis is essential in relation to the correct type of management strategies implemented, as management approaches vary from condition to condition.

What Is Arthritis?

The term arthritis refers to a group of conditions affecting the joints. Joints are places where two or more bones join together, and the bones are able to move against each other. There are several categories of arthritis that are associated with inflammation and/or injury to the tissues of a specific joint, and those that are caused by some malfunction of the body's immune system. Others have difficulties in the skin or in the eyes and lungs, or the heart. As arthritis encompasses several different conditions, persistent joint symptoms should not be presumed to be arthritis, but should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis symptoms are often very different depending on what sort of arthritis and which joints are affected. Symptoms include pain and stiffness of the joints. Some people also experience swelling, tenderness, warmth, or difficulty moving the affected joint. With osteoarthritis, individuals experience pain when using the affected joint, and stiffness happens following rest. It is commonly experienced in the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back.

Rheumatoid arthritis results in joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, especially in joints on both sides of the body. This stiffness occurs in the morning and persists for more than half an hour, and some feel fatigued or have fever or loss of appetite. Other types cause other symptoms; for instance, in some, the inflammatory arthritis of the big toe, called gout, is caused by a severe attack of this condition, and inflammatory arthritis in type psoriasis occurs in individuals with psoriasis.

Arthritis Causes

Since arthritis is a result of numerous diseases, there is no specific cause. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of tissues in a joint that occurs over time. Excess body weight, repeated stress on a joint, previous joint injury, age, and family history, along with certain structural problems, put an extra strain on it. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder whereby the immune system attacks healthy tissues in the joints. It's thought to be caused by a combination of genetics and environment. The prevalence increases due to smoking and some other factors.

A buildup of crystals of uric acid, which is a byproduct of metabolism, occurs in the joint, leading to gout attacks and inflammation. Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs following some infections, however. There are types of arthritis that don't have a fully known cause. Studies still go on into the genetics, environment, immunologic, and other factors of various forms of the disease.

Types of Arthritis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but some forms are more commonly discussed.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent type of arthritis. It consists of changes and a breakdown of tissues in a joint over time. It usually results in knee, hip, hand, neck, and lower back pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder. Inflammation affects the joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness, due to the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues in the joints. It damages organs and tissues besides the joints as well.

Gout

Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that results from uric acid crystals in joints. It usually happens in attacks and often occurs in the big toe or other lower limb joints.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Some people develop psoriatic arthritis after having psoriasis. It affects the joints as well as areas where tendons and ligaments attach to bones.

Reactive Arthritis

Occurring after certain infections, these are called reactive arthritis. This leads to pain in the joints and causes swelling in the joints; sometimes, it also affects the urinary tract and eyes.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a group of various arthritis diseases affecting children. It is the most common type of chronic arthritis in children.

Arthritis Tests and Diagnosis

Unfortunately, there is no single medical test to diagnose all forms of arthritis. Physicians typically take into account symptoms, past medical history and family medical history, and a physical exam. Depending on what type of arthritis is suspected, other tests are ordered.

Blood Tests

Doctors also use blood tests to check for inflammation or certain blood markers to help them check for any conditions. For instance, laboratory tests like rheumatoid factor and other investigations are used in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis. But blood tests often can't confirm or exclude rheumatoid arthritis. They are analyzed alongside symptoms, examination, and, as necessary, body imaging to figure out the diagnosis.

X-Ray

Changes in the bones and joints are detected through X-rays. In osteoarthritis, they appear with the narrowing of the joint space, bone changes, and the presence of bone spurs. But not all early damage to a joint shows up on an X-ray.

MRI

MRI helps give detailed images of the soft tissue and structures in and around a joint. When the doctor requires additional information on joint damage that is hard or impossible to see on the X-rays.

Joint Fluid Analysis

Sometimes doctors take some fluid from a joint. A test on this fluid is used to help find a cause, like infection or gout.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

The diagnosis of the type of arthritis at an early stage is helpful to customize treatment. If untreated, some forms of arthritis continue to cause damage to the joints or lead to complications that occur outside of the joint. If the person is diagnosed (and therefore a suitable management plan considered) early, the better. Ongoing pain, swelling, stiffness, or decreased joint function should thus be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy

At Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, different imaging and laboratory tests are used to assist in the evaluation of various health conditions when clinically indicated. Depending on the suspected condition and information needed by the treating physician, the investigations are appropriate for prolonged joint symptoms. Diagnostic work-up, including imaging (X-rays or MRI) and laboratory testing, is indicated as part of a comprehensive work-up. It is best to identify current tests needed based on the patient's symptoms, medical history, and examination findings by a healthcare professional.

Managing Joint Health

Being active is also an important component of treating a variety of arthritis conditions, along with access to medical care. Regular exercise is beneficial depending on the nature and severity of arthritis in order to ensure mobility, flexibility, and muscle strength. For the overweight, weight management also helps to alleviate stress on weight-bearing joints. 

Conclusion

Arthritis is really not a single disease, but a collection of diseases which afflict the joints and body tissues. The most common symptoms of arthritis are pain, stiffness, and inflammation; however, the types of arthritis and their causes are different. Arthritis takes many forms, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and reactive arthritis, as well as other forms. 

Not all types of arthritis have a specific test or panel of tests, so the doctor needs to make the diagnosis based on the underlying cause of the condition through physical exam, blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, and, if clinically indicated and available, joint fluid tests. Prompt diagnosis of the condition and early treatment are important to identify the condition and provide appropriate care for the symptoms of the joint disease.