Arthritis is an inflammation involving the joints. Major symptoms include joint pain due to inflammation on the affected part. It is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. Some patients experience symptoms like fever, fatigue, and weight loss. There are three major kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gouty arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, systemic inflammatory disease that mostly affects synovial joints. Causes of which are excessive growth of synovial cells, or synovial fluid that leads to the destruction of cartilages in the joints. This occurs at any age but mostly between the ages of 40 to 50 years old. Signs and symptoms include synovitis, formation of rheumatoid nodules in the skin, ulnar deviation, boutonniere deformity, and swan neck deformity. Ulnar deviation is the swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints causing hand deformity or outward displacement of the fingers. Swan neck deformity and boutonniere deformity cause the hyperflexion of distal interphalanges and the hyperextension of the proximal interphalanges.

Arthritis is an inflammation involving the joints. There are three major kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gouty arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes friction between the joints because of the degradation of joints and articular cartilages. There are certain factors that contribute to the occurrence of osteoarthritis. This may be hereditary, metabolic or mechanical, like obesity, excessive exercise, and some diseases like diabetes and other inflammatory disorders. Signs and symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, bone enlargements in small joints like Heberden's nodes on the distal interphalangeal joints and Bouchard's nodes on the proximal interphalangeal joints.

Gouty arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that originates from excessive accumulation of uric acid in the blood. Therefore, diet greatly contributes to gouty arthritis. This produces a tender and swollen joint pain in the metatarsal-phalanges and usually affects the big toe. Kidney stones and tophi formation are also visible in gout. Tophi are nodules that occur in the joints and cartilage due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.

Prevention on arthritis aimed on lifestyle modification. This disease can be prevented through balanced diet by avoiding foods with high uric acid and reducing weight, regular and moderate exercise, participating on physical therapies, and consulting your doctor for early diagnosis and treatment.

On the other hand, treatment on arthritis basically focused on pain relief. Anti-inflammatory medications are administered depending on the type of arthritis experienced. Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Tramadol, Ultram, and Fioricet are given for pain relief in rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Steroids can only be given for rheumatoid arthritis. In gouty arthritis, Colchicine is given if patients are unable to tolerate NSAIDs. Probenecid excretes uric acid in the urine. Allopurinol acts to treat hyperuricemia or accumulation of uric acid in the blood. Other treatment involves splinting to prevent further damage, physical therapy to mobilize stiff joints, application of cold compress, rest and elevation of the affected joint, and certain surgical procedures including joint replacement in osteoarthritis.

To Summarize :

Arthritis is an inflammation involving the joints. Major symptoms include joint pain due to inflammation on the affected part. There are three major kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gouty arthritis. These diseases are prevented through diet modification. However, when symptoms exist, pain relievers will provide pain relief.