Arthritis pain

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Research suggests that OA is the most common form of arthritis. It is a progressive degenerative arthritic condition often caused by physical increased stress to a joint such as injury or if widespread may be associated with the ageing process. This condition weakens and destroys the articular cartilage of the joint which leads to calcium deposition at the bony joint margins (cartilage of joints breakdown). The condition affects many joints such as the distal interphalangeal joints of the hand and particularly the weight bearing joints e.g. back, knees and feet. Patients with OA will often develop characteristics of bony formations (bone spurs - osteophytes) at the affected joints which can change the shape of the joint, forcing the bone out of their normal position. Due to the damage caused at the joint, the joint doesn't move as smoothly as it should.  This condition may involve varying degrees of joint pain, stiffness and reduction in movement including joint instability and deformity. 

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is a type of poly-arthritic condition that attacks the synovial membranes of the joints. It is a progressive and degenerative condition that weakens and destroys the capsular connective tissue of the joints. Potentially this can degrade and mal-form the articular surfaces of the bones causing various degrees of deformity or damage, stiffness, tenderness and joint swellings. 

 

Gout

This is a form of arthritis that may occur in any part of the body. Often it affects the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. It is a joint disorder caused by the deposition and accumulation of uric acid crystals within the joint cavity (capsule and cartilage). As a result the condition can weaken and potentially destruct the joint. 

 

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

AS is a type of arthritis that can either be acute or chronic causing inflammation in the joints of the spine (costo-vertebral and sacroiliac joints). The condition can also occasionally affect other joints and parts of the body. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, tenderness and muscular atrophy. In severe cases deformity and immobility may also occur with a reduction or loss of balance causing risks of falls due to the potential fibrosis, ossification and calcification and stiffening of the joints. 

 

What causes my Arthritic pain?

Put simply it is a natural protective response of the body to a threat within telling you that there is a problem enabling you to take certain steps to address the condition. Joint pain can be caused by many factors such as:-

• Inflammation of the tissues in the joint.

• A depletion of cartilage and lubricating fluid in the joint causing the bones to rub against one another with movement.

• An Increased build-up of uric acid crystals in the joint results in inflammation.

• The inner layer surrounding the joint capsule (the synovium) that produces the synovial fluid may thicken due to creating additional fluid causing the joint to swell. 

 

Acute and Chronic Arthritic pain

Acute symptoms of arthritis are experienced when the condition is most active. Typical acute symptoms of arthritis are heat, redness and visible signs of inflammation at the affected joints often combined with severe pain. 

 

Chronic symptoms are typically longer-lasting which persistently occur regularly for approximately 3-6 months. In some cases chronic pain may last a life time depending on the severity of arthritis and condition due to the continual ongoing inflammation as a result of the immune system attacking the body's own tissues. Typically chronic symptoms of arthritis involves the loss of cartilage and the deposition of bone tissue surrounding the bony joint margins often accompanied with less pain and inflammation.