Shelia Lewis: Smith County Extension

Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in this country, affecting millions of adults and half of all people age 65 and older. Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation;" however, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments.

Arthritis can attack almost any part of the body. Some forms of arthritis cause changes you can see and feel - swelling, warmth and redness. Other types have fewer symptoms but still slowly cause damage. This article will focus on the three most common types of arthritis in older adults: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis in older adults. OA starts when cartilage, the tissue that cushions bones, begins to wear away. At its worst, all of the cartilage in a joint wears away, leaving bones that rub against each other. Symptoms may range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes to severe pain that persists when you are at rest. Sometimes OA causes you to feel stiff when you have not moved in a while but the stiffness goes away when you move.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body attacks the lining of a joint just as it would if it were trying to protect you from an infection. RA leads to inflammation in your joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. This can often happen in many different joints at the same time. If you have RA in a joint on one side of the body, the same joint on the other side of the body will probably have RA. People with RA often do not feel well, often being tired or running a fever.

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. Gout begins when crystals of uric acid form in your joints. These deposits lead to swelling, redness, heat, pain and stiffness in joint. Gout attacks often follow eating foods like shellfish, liver, dried beans, peas, anchovies or gravy.

Gout is most often a problem in the big toe but it can affect other joints, including your ankle, elbow, knee, wrist, hand or other toes. Swelling may cause the skin to pull tightly around the joint and make the area red or purple and very tender.

Common symptoms and indications that you might have some form of arthritis include:

If any one of these symptoms lasts longer than two weeks, see your health provider. If you have a fever, feel physically ill, suddenly have a swollen joint or have problems using your joint, see him or her sooner.

Medications may help with the pain and swelling - acetaminophen and some NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are sold without a prescription.

These are medications like Tylenol, ibuprofen or naproxen. Read the warnings on the package or insert that comes with the drug and talk to your health provider about if and how you should use acetaminophen or NSAIDs for your arthritis pain. There are some treatments that are specific for each common type of arthritis, including prescription drugs or steroid injections. Your health provider may make an individual recommendation for treatment after he or she determines which type of arthritis you have.

Along with taking the right medicine and properly resting your joints, exercise is a good way to stay fit, keep muscles strong and control arthritis symptoms. Daily exercise helps keep joints moving, lessens pain and makes muscles around the joints stronger. The three types of exercise that are best if you have arthritis are:

You might find comfort by applying heat or cold, soaking in a warm bath or swimming in a heated pool. Your health provider may suggest surgery when damage to your joints becomes disabling or when other treatments do not help with pain. Surgeons can repair or replace these joints with artificial ones.

Do not take for granted that your pain and arthritis are just part of growing older. You and your health provider can work together to safely lessen pain and stiffness and prevent more serious damage to your joints.

Shelia Lewis
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