Do you have trouble rising from bed in the morning? Is buttoning your shirt a herculean task? Do you have difficulty in walking, climbing stairs and even writing? You might well be one of the millions of people suffering from arthritis. An estimated 50 per cent of those afflicted with arthritis are aged 65 and above, about 250,000 children, too, are known to suffer from arthritis.So, what is arthritis?Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are chronic, disabling and progressive diseases. Joint pain is the primary symptom, and is thought to be brought on by activity, though in severe cases, it could be present even in rest. Loss of movement, stiffness and swelling in the joints, bony growths at the joints and abnormal angulation and abnormal angulations are all symptoms of arthritis. Often, the impairment of functions is more depressing to the patients than the pain itself. The goal of all arthritis treatment is preservation or improvement of the functions; there is no cure for it.What is the commonest kind of arthritis?There are various kinds of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the commonest, says Dr Yash Gulati, consultant and knee surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo. ‘‘It involves deterioration of the hip and the knee joints and is age related. Movement becomes painful and slow, deformity may also result.’’The actual appearance of the knee may change over time, so much so that patients become knock-kneed or bow-legged. Without exercise, the affected part becomes weaker and may even shrink. When the hip is involved, the joint pain may cause the patient to limp; the pain may also spread to the groin or the inner thigh. The affected leg may also appear shorter. In fingers, the breakdown of cartilage causes bone spurs in the joints. These are more common in women than in men, and in people as young as 40.But osteoarthritis isn’t the only kind of arthritis.No, there are more aggressive forms of the disease.• Cervical arthritis or cervical spondylosis is an osteoarthritic condition affecting the upper spine and is more common in women than in men. It results from degeneration of the vertebra in the neck and in the flexible disks of shock-absorbing cartilage present in between. The space in between muscles is narrowed, causing compression of the nerves leading from the spinal cord. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, muscle weakness, numbness, headache and loss of balance.• Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammatory arthritis affecting the synovium, the thin membrane that lines the joints. The membrane thickens and produces chemical substances that damage the cartilage, bone, capsule, ligaments and tendons. The cause is not known; experts variously blame heredity, infection, hormones and even personal immune systems.• Gout arthritis involves needle-like crystals of uric acid deposited in the ligaments and cartilages of the joints, which cause swelling and extreme pain. Contributing factors include certain high protein foods like meat, seafood, dried peas, beans and vegetables, as well as crash diets, dehydration and weight loss.Is arthritis area specific?‘‘Climate does have a role to play in arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in cold areas. The warm weather has a soothing affect on arthritis, but it does not reverse the disease. Gout is usually limited to particular areas; in India, for instance, it is more common in Jammu and Kashmir,’’ says Dr Gulati.How can arthritis be diagnosed and treated?Your doctor is the best person to determine the type of arthritis you have. It is important to tell your physician about where, when and how long you suffer pain, about any swellings or redness or tenderness.Living with arthritis — how difficult is it?Successful treatments involve exercise, rest, maintenance of ideal body weight, local application of hot and cold compresses and proper medication. Surgery is recommended in severe cases. But most of all, doctors place faith in family support. Each patient has to adapt to his or her limitations and remain optimistic.
