When there are swelling and tenderness in one or more joints in your body, the condition is known as arthritis. Joint pain and stiffness are the main symptoms of arthritis. These normally worsen as age increases. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout are the major types of arthritis. There is the attack of the immune system in the joints during rheumatoid arthritis. This attack mainly starts from the lining of the joints. The cartilage breaks down when one is suffering from osteoarthritis. If one is suffering from gout, uric acid crystals form in the body. The reason behind this is the presence of an excess amount of uric acid in the body. The other types of arthritis happen due to any underlying diseases or infections. The doctor at the best polyclinic in Uttarpara decides the type of treatment based on the type of arthritis. Reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life are the main goals of arthritis treatment.

Symptoms

There is the relation of the joints with the most common signs and symptoms of arthritis. The following are a few signs and symptoms of arthritis:

  • Stiffness
  • Pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Decreased Range of Motion

Risk Factors

Some risk factors for arthritis are:

  • Age: As one gets older, the risk of different types of arthritis increases.

  • Family History: If anyone in your family has arthritis, there is a chance that you will develop arthritis.

  • Previous Joint Injury: There is more risk of developing arthritis in a joint if it was injured at a previous time.

  • Gender: There is more risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women compared to men whereas the risk of gout is more in men compared to women.

  • Obesity: There is stress on joints if you are obese. This stress is mainly on the hips, knees and spine.

Diagnosis

The doctor will check your joints for redness, swelling and warmth during a physical exam. The movement of your joints will also be checked by the doctor. The tests mentioned below are effective for the diagnosis of arthritis. The pathologists at a pathology centre near me carry out these tests with utmost perfection.

  • Laboratory Tests: The doctor can confirm the arthritis type in any case from the analysis of different body fluids including blood, urine and joint fluid.

  • Imaging Tests: The doctor is able to know the condition of the joints in your body with the help of these tests including x-rays, MRI, CT scan and ultrasound.

Treatment

The specialist at a doctor chamber in Uttarpara may use different treatment options as per your condition.

  • Medicines: There is variation in the medicines depending on the arthritis type. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, painkillers, counterirritants, biologic response modifiers and corticosteroids are the different types of medicines.

  • Therapy: For some types of arthritis, physical therapy may prove effective.

  • Surgery: The doctor may suggest surgical procedures like joint replacement, joint repair and joint fusion when the other treatment options don’t give the desired result.