People who have suffered from arthritis for some time are able to recognise their symptoms as soon as they start flaring up. Like the unmistakable pain that makes its appearance first thing in the morning or the stiffness that prevents even the most common activities like teeth brushing. For those who experience these and other symptoms for the first time, a sense of uncertainty accompanies them during their discomfort. With questions like “Do I have arthritis?” or “How can I find relief?” At New York Pain Medicine Associate we help you find all the answers to your questions.
Arthritis is a chronic and common condition, with over 350 million people suffering from it by 2021. Despite being usually associated with aging, this disease not only affects adults and elders, but also children and teenagers. Some of its most frequent symptoms and signs include pain, reduced mobility, inflammation and stiffness. While this disease commonly impacts joints, it can also affect the skin, eyes, lungs or blood vessels—mostly depending on the type and specific circumstances.
The first and most common symptom of arthritis is pain. Usually in joints like hands, wrists, knees, hips and spine—although it can also affect other joints and parts of the body. Pain caused by this condition can feel dull and show tenderness around joints, it can also be recurring, constant or fluctuating.
Another typical symptom of arthritis is stiffness, particularly during mornings, after waking up or following long periods of rest. Some examples of this can be a reduced range of motion after sitting for a while or morning stiffness that persists for over an hour.
Other signs and symptoms may vary depending on the type of arthritis. Some forms of this condition not only are accompanied by pain, but also swelling, redness around joints and even a warm feeling to the touch. Others can include an increased clicking on joints as well as constant and unexplained fatigue, joint deformity or mirrored pain in joints.
Read more: 6 Warning Signs Your Neck Pain Could Be a Cervical Spine Problem
Because there are over 100 different types of arthritis, specific symptoms and signs mary vary. The most common forms of this disease and its symptoms include:
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of this disease, a condition that mainly affects large and supporting joints like hips, knees and lower back. However, it can also affect hands and fingers, neck and toes. All of this being caused by wear and tear or damage that changes bones and cartilage. Despite being usual among adults 45 and older, it is not a regular part of aging.
Some signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
RA is an autoimmune form of this condition, meaning that the immune system attacks body tissues by mistake. Rheumatoid arthritis not only affects joints, but it can also damage other parts of the body—including lungs, heart, eyes, skin or blood vessels. Despite the fact that this condition begins between ages 30 and 50, it can start at any age.
Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms include:
Psoriatic arthritis —just like RA—is an autoimmune form of this condition, impacting not only joints but also other parts of the body. Despite mainly affecting people who suffer from psoriasis, people without the condition can also develop this type of arthritis—although it is uncommon. While this form of the disease shows usual symptoms like joint pain, swelling and stiffness, others can accompany it as well.
Signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are:
Slowing down this chronic condition in New York is possible by implementing lifestyle changes, habits that support this condition and taking an active role in your health.
People with this chronic condition benefit from low-impact activities, making walking an appropriate and highly-advantageous exercise to keep moving, strengthening muscles and maintaining a healthy weight.
Pain caused by this condition varies from person to person, some report constant pain while for others it comes and goes. However, lifestyle changes, medication and therapies can be of help to manage, reduce and even eliminate pain.
At New York Pain Medicine Associate we know that arthritis can be a painful, debilitating and restrictive condition that causes you to change lifestyle habits and routines. But not everything has to be left behind because of the discomfort caused by this condition. Nowadays there are several different ways to treat and manage this condition to provide relief from pain and other symptoms.
Our Providers, Dr. Demesmin, MD, MBA, and our board certified physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Dedvukaj, MD, are here to help you. Contact us to schedule a consultation and discover new ways to manage your arthritis pain and other related symptoms in New York.