Symptoms such as joint pain, swelling and inflammation are often associated with Arthritis. There are over 200 diseases that come under the term arthritis. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA), which happens due to mechanical wear and tear or damage to a joint and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is due to inflammation of the joints.
In OA there is a thinning, often progressing to complete loss, of the cartilage that covers the surface of the joint. OA may arise without an apparent cause or may occur after damage to a joint from inflammation (which might be a result of infection), too much stress on the joint or traumatic injury.
OA commonly affects load-bearing joints such as the spine, hips or knees and can also affect the finger joints; it may only affect one side of the body.
The most common symptom of OA is pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling, warmth and crepitus (creaking) of the affected joints.
RA causes inflammation of the joint lining, which can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function. Typically, the condition most commonly affects the finger joints, knuckles and wrists, feet and ankles, progressing to the elbows, knees, shoulders and the hips.
If you have joint pain, stiffness, and/or swelling for more than 2 weeks, you may have arthritis. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms and about pain control and having the right pain reliever.
Learn more about joint pain and arthritis by visiting our Arthritis Quick Guide.