Arthritis among the Elderly: Types and Symptoms

Arthritis is extremely common among the elderly, but is also prevalent among adults and children as well, During the years 2010-2012, about 50 percent of the people above 65 years of age and older were diagnosed with some form of arthritis in their joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis and knowing the right type is of utmost importance to carry out proper treatment and care.

Understanding Arthritis

Arthritis is referred to any pain that is caused due to inflammation in the joints. Arthritis, though a common occurrence among the elderly can be found in people of any age, race and gender. It is considered a cause of disability and one of the leading causes of disability in the US.

Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

This is the most common type of arthritis and is most common among the elderly. Osteoarthritis is caused due to the gradual wear and tear of the cartilage. Cartilage is a kind of tissue that pads and protects the bones in the joints so that they don’t rub against one another. Osteoarthritis is most common in the hands, lower back, neck, and the weight-bearing joints in your body, like the hips and the knees.

Osteoarthritis symptoms include stiffness and pain that appears during activities like walking, stooping, bending and can sometime get extremely severe even during the times when you are resting. Osteoarthritis makes your joints stiff and painful if you haven’t moved in a while, like after a long car journey. The discomfort however goes away once you start moving the joint.

Major causes of Osteoarthritis include age, obesity, injury or overuse of a certain part of your body, injury of the soft tissues, previously genetically predisposed, and most importantly muscle weakness. This is one factor that can be taken care of by daily exercising and working on your thigh muscles.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an autoimmune disease which leads the body to attack the lining of the joint in its version of protecting you from an injury or a possible disease. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur on multiple joints at the same time and renders the individual incapable of moving the said joint. Individuals affected with Rheumatoid arthritis often don’t feel well and run a temperature or feel fatigued.

Unfortunately, RA not only affects joints but also attacks other organs such as the nervous system, heart, blood vessels, muscles, and eyes.

Gout

Gout is probably the most painful of all types of arthritis. Gout occurs when crystals of uric acid form in the joint spaces. The deposition leads to pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness. These attacks often occur when the patient eats food like shellfish, anchovies, liver, peas, or dried beans. Consumption of alcohol and being overweight can also add to gout attacks. Gout mostly causes pain in the big toe, but can also affects joints like ankle, knee, toes, and elbow.

A balanced diet, exercising, and proper medication and treatment can help you fight arthritis. If you are facing persistent joint pain, then you should get it diagnosed and treated.

Our Providers and Physicians at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic treat all kind of arthritis and extend holistic care to help you fight this painful yet treatable condition.

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