Common Types of Arthritis in Vacaville

Did you know that there are more than 100 types of arthritis? You should at least get to know the common forms, what they are, and their symptoms. It will at least help you be aware of it the next time you or someone you know is affected by it. If you believe you suffer from arthritis in Vacaville, call chiropractor Alex Tam of Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine today!

Most Common Types of Arthritis in Vacaville CA

1. Osteoarthritis

This is the most common form of arthritis and a lot of people are affected by it. When your joints are overused, this is the "wear and tear" that happens to it. It becomes a common occurrence as you age, but it can also happen due to obesity or joint injuries, which could add more stress to your joints.

The joints that bears majority of your body's weight - spine, knees, hips, and feet - are the areas that are affected the most. It comes gradually over months or even years. The affected joints will hurt but you won't feel sick or fatigued compared to other types of arthritis.

What happens: This condition happens when your body loses it shock absorber. The cartilage, the slippery material that covers the end of the bones, starts to break down slowly.

One example that can happen to your knees is when you become overweight. Having these extra pounds will put more pressure to the cartilage since it's getting squeezed in between the bones. This occurrence will cause it to become damaged and wear away, thus leaving nothing to cushion the joint.

The damaged cartilage will make every movement you make more painful. You can even hear a grating sound whenever the roughened cartilage rubs together on the surface of the bones. There will be painful bumps or spurs on the end of the bones, especially on your fingers and feet. The joint lining will become inflamed, but it's not common to happen with osteoarthritis.

Symptoms:

• Deep, aching pain
• Trouble with doing every day, normal stuffs
• Pain when walking
• Stiffness after resting
• Morning stiffness that lasts for almost 30 minutes

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis

This type of arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease. It means that the immune system is attacking certain parts of the body, especially the joints. This could lead to inflammation and if left untreated, it can cause severe joint damage. 1 out of 5 people who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have lumps appear on their skin which are called rheumatoid nodules. They mostly form on joint areas that receive pressure like the elbows, knuckles, or heels.

What happens: Doctors can't explain what's exactly causing rheumatoid arthritis. Some experts believe that the immune system is in a "confused" state after an infection due to a bacteria or virus and they start attacking on your joints. It can even spread out to other areas of the body.

According to scientists, two of the chemicals in the body that are linked to inflammation, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), trigger other parts of the immune system when there's rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms:

• Morning stiffness
• A symmetrical pattern
• More than one swollen joint
• Pain, swelling, and stiffness

3. Psoriatic Arthritis

People suffering from this condition have inflammation of the joints (arthritis) and skin (psoriasis).

Psoriasis can cause raised, patchy, white, and red areas of inflamed skin with scales. It mostly affects the tips of the knees and elbows, the navel, the scalp, and skin around the anus or genital areas.

What happens: This type of arthritis can affect people aging between 30 and 50, but it can also start during childhood. Both men and women are affected by this condition. The skin disease (psoriasis) is the first sign that shows up and is an indicator that you might be suffering from it.

Symptoms:

• Swelling on the fingers and toes
• Discolored or pitted fingernails

4. Gout

This type of arthritis causes uric acid crystals to buildup in your joint. The big toe or another part of your foot is the most affected area.

What happens: Upon waking up, you will feel a sudden, sharp pain in your big toe after a night of heavy drinking. Drugs, stress, or another illness can also startup a gout attack.

The attack will last around 3 to 10 days, even if you don't have it treated. Your next one will come in months or even years, but over time, these attacks will occur more frequently and will last even longer. If it remains untreated, your gout can affect your kidneys and joints.

The reason why you're suffering from gout may be due to:

• More uric acid is produced in your body.
• Your kidneys can't process your body's production of uric acid.
• You're eating a lot of foods that raises your uric acid levels.

Symptoms:

• Stiff joints
• Intense joint pain
• Feeling of discomfort on the joints
• Inflammation and redness

5. Lupus

Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disease. It can affect your joints and other organs in your body.

What happens: Doctors can't exactly pinpoint the cause of lupus, but there's something in it that makes your immune system go awry. It will no longer attack viruses and other foreign particles, but it will start causing inflammation and pain all over your body. Your joints, organs, and even brain can become affected by it.

Symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Rashes
• Chest pain
• Blood disorders (anemia and low levels of platelets or white blood cells)
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Sun sensitivity
• Painful, swollen joints
• Swelling in the hands, feet, legs, or around the eyes
• Blue or white fingers or toes when exposed to cold

So, do you feel like you're suffering from any of the mentioned conditions or symptoms? It's better to get yourself check by Dr. Alex Tam of Vacaville right away. He's the owner of the top chiropractic and holistic clinic in the Solano county so you can rest easy knowing that your arthritis will be treated.