Joints are the place where different tissues such as cartilage, tendon, bone, ligament that connect bones come together. Joints hold bones together and provide support for movement.
What is Arthritis, What Is Joint Inflammation?
Arthritis (joint inflammation); It is the presence of a few of the signs of inflammation such as pain, temperature increase, swelling, redness, loss of function on the joint. In the acute period when arthritis is newly developed, temperature increase and redness are at the forefront, while in chronic conditions swelling, pain and loss of function come to the fore.
What are the Types of Arthritis?
Joint inflammation can occur in different types:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Immune system; It starts when the antibodies it creates against external factors accidentally go to the joints and cause joint damage. It most commonly involves the small joints of the hands and feet, the ankle, symmetrically. Morning stiffness lasts longer than 1 hour.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: An autoimmune mechanism plays a role in the development of the disease. The sacroiliac, that is, the hip joint and spine, are the places where it is frequently involved. In addition, inflammatory low back pain is a frequent accompanying condition in these patients. In young people, it is a type of pain that starts in the lower back and continues for at least 3 months and is relieved by exercise. There is also morning stiffness. This type of low back pain may occur as the first symptom in most patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
- Osteoarthritis: It is one of the common types of joint inflammation. A deterioration occurs in the joints, starting from the cartilage and extending to the bone. This change in the structures that make up the joint causes the joint to become rigid and immobile. Knee joint inflammation is the most common form. The risk increases with age.
- Psoriatric Arthritis: It is a type of joint inflammation seen in approximately 10% of psoriasis patients. Arthritis findings may occur before or after skin findings or at the same time as skin findings. It can affect many different joints.
- Reactive Arthritis: It is joint pain and swelling that occurs in the joint, triggered by an infection in another part of the body. It develops about 4 weeks after infection. Joint inflammation can occur in the knee, ankle and foot joints. It is usually temporary.
- Septic Arthritis: Various microorganisms, especially through blood It occurs when the anisms come to the joints and cause inflammation. There is usually only one joint involvement and the knee and hip joint are affected. It can also cause inflammation of the shoulder joint. septic arthritis in adults; It develops in the presence of facilitating factors such as diabetes, previous joint surgery, cancer. It is a condition that must be treated urgently because it causes damage to the joint very quickly.
- Gout Arthritis: Gout occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid in the body. The big toe is most commonly affected in gouty arthritis. In the big toe joint; It is a condition characterized by sudden onset of swelling, redness and tenderness. The sensitivity is so high that even when the patient is touched with paper, an unbearable pain is felt.
- Intermittent Arthritis: It is joint inflammation that occurs occasionally and disappears from time to time. The cause is usually conditions such as Behçet's disease, Familial Mediterranean Fever. It is known that these diseases cause temporary arthritis on the joints with their various effects on different parts of the body.
What Causes Joint Inflammation?
Since joint inflammation can be seen in many different types, Different mechanisms play a role in the development of each disease.
In the autoimmune mechanism that is effective in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis; The immune system produces substances called antibodies against microorganisms that enter the body from outside. Normally, these substances adhere to organisms such as harmful bacteria and viruses, allowing them to be recognized by the scavenging cells of the immune system. However, in some cases, these antibodies attach to tissues in the body instead of microorganisms.
Scavenger cells perceive these tissues as foreign and try to destroy them. As a result, tissue damage occurs. Such a mechanism also plays a role in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Some genetic types may also predispose to these diseases.
In osteoarthritis, joint inflammation occurs due to wear and tear. Conditions that may cause damage to the joints such as aging, obesity, repetitive joint traumas are risk factors for osteoarthritis.
The autoimmune mechanism is also effective in psoriatic arthritis. In psoriasis, silver-colored lesions appear on red spots on the skin. In some of the psoriasis patients, it can affect more than one joint later on. arthritis can be seen.
Reactive arthritis is an infection-based joint inflammation. It occurs when the body's response to infection affects the joints.
Septic arthritis occurs when microorganisms from blood or adjacent tissue form abscesses in the joint. It can be seen in the presence of an infection formed in the tissue close to the joint or bacteria mixed with the blood.
In the formation of gout arthritis, the amount of uric acid in the body increases. Uric acid is a substance that occurs as a result of the breakdown of molecules called purines and is excreted from the kidneys. Excessive consumption of purine-rich foods such as meat and seafood, or conditions that reduce uric acid excretion from the kidney; causes uric acid to accumulate in the body. Uric acid goes to the joints and precipitates in the form of urate crystals and causes inflammation in the joint.
Diseases that cause intermittent arthritis; are (systemic) diseases that affect the whole body with an autoinflammatory mechanism.
What are the Symptoms of Joint Inflammation?
In arthritis; joint pain, joint swelling, redness, temperature increase and loss of function are characteristic. In addition, some signs and symptoms may be seen depending on the type of arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis; In addition to joint involvement, it can cause problems such as arrhythmia in the heart and conjunctivitis in the eye.
Ankylosing spondylitis can cause eye uveitis. Patients may experience eye swelling, redness, and blurred vision. It can cause damage to the lungs in conduction disturbances in the heart. Serious conditions such as drop in blood pressure, fever, loss of consciousness can be seen.
How to Identify Joint Inflammation?
In the presence of basic findings of arthritis, joint inflammation should be suspected. When the doctor is consulted, these findings; It is questioned how long it has been, how many joints it affects, whether it is seen constantly or occasionally, which joints it affects, and whether the affected joints are symmetrical. The diagnosis is made by the patient's answers to these and some laboratory tests to be performed together with the examination. In addition to the basic tests in laboratory examinations, an examination is made in terms of antibodies that play a role in the formation of arthritis.
Joint Inflammation Treatment How. What is it?
The treatment plan varies according to the type of arthritis.
Painkillers and corticosteroids that suppress the immune system can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate is the main drug used in the treatment. Depending on the characteristics of the patient and the involved joint, surgery may be an option. In addition, additional treatments can be planned according to the general condition of the patients.
In reactive arthritis, if the infection causing joint inflammation still continues, antibiotics can be used, and painkillers can be used for joint pain.
Basic treatment in gout arthritis is aimed at the underlying condition. Drugs such as allopurinol, which reduces uric acid production, and probenecid, which increases uric acid excretion, are used in treatment. In addition, colchicine, painkillers, corticosteroids are drugs that can be used to improve symptoms.
What Are the Damages of Joint Inflammation?
'How is arthritis treated?' The answer to the question is not always easily answered. Immediately after the signs of arthritis appear, the nearest health center should be consulted and appropriate treatment should be started. Joint arthritis can cause serious problems in patients who are late in treatment or do not apply their treatment properly.
Even in some people who are properly treated, arthritis may not go away completely. Untreated joint inflammation may have consequences in the future, such as loss of function in the joint and inability to move the joint, which seriously reduce the quality of life. Therefore, patients diagnosed with arthritis; should use the prescribed medications regularly and implement the recommended lifestyle changes.
What's Good for Joint Inflammation?
For overweight people with arthritis, losing weight will reduce the load on the joints and may improve symptoms.
Consumption of antioxidant-containing foods such as vegetables and fruits can help reduce inflammation.
Performing regular and appropriate exercises such as swimming, which does not increase the pressure on the joints, can reduce joint inflammation. r.
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