Joint inflammation or arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Typical signs are severe pain of the joints, red swellings and hot and warm foci of inflammation. There are different forms of joint inflammation. The most common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis.
What is arthritis?
Infographic on the regions of pain and inflamed joints in arthritis. Click image to enlarge. The technical term for joint inflammation is arthritis and comes from the Greek. The syllable “arth” stands for joint and the suffix “itis” stands for inflammation in Greek. It includes joint inflammation with a wide variety of causes. There are infectious and rheumatoid arthritis. Other common joint inflammations include gouty arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. However, there are many other causes of joint inflammation. In the human body, any joint can be affected. If several joints are inflamed at the same time, it is called polyarthritis. If only one joint is affected, it is called monoarthritis. There are suddenly occurring, mostly infectious, joint inflammations and longer lasting ones. These are then often chronic.
Causes
Joint inflammation can have a wide variety of causes. In the case of infectious joint inflammation, bacteria or viruses have triggered the inflammation. There is a possibility that these enter the joint from the outside through a wound. Furthermore, they can also be brought into the joint through the bloodstream from a source of infection in the body. In the case of an autoimmune disease, the joint is mistakenly attacked by the immune defense system of the patient’s own body. This then leads to joint inflammation there. Known autoimmune diseases are psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, rheumatism, Crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis. In a metabolic disease, such as gout, the elevated uric acid level triggers an attack and causes joint inflammation. A disease of the cartilage in the affected joint, for example due to wear and tear, can lead to joint inflammation. However, arthritis can also have malignant causes. For example, it is possible that a tumor forms in the joint or that the joint capsule is affected by malignant cells (leukemia). This can also lead to joint inflammation.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Although arthritis can be caused by different things, there are common symptoms that are almost always present. These symptoms include pain, swelling, redness and overheating at the joints. Furthermore, there is limited mobility. Sometimes fluid collects in the joint (joint effusion). Pus formation in the joint (joint empyema) is also possible. However, the specific symptoms depend on the particular cause. If rheumatoid arthritis is present, there is typically morning stiffness, nighttime and morning joint pain, and swelling in the middle and base joints of the fingers. In turn, a gout attack results in severe pain in the big toes, which also become warm, thickly swollen and red. After a bacterial infection, so-called reactive arthritis can develop. As with all forms of arthritis, this is characterized by sudden pain and swelling in the joints. Reactive arthritis is especially common in children after a gastrointestinal or urinary tract infection. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune reactions, it can be a concomitant disease of severe intestinal inflammation such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, or ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis can take both an acute and a chronic course. Acute arthritis usually heals completely with treatment. Chronic courses, however, can lead to complete destruction and misalignment of the joints, as well as permanent disability.
Course
The course of joint inflammation depends on its cause. The success of treatment for acute, infectious joint inflammation is usually very good if treated in a timely manner. Chronic joint inflammation usually does not heal and worsens with time. Persistent and repetitive inflammation in the joints damages the hyaline articular cartilage and eventually affects the bone. In these cases, this leads after some time to a functional limitation in the affected joint, due to the joint inflammation.With a prolonged course, the intensity of the pain increases, as does the duration of the attack.
Complications
In the various forms of joint inflammation, there are complications in many cases, although these can be delayed or alleviated with appropriate treatment. Despite drug treatment and physical therapy, after a prolonged period of disease, the joint may be so severely damaged that surgical joint replacement becomes necessary.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, joint erosions, irreversible wear, usually develop in the first two years. About two-thirds of patients suffer functional impairment within 5 years. Before modern treatments were available, about 90% of patients had varying degrees of disability after 20 years. Today, however, there are considerably fewer.
- Psoriatic Arthritis
The mortality rate in patients with severe psoriatic arthritis is increased compared with the general population. The subjectively perceived quality of life is also affected by the disease. This form of arthritis is manifested by pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, especially of the hands and feet, and is accompanied by the skin symptoms of psoriasis. This results in severe impairment in everyday life and occupational activities.
- Bacterial arthritis
Bacterial arthritis is an acute and life-threatening disease. The rapid spread of inflammation can cause severe damage to the joint within a very short time, especially when infected with the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. If the pathogen penetrates the bloodstream, life-threatening sepsis can result.
When should you go to the doctor?
A doctor should be consulted for joint complaints as soon as they are not triggered by a short-term or one-time overload. If pain or restrictions of movement occur, a doctor is needed to clarify the symptoms. If the complaints increase in intensity or if inflammation of other joints occurs throughout the body, a visit to the doctor is required. In case of increased body temperature, irritability or inner restlessness, a doctor should be consulted. If the usual level of performance decreases or the usual everyday activities can no longer be carried out, a visit to the doctor is necessary. In case of one-sided strain, discomfort of muscles, tendons or nerves, it is advisable to consult a doctor. If the inflammation of the joint causes a change in behavior or mood swings, there is cause for concern. Consultation of a doctor is necessary if there is an aggressive demeanor or melancholic mood. In case of sleep disturbances, reduced participation in social life, listlessness or apathy, a doctor should be consulted. If the symptoms persist for several weeks or if there are further impairments, a doctor is required. If professional obligations can no longer be fulfilled, a visit to the doctor is required. If there are disturbances of concentration or attention, the clarification of a medical doctor is advisable.
Treatment and therapy
The therapy and treatment of an inflammation of the joints must also strongly depend on the causes. Thereby, a causal treatment of the triggering disease must always be carried out. Basically, in the case of acute joint inflammation, immobilization, cooling and elevation of the joint are carried out. In addition, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can be administered to promote the subsiding of the joint inflammation. If the joint inflammation is due to an infection, it should be treated with antibiotics. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, special rheumatism medications can be taken. If the joint inflammation is caused by an autoimmune disease, it is helpful to take so-called immunosuppressants. These suppress the body’s own immune defenses. Surgery can also remove certain causes of joint inflammation.bIn chronic inflammation, physiotherapy, physical therapy or occupational therapy is often used. This is to prevent stiffening of the joints. Physical exercise in the form of sports activities, a balanced diet and appropriate body weight can slow the progression of chronic joint inflammation.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis for joint inflammation is highly individualized. However, it is true that early diagnosis and an early start of treatment significantly improve the prognosis. If treatment of arthritis is started early, its progression can be greatly slowed or even halted. Newer forms of treatment are very promising in this regard. If, on the other hand, treatment is not started, the joint inflammation can spread to all joints within an indefinite period of time. This can take weeks or years. In about 70 percent of all those affected, the arthritis gets worse over time; only in about 10 to 30 percent can it be observed that the joint inflammation does not seem to get worse. Untreated arthritis can lead to inability to work and severe pain, while treated arthritis has little impact on quality of life. In addition, the risk of damage to organs increases with the duration of untreated disease. Among other things, the eyes, lungs or heart can be affected. Overall, the life expectancy of people who suffer from arthritis and do not receive optimal treatment is reduced by a few years. Overall, stopping the disease is a goal to be achieved with treatment. This can be achieved even if the diagnosis is made late in life.
Follow-up
Joint inflammation should be treated with optimal follow-up care. If a person is affected by arthritis, drug therapy is used in most cases. During this therapy, it is specifically coordinated which aftercare the patient needs. It depends on how severe the inflammation in his joints is. Often, the therapy is started with the administration of painkillers, which ensure that the inflammation in the joint subsides. Immobilization of the affected joint also helps with healing. Regular follow-up examinations are an important part of the therapy. In the case of bacterial infections, arthritis is treated with antibiotics. This is because if the affected joint is infected with bacteria, the inflammation cannot be fought with simple painkillers. The duration of this antibiotic therapy depends on the extent of the inflammation. Failure to follow up can result in painful and dangerous late effects. The joints can become further inflamed, and it is not unlikely that the inflammation can spread to other areas of the body. This is exactly why it is important to always listen to the doctor’s instructions and advice when suffering from arthritis, and to attend follow-up examinations.
Here’s what you can do yourself
To improve their own health, sufferers can pay attention to balanced exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Overloading by standing or walking for long periods of time and one-sided physical posture should be avoided. Poor posture of the body leads to further damage in the long term. Negative effects on the skeletal system or the musculature can develop. In addition, all sports that lead to heavy strain on the joints should be avoided. With sports that are easy on the joints, such as swimming or walking, the sufferer helps himself and his health. In addition, dietary supplements help to improve the joint cartilage and synovial fluid. With a healthy diet, the sufferer prevents excess weight. Excessive own weight leads to joint discomfort and worsens the current health condition. A diet rich in vitamins, on the other hand, supplies the organism with vitamins B and E. These have a positive influence on joint complaints. Cooling of joints and occurring swellings helps to relieve the discomfort. Harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs should be avoided in order not to trigger an increase in inflammatory complaints. Helpful and supportive is furthermore the application of relaxation techniques. Autogenic training or yoga promote mental strength, which is useful in dealing with the complaints on a daily basis.