What Are the 7 Types of Arthritis? Pain Management Tips

Arthritis can be described as a chronic condition resulting in inflammation of the joints, leading to stiffness, pain, and immobility. It can be classified into multiple categories, each with vivid characteristics and symptoms. Visit Aashlok Hospital, the best healthcare provider comprising leading rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons, for the best treatment approaches for all types of arthritis.

Living with arthritis pain can be increasingly challenging. However, incorporating certain effective pain management tips can help you improve your symptoms. In this blog, you will learn what are the 7 types of arthritis and the effective pain management tips you can follow.

Also Read : Know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of arthritis

What are the 7 Types of Arthritis: Causes and Symptoms

The major 7 types of arthritis are classified as follows:

Osteoarthritis

It is one of the most common types of arthritis, affecting people worldwide. It occurs when the cartilage of the cushion joints undergoes wear and tear, causing the bones to rub against each other, leading to pain and stiffness.

Causes

The common causes of Osteoarthritis include:

1. Wear and tear on joints
2. Hormonal changes
3. Metabolic disorders
4. Age
5. Obesity
6. Genetics

Symptoms

The major symptoms include:

1. Joint pain and stiffness
2. Limited mobility
3. Grating or crunching sensation in joints
4. Swelling and inflammation

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the joints. To get the best treatment and medical care for managing it, consult the top orthopedicians and rheumatologists at Aashlok Hospital.

Causes

The common causes of RA are:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Autoimmune Disorders
3. Environmental Factors

Symptoms

The following are the symptoms:

1. Joint pain
2. Swelling
3. Morning stiffness
4. Fatigue
5. Fever

Psoriatic Arthritis

This is a combined autoimmune disease that includes the symptoms of skin psoriasis and joint Inflammation. Our medical team can deliver the appropriate treatment approaches for coping with this health condition.

Causes

The causes of Psoriatic Arthritis are:

1. Psoriasis
2. Joint inflammation
3. Genetic predisposition
4. Physical trauma

Symptoms

The symptoms are:

1. Joint pain
2. Skin and nail changes
3. Redness and warmth around affected joints
4. Swollen fingers and toes

Gout

It is one of the most common types of arthritis in which the patient experiences sudden and severe joint pain and inflammation of the knees, toes, ankles, wrists, and fingers.

Causes

The causes of gout are:

1. Uric acid buildup in joints
2. Improper diet
3. Obesity
4. Genetics

Symptoms

The symptoms of gout include:

1. Swelling, redness, and warmth around affected joints
2. Limited mobility
3. Fever and chills
4. Kidney stones

Fibromyalgia

It is a type of arthritis affecting the muscles. In this chronic condition, a patient experiences increasing muscle pain, fatigue, and tenderness. The healthcare team at Aashlok Hospital can efficiently help with Fibromyalgia management.

Causes

The causes of Fibromyalgia are:

1. Genetics
2. Emotional trauma
3. Viral infections

Symptoms

The major symptoms are:

1. Chronic widespread muscle pain
2. Fatigue
3. Sleep disturbances
4. Headaches
5. Sensitivity to light, noise, temperature

Lupus

It is a common chronic autoimmune disease affecting individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus. Characterized by inflammation and pain in the joints, this health condition can greatly affect your quality of life.

Causes

The causes of lupus are:

1. Autoimmune disease
2. Genetic predisposition
3. Hormonal Fluctuations
4. Age

Symptoms

Take a look into the symptoms:

1. Joint pain and swelling
2. Skin rashes
3. Sensitivity to sunlight
4. Hair loss
5. Mouth ulcers

Ankylosing Spondylitis

It is a serious chronic inflammatory disease that can affect one’s spine, joints, and other organs. Visit Aashlok Hospital to get the safest cure for Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Causes

The causes are as follows:

1. Inflammatory disease
2. HLA-B27 gene
3. Male gender

Symptoms

The following are the symptoms:

1. Chronic back pain,
2. Limited spinal flexibility
3. Pain, swelling in hips
4. Eye inflammation

Also Read : Breakthrough Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Latest Updates

Effective Arthritis Pain Management Tips

The major pain management tips for arthritis suggested by our orthopedics and rheumatologists at Aashlok Hospital can be classified into lifestyle tips, alternative therapies, dietary changes, and assistive devices. Here’s a comprehensive guide to all the tips you can follow for joint pain relief and reducing discomfort:

Lifestyle Changes

The major lifestyle tips you should follow for effective arthritis pain relief are:

Maintain a Healthy Weight

A healthy body weight is very beneficial for reducing arthritis pain since excess weight puts additional strain on joints.

Exercise Regularly

To keep your body active and your joints healthy, practicing gentle exercises like yoga, swimming, or cycling can be incredibly beneficial. Apart from your everyday schedule, ensure to keep at least 30 to 40 minutes for exercising.

Quit smoking and Drinking

Smoking tobacco worsens arthritis symptoms, thereby increasing the pain. Hence, avoid smoking to alleviate pain. Also, alcohol is equally responsible for triggering pain and thus should be avoided.

Get Adequate Rest

Getting adequate rest is essential for improving your symptoms. So, you should prioritize your sleep and aim to sleep at least for 7 to 9 hours. Also, taking breaks regularly will help your joints relax.

Alternative Therapies

Apart from medications and surgical approaches, alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage therapy, and physical therapy can be useful for Arthritis pain relief. Here’s a brief insight into the alternative therapies:

Acupuncture

This is one of the most beneficial pain management tips you can follow for reducing arthritis pain. Acupuncture helps stimulate pain-relieving endorphins in the body, thus reducing pain. You can either perform acupuncture yourself or resort to professional help for the best outcomes. Consult experts at Aashlok Hospital for the best acupuncture therapies.

Massage Therapy

Arthritis leads to the body’s muscles becoming stiff, thus inducing pain. Massage therapy provides significant joint pain relief by reducing muscle tension. A daily massage session of 20 to 30 minutes can sincerely promote better relaxation.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for arthritis usually includes active exercise, passive modalities, aquatic therapy, and functional therapy. The primary goals of physical therapy for arthritis include Improvement of joint mobility and strength, strengthening of surrounding muscles, pain reduction, enhancement of body posture and balance, and improvement in daily life functioning.

Dietary Changes

Besides physical activity, diet has a major role to play in reducing arthritis pain. The dietary modifications suggested by our leading rheumatologists for alleviating arthritis pain by reducing inflammation include:

Omega-3 fatty acids

Consuming a small amount of healthy fats is essential for the improvement of overall health and wellness. You can include healthy fats like fatty fish, flaxseeds, or walnuts for arthritis management.

Turmeric

Inflammation during arthritis is one of the major reasons behind increasing pain. You can incorporate turmeric into your morning diet, which contains curcumin, a highly anti-inflammatory curcumin ingredient.

Ginger

The amazing anti-inflammatory properties of ginger work efficiently in reducing pain. Therefore, our medical team suggests including small portions of ginger in your daily diet. However, avoid consuming excess, since it can trigger gastric problems.

Also Read : Innovative Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2024

Assistive Devices

Arthritis management can be done effectively by using assistive devices like canes, walkers, orthotics, adaptive utensils, etc. Here’s a brief approach to the important assistive devices:

Canes or Walkers

Canes and walkers are used to assist arthritis patients to walk conveniently, thereby alleviating pain. Talk with our best orthopedic team to get detailed guidance on choosing the best cane or walker catering to your needs.

Orthotics or Shoe Inserts

Custom orthopedics are tailored to individual requirements and can help in reducing joint pressure. Similarly, shoe inserts can improve your body’s alignment, posture, and mobility. Consult our leading orthopedic surgeons at Aashlok Hospital for the perfect custom orthotics and footwear advice.

Adaptive utensils

Instead of usual options, you can switch to adaptive utensils like easy grip utensils, angled utensils, ergonomic utensils, and assistive technology utensils to bring much more ease to your daily tasks.

Final Words

Although arthritis can have a major negative impact on your overall lifestyle, implementing the most effective pain management tips mentioned in this blog can help you find arthritis pain relief. To get the best cure for arthritis, consult our top rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons at Aashlok Hospital.

FAQs

What is the most serious type of arthritis?

Although arthritis can be classified into multiple categories, rheumatoid arthritis is the most serious condition to consider since it can affect multiple healthy joints together and affect other organs as well.

What is the best medicine for arthritis?

The major medications for arthritis are pain relievers, biologics, anti-inflammatories, DMARDs, PDE4 inhibitors, etc. The type of medicine best suited for you solely depends on the type of arthritis you have.

What is the fastest way to treat arthritis?

The fastest way to treat arthritis includes a combination approach of treatments, medications, lifestyle changes, and dietary modifications. Visit Aashlok Hospital for the most effective and comprehensive arthritis treatment programs.

Which drink is good for arthritis?

To alleviate arthritis symptoms, you can consider drinks rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory compounds. The best drinks for arthritis are green tea, turmeric latte, cranberry juice, chia seed smoothies, and pomegranate juice.