In the morning, do your fingers and knees seem stiffer and more creaky than usual? People usually say that these things are just a part of becoming older. This could be a sign of something more serious, like inflammatory arthritis, even though it is getting older.
Why you shouldn’t ignore inflammatory joint disease and how joint pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse could be an early sign of inflammatory arthritis, a group of autoimmune diseases that need to be diagnosed and treated quickly to avoid permanent damage and keep your quality of life.
What is arthritis that causes inflammation?
There are many things that might cause joint pain. Many people think it’s happening because of osteoarthritis (OA) that comes with becoming older, but it can also be caused by inflammatory arthritis (IA).
Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear, and the pain gets worse when you move around and better when you rest. Inflammatory arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that causes persistent joint pain, swelling, and other systemic symptoms.
Signs of inflammatory arthritis that come early
The orthopedic doctor discussed the differences. “OA is usually caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that protects your joints, which causes bones to rub against each other. ” Pain often gets worse when you move around and better when you rest.”
But when it comes to inflammatory arthritis, it’s a little different. “Inflammatory arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system assaults its own healthy tissues, especially the joints. This systemic inflammation can affect other organs too and it acts differently.
1. Stiffness that lasts all morning:
- This is one of the most commonly recognized symptoms.
- Stiffness can last for 30 minutes, an hour, or even longer. It typically feels like your joints are “gelling” up after you’ve been inactive for a while.
2. Pain that becomes better with movement and worse with rest:
- Pain can be at its worst after a lengthy period of rest, like when you wake up in the morning or after sitting for a long time.
- Moving around gently can actually help ease the pain.
3. Swelling, pain, and warmth in the joints:
- Shows clear signs of inflammation.
- If a joint is affected, it may look swollen, feel warm to the touch, and be very painful, even with light pressure.
- Swelling is often caused by fluid building up or the lining of the joint getting thicker.
4. Symmetrical involvement:
- In some cases, inflammatory arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, affects the same joints on both sides of the body (for example, both wrists or both knees).
5. Tiredness:
- Inflammatory arthritis is a condition that affects the whole body.
- Many people feel very tired or sick or even have a low-grade fever long before their joint pain gets bad.
6. Pain in more than one joint (polyarthralgia)
- It affects more than one joint at a time, not just one.
- It usually starts with the little joints in the hands and feet, but the bigger joints, spine, and even the jaw can also get inflamed.
7. Changes in skin or nails
- Psoriatic arthritis, a form of inflammatory arthritis, frequently occurs alongside psoriasis (red, scaly skin patches) or distinctive nail alterations, including pitting or detachment from the nail bed.
8. Inflammation of the eyes
- Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are two examples of conditions that can make the eyes inflamed (uveitis or iritis).
- This causes redness, discomfort, and sensitivity to light.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
