Definition of arthritis
In one or more joints, arthritis causes discomfort and inflammation. In the UK, more than 10 million individuals suffer from arthritis and other common joint issues.
What types of arthritis exist?
There are two predominant forms of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Additionally, you may be acquainted with other variations such as lupus, gout, and psoriatic arthritis, all of which fall under the category of arthritis.
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
The main distinction between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis lies in their underlying characteristics. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that affects not only the joints but also the surrounding tissues, whereas osteoarthritis is characterised by the actual degradation of cartilage. Although not always the case, rheumatoid arthritis often develops at a younger age. Osteoarthritis primarily affects larger joints, such as the knees and hips. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects multiple joints simultaneously, often involving corresponding joints on both sides of the body.
Why does arthritis occur?
Osteoarthritis is the primary cause of arthritis, characterised by structural changes within a joint due to abnormal healing following an injury. Another significant contributor to arthritis is the natural process of aging. Arthritis remains the most prevalent joint issue worldwide, affecting an estimated 9 million individuals in the United Kingdom alone.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that often impacts the small joints throughout the body in a symmetrical pattern, especially in the hands and feet. However, it can affect any joint in the body and is not limited to a specific location. It is the second-most common type of arthritis. People with this condition typically experience stiffness in the morning, along with pain and swelling. Besides joint involvement, rheumatoid arthritis can also impact internal organs like the heart, lungs, and eyes.
Arthritis can also result from:
- Spondylitis with ankylosing
- Cervical disc disease
- Lupus erythematosus systemic
- Gout
- Arthritis psoriatic
- Inflammatory bowel disease with enteropathic arthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
What causes osteoarthritis to develop?
The following are some of the main reasons why osteoarthritis develops:
- History of injury or surgery to a joint
- Overuse from repetitive movements of the joint
- Joints that do not form correctly
- Family history of osteoarthritis
It is the most prevalent joint condition worldwide.
What triggers an attack of arthritis?
A flare-up of arthritis might result from overusing the affected joints. Other elements, such as stress, sleep deprivation, or noncompliance with your treatment plan, could exist, though. Each person experiences this differently; therefore, it’s important to note any potential triggers so you can pinpoint the source of the issue.
Asymptomatic arthritis
The underlying source of the pain will determine the symptoms connected to arthritis. The discomfort might be intermittent, constant, minor, or severe.
Numerous forms of arthritis are characterised by a decreased range of motion of the afflicted bodily components, which limits function and restricts activities.
Back, hip, and knee discomfort are the three most typical pain sites. However, the exact areas and how they are impacted may point to the arthritis’s underlying aetiology. Therefore, it’s essential to get a diagnosis from a fully qualified healthcare expert as soon as is practical.
Arthritis typically has a significant impact on a person’s emotional, social, and economic health in addition to being a medical problem.
What are arthritis’s primary symptoms?
Indicators of arthritis include:
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Redness around the joints and inflamed joints
- Confined movement
- Loss of muscle and weakness
What rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms are there?
It’s important to keep in mind that there are a variety of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and some of them will help doctors identify the type of arthritis you have. The primary signs include:
- Joint discomfort and swelling that is frequently symmetrical and warm to the touch
- Spreading to other joints from the pain in the fingers and toes
- Reddish and swollen joints
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
The following list of signs and symptoms pertains to people with rheumatoid arthritis:
- Sleep disruption and exhaustion
- Changes in mood and depression
- Loss of weight
- Mouths and eyes are dry.
What indications are there for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis’ primary signs and symptoms are:
- Bruised joints with little range of motion
- Joint stiffness and soreness while moving
- A grating or cracking sound or feeling
- Muscular mass loss
- Enlarged joints
Condition of Arthritis
Chronic arthritic conditions are frequently treated holistically. Physical therapy, home and workplace modifications, and psychological therapies are important elements of patient treatment. It’s also important to continue exercising for as long as you can.
Simple painkillers are frequently the initial line of therapy for arthritis, with stronger opioids being combined with them in cases of extreme pain. Specialist drugs that control the immune system may be begun for those with inflammatory arthritis.
In cases of severe osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, surgery may be beneficial.
When first-line medications have failed to provide effective symptom management for chronic pain, medicinal cannabis might be taken into consideration. There isn’t enough evidence to conclusively prove that medicinal marijuana treatments may delay the progression of disease.
In what ways is arthritis diagnosed?
A detailed history and examination are often used to diagnose arthritis in order to determine the kind, degree, functional effect, and setting of the pain.
When determining if the arthritis is a component of a systemic inflammatory disorder, blood testing is frequently required.
Depending on the symptoms mentioned by the patient, some people may benefit from X-rays, ultrasonic scans, or MRI scans of the problematic regions.
Depending on the underlying cause of the arthritis, a specialist could advise further tests, such as joint aspiration.
Treatment for arthritis
Although arthritis cannot be cured, it can be treated in a variety of ways. Chronic arthritic conditions are frequently treated holistically. As stated previously, some of the most important components of patient treatment include:
- Physical therapy
- Medically prescribed marijuana and cannabis
- Alterations to the workplace and home environment
- And psychological therapies.
We also highly recommend that you keep up with your exercise for as long as you can.
Medical therapy is dependent on that cause since addressing the underlying cause of arthritis is a crucial component of treatment.
Arthritis pain alleviation
Your treatment strategy must include strategies for reducing the discomfort that arthritis produces. Simple painkillers are frequently the initial line of therapy for arthritis, with stronger opioids or marijuana being combined with them in cases of extreme pain. Specialist drugs that control the immune system may be begun for those with inflammatory arthritis.
In cases of severe osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, surgery may be beneficial.
When first-line treatments are ineffective in controlling the pain from arthritis, medical cannabis may be an option. The possibility that medical cannabis may slow the course of illness is not supported by enough research.
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory condition; thus, its therapy may be different from that for other types of arthritis. The most frequent first line of therapy is a course of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). They may occasionally be taken in addition to steroids to aid with pain management and slow the course of the illness.
Of course, there are holistic methods, such as those mentioned above (such as painkillers or medical cannabis), that may be used to control the discomfort associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Make an appointment
We can help if you are a patient or caretaker looking for an appointment to talk about medicinal cannabis.
Patients who satisfy the requirements can give us their medical records directly, or we can acquire them through your GP. This is to verify that the patient’s condition has been thoroughly evaluated and that all alternative treatment options have been investigated. To maintain the highest degree of clinical control, we will guarantee that all treatment messages are transmitted to the GP.
We also accept referrals from other medical experts.
Cannabis for medical use and Arthritis
There hasn’t been much research done on how medical cannabis affects arthritic pain. On the other hand, more people are looking into medicinal cannabis now that it was legalised for medical use in 2018. In cases where standard treatments have not been able to alleviate symptoms, medicinal marijuana or cannabis therapy could be a viable choice for treating arthritis.
Quick, private cannabis prescription and assessment process
At MARUCANNA, we simplify the private cannabis consultation process. Start with a free eligibility check, fill out a brief questionnaire, and get an instant decision. A virtual consultation with a doctor completes the process.