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Arthritis Symptoms / Diagnosis

By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis

Recognizing early arthritis symptoms and getting an accurate diagnosis are important for preventing joint damage and managing arthritis symptoms. There are over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. While symptoms can vary, there are certain signs and symptoms that point to the disease.

  1. Recognizing Early Symptoms
  2. Joint Pain - Arthritic Joints
  3. Getting Diagnosed With Arthritis
  4. Consulting a Doctor
  5. All About Arthritis
  6. Rheumatoid Arthritis
  7. Osteoarthritis
  8. Psoriatic Arthritis
  1. Gout and Pseudogout
  2. Ankylosing Spondylitis
  3. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  4. Lupus
  5. Fibromyalgia
  6. Scleroderma
  7. Lyme Disease

Recognizing Early Symptoms

Photo by Frances Twitty (iStockphoto)

Early arthritis symptoms can be vague and confusing, but they are important to recognize. Newly diagnosed patients quickly realize that early symptoms are just the first layer to be uncovered before a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan for arthritis can be established.

Joint Pain - Arthritic Joints

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Arthritis can affect any joint. Certain types of arthritis are associated with a specific pattern of joint disease. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is usually symmetric -- affecting the same joint on both sides of the body. Other types of arthritis typically affect a single joint. It's important to tell the doctor about all of your symptoms and every joint that hurts.

Getting Diagnosed With Arthritis

Photo by lovleah (stockxpert)

An accurate diagnosis precedes appropriate treatment of arthritis. With over 100 types of arthritis, early symptoms can overlap and diagnosis can be difficult. Your doctor will look for very specific signs, symptoms, and disease characteristics. Your doctor will also consider your medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies.

Consulting a Doctor

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Doctors play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis. Good communication between a doctor and patient is essential. It's important to know what to expect from your doctor and what your doctor expects from you. It's your doctor's job to assess your symptoms, gain more information from your medical history and a current physical examination, order diagnostic tests, and put together a treatment plan. It's your job to provide your doctor with as much pertinent information as possible. The goal is mutual - to improve your health.

All About Arthritis

Photo by Jonathan Natiuk (stock.xchng)

Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Some types of arthritis affect more than the joints. There can be systemic effects associated with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other types of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans and three times as many women as men. There are important facts you should know about rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is considered the most common type of arthritis. About 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. The disease causes limited range of motion, joint pain, and stiffness which affect daily living activities. Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. Typically, osteoarthritis develops gradually.

Psoriatic Arthritis

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Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis associated with the chronic skin condition psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops when people are between 30 and 50 years old, but it can begin in childhood. Men and women seem to be equally affected by psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis symptoms occur in variable patterns and with variable intensity.

Gout and Pseudogout

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Gout symptoms can develop when there is excess uric acid in the body. Monosodium urate crystals that form in the joints due to excess uric acid cause gout symptoms. Uric acid is a waste product normally present in the blood as a result of the breakdown of purines. Pseudogout is a condition that develops when calcium pyrophosphate crystals accumulate in a joint and the surrounding tissues.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis which is primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints and ligaments of the spine, causing pain and stiffness in the spine. In severe cases, bones in the spine may fuse (also referred to as ankylosis) resulting in a rigid and inflexible spine. Abnormal posture may be a consequence. Other joints may also be involved including hips, knees, ankles, neck, or shoulders. The disease may also have systemic effects.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Photo by jynmeyer (stock.xchng)

The most popular misconception about arthritis is that it is an old person's disease. In reality, arthritis affects people of all ages including over 285,000 American children. The course of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or JRA, in children is usually different than is the course of arthritis in adults. Children experience different symptoms and generally have a more favorable prognosis.

Lupus

lupus

In lupus, the immune system of the body attacks its own cells and tissues. The joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body may be affected. There are 5 types of lupus - a disease that affects 10 times more women than men.

Fibromyalgia

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Fibromyalgia is an arthritis-related syndrome which can be difficult to diagnose. Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by body aches, widespread pain, sleep problems, extreme fatigue, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms, in combination with tenderness of specific areas (muscles and tender points) on the body.

Scleroderma

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Scleroderma literally means "hard skin". Referred to often as a single disease, scleroderma is actually a symptom of a group of diseases complicated by an abnormal growth of connective tissue which supports the skin and internal organs.

Lyme Disease

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Arthritis and joint pain can occur during late stage Lyme disease. Learn how an infectious disease transmitted by a tick bite can lead to arthritis in some people.

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