Over 22% of American adults suffer from arthritis, with more diagnoses recovered every year. While the condition can hugely affect one’s life quality, it’s treatable with the right care. The expert physicians at Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center provide comprehensive arthritis care. Often, the doctors focus on procedures that alleviate your present joint discomfort and halt the disease’s progression. Meanwhile, check out this post to learn more about arthritis Medford, including what causes arthritis and what warning signs you should watch out for.

What Are the Common Causes of Arthritis?

About one hundred different varieties of arthritis can develop with age or after an injury. The two common forms of arthritis in the US include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The different forms of arthritis target the joints, causing swelling, stiffness, discomfort, and reduced joint mobility.

v Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative, chronic joint condition that affects the lining of your joints. Joints are composed of ligaments, bone, and cartilage, which all work to provide much-needed mobility. The age-related shifts within your body cause the wear and tear of the cartilage that covers the ends of your bones.

This cartilage generally cushions joints and protects bones from rubbing against one another. Without this tissue, joint motions cause irritation and friction, resulting in pain.

v Rheumatoid Joint Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. This type of arthritis likewise affects the joint lining, but your immune system mistakenly targets normally healthy tissue. The attack produces chronic joint discomfort and inflammation, making it hard to move the affected joints.

Arthritis can affect every joint, but it’s most prevalent in the hips, knees, wrists, and spine. If left untreated over time, arthritis can restrict physical movement and cause persistent pain.

What Are the Early Indicators of Arthritis?

Joint discomfort might not even appear until the severe stages of arthritis. Nevertheless, there are additional warning signs you should be aware of to assist you in monitoring your situation, including:

      I.  Morning Joint Aches

Joint stiffness in the early morning hours is frequently a symptom of the first phases of arthritis. This stiffness normally lasts several minutes if osteoarthritis is developing. If you have hours-long stiffness, it might signify that you’ve developed rheumatoid arthritis.

    II.  Joint Inflammation

Joint swelling indicates that your arthritis is intensifying. You might observe that your joints are visibly larger than usual and feel warm.

Joint swelling may first occur occasionally and persist for several days. As your disease progresses, you may experience regularly swollen and stiff joints.

  III.  Fever

Rheumatoid arthritis might result in a mild fever. Fever and joint discomfort may be an early indicator of arthritis or an infection.

  IV. Tingling and Numbness

If you have arthritis and your joints get swollen, they could cause nerve compression. This pressure could produce numbness and tingling within or surrounding the joint. Once you flex your joint, you could also experience searing sensations extending to other body parts.

    V. Chronic Fatigue

Although not as obvious, chronic weariness is a clear signal of arthritis. As your joints deteriorate, you might experience extraordinary fatigue. Some individuals suffer exhaustion that lasts several days but gradually extends to longer durations.

Don’t hesitate to seek expert care once you identify any warning arthritis warning signs. If not treated soon enough, this condition could lead to joint deformity and even permanent joint damage. Schedule a consultation with your Southern Oregon Orthopedics & Paragon Orthopedic Center specialist to learn how to relieve joint stiffness and pain or slow disease progression. Call the Grants Pass or Medford, OR office or use the online booking tool.