Arthritis
Arthritis Overview
The literal meaning of arthritis is joint inflammation. There are over one hundred different forms of rheumatic and musculo-skeletal disease that come under the Arthritis umbrella.
Arthritis may be mild, moderate or severe, overall causing chronic health problems and inflicting heavy financial burden on the Australian economy and those living with the disease. The disability burden of arthritis is equal to that of dementia and second only to depression.
Arthritis does not discriminate. This disease giant is non selective of age and may affect children, teenagers, young adults, middle aged and elderly alike. If current trends continue in Australia , 1 in 5 people (around 4.6 million) will be living with arthritis by 2020.
Arthritis is always accompanied by pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints. The symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly, and some rheumatologic conditions also involve the immune system and various internal organs of the body.
Arthritis is Australia 's major cause of disability and chronic pain. In 2004, there were 3.4 million Australians with arthritis, or nearly 17% of the population.
60% of all people with arthritis were of working age. By 2020, with demographic ageing 20% (1in 5) people will have arthritis. (Source: WA Burden of Disease, 2004)
The most common forms of arthritis are:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
Other diseases include;
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematous ( SLE )
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Scleroderma
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
Fast Facts:
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Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in 2-3% of the population and is three times more frequent in women than in men
- Scleroderma is more common in women than in men by a ratio of 1:9
- Nine out of ten people with SLE (Lupus) or fibromyalgia are women
- Gout is more common in men than in women
- Systemic lupus erythematous occurs in all races, but is more common in women and certain ethnic groups especially people of Asian and Aboriginal origin
- Between 1 in 500 and 1 in1000 Australian children have juvenile idiopathic arthritis
What causes arthritis?
Scientific research suggests that certain risk factors increase the likelihood of developing arthritis.
Some of these factors - family history, genetic factors and environmental triggers are all believed to be important.
For example in osteoarthritis, inherited cartilage weakness or excessive stress on the joint from repeated injury may play a role.
Gender is a factor with women accounting for 60% of all those diagnosed. This indicates that hormones or other male-female differences may play a role in the development of these conditions.
What are the symptoms?
Different types of arthritis have different symptoms.
In general, people who have arthritis feel pain and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis especially affects joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help to reduce joint damage, and control the symptoms of arthritis.
Common symptoms of arthritis
- Swelling in one or more joints
- Stiffness around the joints that lasts for at least 1 hour early in the morning
- Constant or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint
- Difficulty using or moving a joint normally
- Warmth and redness in a joint
- Fatigue
How is arthritis diagnosed?
A General Practitioner can evaluate a person, or refer him or her to a Rheumatologist (a specialist physician who treats arthritis and rheumatic disease).
Arthritis is diagnosed by medical history, clinical assessments blood tests, x-rays and other imaging tests.
What are the treatments?
Successful management of arthritis requires a team approach from both health professionals and the person diagnosed with the disease.
Self-management skills can be taught and are vital in disease management, enabling a partnership approach to ensure improved care and better quality of life.
Treatments include medications, pain management, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, energy
conservation and joint protection. Surgery may sometimes be a necessary option.
Allied health professionals are trained in different areas of arthritis care, and include
nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and podiatrists.
Common types of arthritis
Osteoarthritis: is the most common type of arthritis affecting an estimated 10% of adults in Australia. It is often called wear & tear arthritis as this form of the disease occurs when there is destruction of the articular cartilage, i.e. the protective cartilage is worn away and new bone growth forms painful spurs resulting in joint pain and 
stifness.
Osteoarthritis usually affect the large weight bearing joints and the lumbar spine, the hands may also be affected.
Although there is no known cause of OA certain risk factors may precipitate the condition in susceptible individuals including:
- Obesity
- Trauma
- Sports injuries
- Certain occupations
- Previous bone and joint diseases
- Age
Read about Arthritis WA's self management courses here
Rheumatoid arthritis: is a serious auto-immune systemic inflammatory disease which can be life threatening and if untreated causes erosive joint damage.
In rheumatoid arthritis the synovioma, or lining of the joint is attacked resulting in pain, stiffness, swelling, joint damage, and loss of function. Approximately 500,000 people (2.5%) of the Australian population live with rheumatoid arthritis. 
RA usually affects the small joints of the hands and feet, wrists, shoulders, elbows and tends to be symmetrical (occurring equally on both sides of the body).
People with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk than the general public and RA affects more women than men with a ratio of 3:1.
RA can develop gradually or start with a sudden attack and is often accompanied by a general feeling of fatigue, joint stiffness, persistent pain, swelling and inflammation in one or more joints.
Read about Arthritis WA's Rheumatoid Arthritis Self Management Program here
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): an umbrella term for arthritis in children. JIA can present at any age and in different ways. Children presenting with pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function of the joints, should be seen by a paediatric rheumatologist.
JIA may be associated with rashes or fevers, and may affect various parts of the body.
Read about our camps for children and young adults with JIA here
Fibromyalgia: is a chronic pain disorder that causes muscular pain and tenderness throughout the body. Pain, stiffness, and localised tender points occur in the muscles and tendons, particularly those of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Patients may also experience fatigue and sleep disturbances. 
Systemic lupus erythematosus: systemic lupus erythematous (also known as lupus or SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system harms the body's own healthy cells and tissues. This can result in inflammation of and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain.
Scleroderma: scleroderma means literally "hard skin". The disease affects the skin, blood vessels and joints. It may also affect internal organs, such as the lungs and kidneys.
In scleroderma, there is an abnormal and excessive production of collagen (a fibre-like protein) in the skin or internal organs. There are two main types of Scleroderma - "limited diffuse scleroderma" (CREST Syndrome) and scleroderma or systemic sclerosis.
Spondyloarthropathies: this group of auto-immune inflammatory rheumatic diseases includes:
- Ankylosing spondylitis : occurs more frequently in men than women. AS usually affects the spine, but can also distress other joints, often the hips and shoulders. Ankylosing spondylitis often starts in late adolescence or early adulthood.
- Psoriatic arthritis: belongs to the Spondyloarthropathies group and occurs in some people who have the skin disorder psoriasis. In psoriatic arthritis the small joints are affected especially the joints of the hands and feet and is often accompanied by pitting of the finger and toe nails.
Gout: this type of arthritis results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the joints. Often occurring in the big toe, the crystals cause inflammation, swelling and pain. Other joints can also be affected and the condition can progress to gouty arthritis which can be extremely painful and debilitating. Familial high levels of uric acid can predispose some people to gout.
Ross River Virus /Barmah Forrest Virus: occur after being bitten by certain species of mosquitos in Australia. It is also known as epidemic polyarthritis. Viral rheumatic conditions commence with flu-like systems, usually accompanied by a skin rash and painful joints. The fever and skin rash usually disappear with in the first 1-2 weeks however the joint pains may continue often accompanied by fatigue, lethargy and sometimes depression. If symptoms persist for three months or more a specialist referral should be sought.
Reactive arthritis: is a general term describing forms of arthritis that develop following certain infections. The condition is sometimes called reiters syndrome.
Pain and swelling usually in the knees, ankles, or toes are often the first symptoms. Because the symptoms are similar to other serious rheumatoid conditions it is important to seek early medical advise to obtain a correct diagnosis and treatment.
Polymyalgia rheumatica: is a rheumatic condition that causes great pain in the muscles and ligaments. PMR usually occurs in the over 50 age group with an average age of 70.
PMR can occur very suddenly with severe and painful stiffness especially in the early morning. The shoulders and hips are usually affected making it very difficult to get out of bed. Specific medications are required to treat this condition and these should be supervised by a GP.
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