Arthritis Pain

Definition: What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a disorder resulting from inflammation of the joints in the body, or the area where two different bones meet.  The resulting inflammation leads to joint pain, also known as arthralgia. 

Arthritis is the most common chronic illness in the United States.  Nearly 40 million people in the United States are affected by it, including over 250,000 children. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have  Arthritis Pain. 

There are over 100 types of arthritis, ranging from those related to cartilage wear (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis).

However, most arthritis pain is the result of myofascial trigger points and must be treated in that manner.

Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

Symptoms include pain and limited joint function.  Inflammation leads to joint stiffness, swelling, and tenderness.Patients with myofascial trigger points often complain of suddenly falling down while walking as the knee gave out and the patient lost control.  Locking and laxity of the knee joint can be commonly seen in patients with torn cartilage or ligaments, which often warrants surgical intervention.

Because they are rheumatic diseases, many forms of Arthritis Pain can affect various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints.  Symptoms can include fever, swollen glands, weight loss, fatigue, and even abnormalities in the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

Causes include injury, metabolic abnormalities (such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, and infections.

Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment 

As described above, I treat arthritis by treating myofascial trigger points, as described in the section on myofascial pain.