If you live long enough, you’re going to get arthritis.
Aakanksha Khanna, MD, Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester.You probably never thought twice about opening a jar, climbing stairs, or getting out of bed.
But somewhere along the way, you started to feel joint pain, mild stiffness, and occasional swelling. Your knees ached after walking or your hand joints felt sore after using a pen.
“If you live long enough, you’re going to get arthritis,” says rheumatologist Aakanksha Khanna, MD, of Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester.
Arthritis is among the most common chronic health conditions in the U.S., affecting nearly 60 million adults. It’s one of the leading causes of disability in the country.
But you can still lead an active life with arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow arthritis progression, protect your joints, and keep you moving.
Is all arthritis the same?
Arthritis refers to more than 100 conditions that cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is one of the oldest known diseases in humans.
The most common type is osteoarthritis from natural wear and tear on the joints. Autoimmune forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis, involve inflammation caused by the immune system.
“Osteoarthritis tends to affect a few joints and is linked to aging or injury,” says rheumatologist Todd F. Dombrowski, MD, of Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Cheshire. “Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is driven by widespread inflammation.”
Are there subtle signs?
Arthritis does not always start with noticeable joint pain, and early symptoms can be subtle and easy to overlook.
Mild aching or stiffness, sometimes triggered by changes in weather, can appear before more obvious symptoms. You may also notice decreased flexibility over time.
Research shows that fatigue, depression, and anxiety can be common among people with rheumatoid arthritis and may appear before severe joint problems develop.
Osteoarthritis typically affects the knees, hips, and hands. Pain worsens with activity, and morning stiffness is usually brief.
Rheumatoid arthritis often affects both sides of the body symmetrically and possibly even the organs, like the heart, lungs, or skin.
Early signs of osteoarthritis
- Joint pain that worsens with activity
- Brief morning stiffness (usually less than 30 minutes)
- Stiffness after sitting or resting that lasts less than a minute
- Reduced flexibility or range of motion
- Clicking, popping, or grinding in the joint
- Mild swelling after use
Early signs of rheumatoid arthritis
- Fatigue or unusual tiredness
- Morning stiffness lasting more than 30-60 minutes
- Joint pain, tenderness, or swelling, often in hands, wrists, or feet
- Symptoms affecting both sides of the body
- Reduced grip strength or difficulty with everyday tasks
- Feeling generally unwell
- Low-grade fever, loss of appetite, or unexplained weight loss
- Persistent pain that lasts for more than six weeks
How is arthritis treated?
“I tell patients that we may not have a cure and that treatment will likely be lifelong, but you can manage arthritis well,” Dombrowski says.
Most forms of arthritis are treated with a combination of medication, exercise, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes aimed at reducing pain, controlling inflammation, protecting joints, and maintaining mobility.
Research shows that turmeric, and particularly its active compound curcumin, may help reduce arthritis pain and inflammation, Khanna says.
Khanna typically recommends a 500 mg dose of turmeric twice daily for arthritis. While turmeric can be helpful, it’s not a cure and results can vary from person to person. You should check with your primary care provider before taking turmeric, she says.
She also notes that complementary therapies like acupuncture, Tai Chi, and hand therapy can improve joint function and reduce pain.
Several oral, injectable, and infusion medication options are available and have shown excellent success in controlling symptoms and progression of rheumatoid arthritis, Khanna says.
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded to standard therapies, Dombrowski says a new FDA-approved implantable device is now available.
The device stimulates the vagus nerve, a major communication pathway between your brain and body, and can help reduce inflammation without overly suppressing the immune system.
What causes arthritis?
Osteoarthritis develops from gradual wear and tear on joints, often due to aging, overuse, prior injuries, or a genetic predisposition. Excess weight can further increase the risk by placing extra stress on weight-bearing joints.
Rheumatology focuses on autoimmune diseases of connective tissues, such as joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments, and rheumatoid arthritis is the most common. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the immune system attacks the body. The immune system can get triggered and attack the joints because of genetics or environmental factors, like infections or smoking.
Other types of arthritis, like gout, result from crystal buildup in the joints.
Managing arthritis
A generation ago, living with arthritis meant few options beyond pain relief and coping with declining mobility. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often developed permanent joint damage.
Today, advances in medication, technology, and physical therapy are helping patients manage symptoms, protect joint function, and maintain active, independent lives.
Khanna says living well with arthritis is entirely possible.
“You can have a good quality of life with arthritis,” she says. “It’s a matter of staying active, seeking help early, and following your treatment plan.”
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