Arthritis Symptoms And Triggers Dr Ritesh Khokhar

Arthritis is a disease that causes damage in your joints. Joints are places in your body where two bones meet.

Some joints naturally wear down as you age. Lots of people develop arthritis after that normal, lifelong wear and tear. Some types of arthritis happen after injuries that damage a joint. Certain health conditions also cause arthritis.

Osteoarthritis happens naturally as you age a lifetime of using your joints can eventually wear down their cartilage cushioning.
You may develop gout if you have too much uric acid in your blood (hyperuricemia).
Your immune system can cause arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis) when it damages your joints by mistake.
Certain viral infections (including COVID-19) can trigger viral arthritis.
Sometimes, arthritis happens with no cause or trigger. Providers call this idiopathic arthritis.

A healthcare provider will diagnose arthritis with a physical exam. They ll examine your affected joints and ask about your symptoms. Tell your provider when you first noticed symptoms like pain and stiffness, and if any activities or times of day make them worse.

Your provider will probably check your range of motion (how far you can move a joint). They may compare one joint s range of motion to other, similar joints (your other knee, ankle or fingers, for example).