Types of Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively common disorder affecting approximately one in a hundred of the population. It can strike at any age and is more prevalent in women than men. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is a natural process of wear and tear, it is not primarily a disease of the aged and can strike at any age. In fact rheumatoid arthritis belongs to a class of conditions called autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune Disease

The immune system is the body’s surveillance system detecting and neutralising infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. It also aids in the elimination of abnormal cells which left unchecked might turn cancerous. In autoimmune conditions this natural defence mechanism goes haywire and starts to recognise normal and healthy tissue as foreign and thereafter initiates an attack. This results in chronic inflammation and ultimately tissue destruction.

Genetic and Environmental Factors

The main target for tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis is the joints, although other tissues are often involved. While the ultimate cause of this disease is unknown, it is thought that there is a genetic predisposition. These genetic factors alone are insufficient to initiate the disease and an environmental trigger is also required. This initiating event is likely to be an infectious disease agent. Interestingly, cigarette smoking has been shown to be a risk factor for contracting rheumatoid arthritis and provides another good reason not to start smoking. Presently there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis however there are a number of pharmacological approaches which have been shown to be effective treatments. It is important to control this disease early on, otherwise extensive joint damage occurs with attendant pain and loss of normal function. Surgical intervention involving joint repair and artificial replacement is often contemplated to restore mobility and lessen the life destroying ravages of chronic pain.

Not everyone is affected to the same degree. About one third of people with rheumatoid arthritis will achieve real benefits from treatment, while another third receive some degree of relief. Unfortunately the final third of sufferers experience significant deterioration and prove a real challenge to the medical profession.

Karen’s Disease

I know about this debilitating disease from first hand as my wife Karen has been a sufferer for over 20 years. As I write she is at home in bed recovering from an operation on her neck vertebra which is designed to stop the excruciating pain caused by bone degeneration. This will be her 25th operation in less than 4 years. She belongs to the unfortunate third of patients which respond poorly to medical intervention and has undergone widespread and extensive joint damage. The number of drugs she ingests on a daily basis is currently running at 16; this includes 3 opiate based drugs which are used to control her excruciating pain. It is our fervent hope that this is her final surgical procedure. However, on past experience and unless she responds radically different to the best modern medicine has to offer, I suspect there will be more to come.