What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition where the cartilage that lines your joints wears down, causing discomfort, swelling, stiffness and limited movement. You can develop arthritis in any joint, but common places include the knees, hips, shoulders, lower back, hands, wrists, feet and ankles.
Arthritis is extremely common and is a part of the aging process. Arthritis affects around one-fifth of people in the US, and some degree of arthritis is observed on X-rays in nearly all people of advanced age. The various kinds of arthritis differ by cause, symptoms and the parts of the body they typically affect.
Determining which type of arthritis you have is the key to creating the most effective treatment plan for you. Arthritis doesn’t have a cure, but diagnosing it early and identifying the type you have can help you enjoy the best quality of life possible and reduce your risk of complications.
Types of arthritis
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Some of the most common types include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis: Inflammation affecting the spine and large joints
- Gout: Comes and goes in flares and often starts in the leg or big toe
- Infectious arthritis: Occurs due to an infection that spreads to a joint
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Affects children and doesn’t have a known cause
- Osteoarthritis: Gradual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions joints during movement
- Psoriatic arthritis: Occurs mostly in people who have a skin condition called psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Develops when your immune system becomes overactive in the lining of your joints
Arthritis symptoms
Arthritis symptoms vary widely depending on the type of condition you have. The common feature, however, is that symptoms center on the joints. As a result, it’s important to take note of any new discomfort or other joint-related signs that could suggest arthritis. Symptoms may be constant, come and go, or only occur after exercise or other physical activity.
Common signs and symptoms of arthritis include:
- A joint that feels warm or tender to the touch
- Discolored skin around the joint
- Joint pain
- Reduced range of motion in the joint
- Stiffness in the joint
When to see a doctor
Depending on where you’re experiencing joint pain, being examined by an orthopedist who specializes in the upper extremities (your arms, from the shoulder to the hands) or lower extremities (your hip, thigh, knee, lower leg, ankle and feet) can put you on the path to relief.
A physical medicine and rehabilitation physician or orthopedic sports medicine doctor can offer conservative options for milder joint discomfort or stiffness, especially if symptoms stop you from participating in your regular activities or favorite pastimes.
Depending on the form of arthritis, your provider may also refer you to a rheumatologist for specialized care. You should also see your medical provider if you have severe joint pain, experience more symptom flares than usual or notice a sudden change in your range of motion.
What causes arthritis?
Sometimes, arthritis develops without an identifiable cause. This is known as idiopathic arthritis. In many cases, though, determining what type you have can help pinpoint the cause. The causes of arthritis are as diverse as the forms of the condition. Common causes include:
- Changes to cartilage that cause it to break down over time (osteoarthritis)
- Genetic and environmental factors (multiple types, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis)
- High uric acid levels in your blood (gout)
- Infections (infectious arthritis)
Arthritis risk factors
Arthritis can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase your risk. Getting older, for example, increases your likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. Aging cells in your joint tissues raise the risk of cartilage wearing out, which is why osteoarthritis is more common after age 50.
Like aging, some arthritis risk factors are out of your hands. Others, however, you can control. General risk factors for arthritis include:
- Being female: Women are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis, possibly due to hormone-related differences.
- Being obese: Obesity contributes to inflammation that may fuel arthritis. In addition, excess fat adds to joint stress, especially for the knees and other weight-bearing joints.
- Family history: Some forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, can run in families, so you may be more likely to develop one of these conditions if a parent or another close family member has it.
- Joint injury: Injuring a joint can lead to potentially harmful inflammation.
- Lack of physical activity: Regular exercise helps your joints by strengthening surrounding muscles. Not exercising, however, reduces the muscles’ ability to support the joints.
- Smoking: Smoking can trigger inflammation throughout the body that may contribute to arthritis.
Complications
Arthritis pain and other symptoms can affect your quality of life in a variety of ways. Without treatment, you may stop participating in hobbies and find it difficult to perform your best at work, complete routine chores or get around your home.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
If you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, swelling or other joint-related symptoms, getting a diagnosis is the first step toward relief. Your physician will use a medical history and exam, imaging tests and, potentially, blood tests to find out whether you have arthritis and, if so, what type. The type of arthritis will guide your treatment.
Medical history and exam
Arrive at your appointment ready to answer questions from your physician about your medical history and symptoms. Your physician will want to know about any other medical conditions you have and how you’re treating them, as well as any family medical history that may relate to arthritis. You’ll need to provide as much information as possible about your symptoms, including when they started, what they feel like, what seems to trigger them and how they affect your functional abilities.
After taking your medical history, your physician will examine the affected joint or joints. They may gently touch the joint to check for heat, swelling and pain. You may need to move the joint so your physician can look for problems with range of motion.
Imaging
The medical history and exam can provide valuable clues about the issue affecting your joint, but your physician will likely want more information. For that, they may order one or more tests, including:
- X-ray: Likely the first imaging test your physician will order, an X-ray can show how much cartilage a joint contains and bone damage that may be due to arthritis.
- CT scan: An X-ray may not help your physician check the appearance of difficult-to-see joints, such as those in the spine. A CT scan may be a better choice for these joints.
- MRI scan: Compared with an X-ray, an MRI can provide a fuller picture of a joint’s health by showing both its bones and nearby tissues. It is not generally necessary to obtain an MRI scan to diagnose arthritis, but it may rule out other related problems.
- Ultrasound: Like an MRI, an ultrasound can show a joint in detail, including the bones and soft tissues.
Lab tests
Along with a full medical history, physical exam and imaging, lab tests can help identify the type of arthritis you may have:
- Arthrocentesis: Examines joint fluid for signs of arthritis by inserting a needle into the joint to test for cell counts, crystals and infection.
- Blood tests: A blood test can show whether you have an infection or high levels of uric acid—factors that may indicate gout, inflammatory arthritis or another form of the condition.
- Urinalysis: Checks urine for kidney disease, sometimes associated with arthritis.
Arthritis treatment
While there’s no cure for arthritis, your healthcare provider can offer many treatments to help manage symptoms and reduce discomfort, keeping you active and independent. Treatment plans may include at-home care, lifestyle changes, medications and physical therapy. If these options aren’t enough, surgery might offer better relief. Managing arthritis often takes some trial and error, so it’s important to find the treatments that work best for you.
At-home care and lifestyle changes
Using home remedies for arthritis and creating healthy habits may help reduce symptoms.
- Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet: Eating more plants can help reduce inflammation and, as a result, joint pain.
- Exercise most days of the week: Spend 30 minutes doing moderate-intensity exercise at least five days a week. Try activities that don’t place excessive stress on your joints, such as walking, swimming or using a stationary bike.
- Use heat and cold therapies: Heat can help relax tense muscles around your joints. Cold may relieve swelling, and it’s especially effective after physical activity.
- Bracing: If you have knee arthritis, wearing a brace can provide support, help reduce swelling, correct alignment and ease discomfort.
Medication
Medications are another effective tool for managing arthritis. Your physician can help determine which medications make sense for you based on your type of condition and symptoms. Common options include:
- Corticosteroids: These medications reduce inflammation and the immune system’s activity, both of which can help relieve symptoms.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): These medications restrict immune system activity and can be a valuable treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These over-the-counter medications are widely used for arthritis pain relief.
- Topical medications: Topical treatments, such as salicylates, may help reduce inflammation.
Therapy
Nonsurgical therapy treatments can complement at-home care, lifestyle changes and medications. Your physician may recommend:
- Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists can suggest assistive devices, such as splints, to reduce discomfort and show you ways to perform daily tasks that place less stress on your joints.
- Physical therapy: With the help of a physical therapist, you can learn exercises to build strength and range of motion in the affected joint. When therapy ends, you can continue the exercises on your own at home.
Surgery
Nonsurgical treatments may allow you to enjoy the quality of life you want. If, however, you’ve tried a wide range of conservative treatments and your symptoms haven’t improved, your physician may suggest surgery. Several surgical options are available, but the most common include:
- Joint repair: In some cases, joint surfaces can be smoothed or realigned to ease pain and improve movement. These procedures are often done arthroscopically, using small incisions around the joint.
- Joint fusion: During this procedure, a surgeon uses hardware to attach multiple bones in a joint, allowing them to fuse into a single bone as they heal.
- Joint replacement: A surgeon removes damaged portions of the joint and replaces them with metal, plastic or ceramic implants.
How can I prevent arthritis?
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent arthritis, but you can reduce your risk and delay its onset. Keeping your joints healthy now can help you stay mobile and avoid discomfort later. To lower your chances of developing arthritis, try these tips:
- Avoid tobacco products
- Follow a healthy diet and exercise plan
- Choose low-impact exercises
- Use proper protective gear for activities that could harm your joints, such as a brace
Locations
We offer several locations for your care, including orthopedic specialty centers in North and Central Texas.
Baylor Scott & White Family Medicine Residency - Waxahachie
2460 N Interstate 35E Ste 215, Waxahachie, TX, 75165- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Avery Ranch
15004 Avery Ranch Blvd Bldg C, Ste 101, Austin, TX, 78717- Monday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:15 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Burleson
12500 South Fwy Ste 201, Burleson, TX, 76028
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Carrollton Sandy Lake
1850 Legends Trl , Carrollton, TX, 75006
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Cedar Park East
701 East Whitestone Blvd Ste 100, Cedar Park, TX, 78613- Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Cedar Park West
500 W Whitestone Blvd Ste 101, Cedar Park, TX, 78613- Monday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Dallas Carroll Ave
1015 N Carroll Ave Ste 100, Dallas, TX, 75204
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Dallas N. Washington Ave.
411 N Washington Ave Ste 3900, Dallas, TX, 75246
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Far West
6818 Austin Center Blvd Ste 111, Austin, TX, 78731
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Fort Worth Camp Bowie
3621 Camp Bowie Blvd , Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Frisco Main
5858 Main St Ste 160, Frisco, TX, 75033
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Ft Worth Bryant Irvin
4901 Bryant Irving Rd N Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76107
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Garland Shiloh
333 N Shiloh Rd Ste 108, Garland, TX, 75042
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Georgetown
4112 Williams Dr Ste 103, Georgetown, TX, 78628
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Georgetown Northwest
5353 Williams Dr Ste 100, Georgetown, TX, 78633
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Grapevine
1643 Lancaster Dr Ste 100, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Hutto
567 FM 685 (Chris Kelley Blvd) , Hutto, TX, 78634
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Irving MacArthur
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Bldg I, Ste 550, Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Kyle Parkway
5695 Kyle Pkwy Ste 140, Kyle, TX, 78640
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Leander
1007 S Highway 183 , Leander, TX, 78641
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Liberty Hill
14125 W State Hwy 29 Ste B204, Liberty Hill, TX, 78642
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Little Elm
2700 E Eldorado Pkwy Ste 409, Little Elm, TX, 75068
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Manor
12400 Gregg Manor Rd Ste 101, Manor, TX, 78653
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Eldorado
2960 Eldorado Pkwy Ste 75, McKinney, TX, 75070
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Lake Forest
5236 W University Dr Ste 3500, McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - McKinney Red Bud
1705 W University Dr Ste 119, McKinney, TX, 75069
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Mesquite Belt Line
1313 N Belt Line Rd Ste 102, Mesquite, TX, 75149
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Mesquite Republic
1650 Republic Pkwy Ste 103, Mesquite, TX, 75150
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Mid-Cities
6501 Precinct Line Rd Ste 200, North Richland Hills, TX, 76182
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Midlothian
1441 S Midlothian Pkwy Ste 170, Midlothian, TX, 76065
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Murphy
511 W FM 544 Ste 208, Murphy, TX, 75094
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - North Arlington
4120 SH 360 Suite 105, Fort Worth, TX, 76155
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - North Dallas Coit
510 N Coit Rd Ste 2035, Richardson, TX, 75080
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - North Garland
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 200, Garland, TX, 75044
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Pflugerville
16051 Dessau Rd Ste A, Pflugerville, TX, 78660
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Plano Alliance
4825 Alliance Blvd Ste 200, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Plano West Parker
4701 W Parker Rd Ste 625, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Red River
3200 Red River St Ste 101, Austin, TX, 78705
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Richardson Collins
1740 N Collins Blvd Ste 100, Richardson, TX, 75080
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Round Rock
116 Sundance Pkwy Ste 400, Round Rock, TX, 78681
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Round Rock University
300A University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - South Grand Prairie
2950 W Camp Wisdom Rd Ste 200, Grand Prairie, TX, 75052
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - South Lamar
3901 S Lamar Blvd Ste 140, Austin, TX, 78704
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Terrell
512 American Wy Ste E4, E5, E6, Terrell, TX, 75160
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - The Colony
4897 State Highway 121 , The Colony, TX, 75056
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Waxahachie
2460 N. Interstate 35E Suite 260, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Weatherford
2035 Fort Worth Hwy Ste 300, Weatherford, TX, 76086
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - West 38th St.
711 W 38th St Suites B3 & B4, Austin, TX, 78705
Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Wylie
600 Cooper Dr Ste 130, Wylie, TX, 75098
Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246Hours of Operation
Hours of Operation
Office Hours
Frequently asked questions
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Is arthritis hereditary?
Certain types of arthritis are hereditary. With rheumatoid arthritis, for example, inheriting certain genes from your parents may increase your risk.
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Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?
No, cracking your knuckles does not cause arthritis. When you crack your knuckles, you’re bursting bubbles of synovial fluid, a fluid that helps your joints move smoothly. Although noisy, the habit doesn’t increase arthritis risk.
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Does humidity affect arthritis?
Yes, humidity can impact arthritis symptoms, causing increased pain, stiffness, swelling and fatigue. Humid air can make joints feel stiffer and more painful, limiting mobility and making daily tasks harder. Swelling around joints may also increase, and the added discomfort can lead to fatigue, so it’s important to rest and conserve energy.
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Can arthritis go away if it's due to overuse?
Arthritis symptoms in response to overuse, such as with osteoarthritis, often do not fully go away, because there is no cure for the underlying condition. However, symptoms can improve significantly with proper management, including lifestyle changes like exercise, weight management and rest. If overuse is stopped and the joint is given time to heal, symptoms may even seem to lessen.
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Is heat or ice better for arthritis?
Both heat and ice can relieve arthritis discomfort, but in different ways. Ice reduces pain and inflammation by numbing the area and restricting blood flow, making it helpful for swelling from injuries or arthritis. Heat increases blood flow, relaxes stiff joints and muscles, and improves flexibility by bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the area.