With over 100 different types of arthritis, it can be difficult to determine which form a patient has. Inflammatory arthritis is a term that generally applies to osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

There are differences between these two forms of inflammatory arthritis too. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage at the end of the bones wears down. This causes the joints to become inflamed and is very painful. This is considered an inflammatory arthritis because of the inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis is also considered an inflammatory arthritis because there is inflammation in the joints too. The cause of this inflammation is different though, it is caused by a systemic disease. A systemic disease is an auto-immune disease where a person's immune system attacks healthy tissue. In rheumatoid arthritis the inflammation in the joints is due to the joint lining becoming inflamed.

Treatments

When a patient has an inflammatory arthritis, a physician first must determine which form they have. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, a blood test that tests for it can be conducted. Also, rheumatoid arthritis is generally worse in the mornings or after a patient has been sitting for awhile. Osteoarthritis is worse in the evenings due to the constant pressure on the joints.

Once it is determined which form of inflammatory arthritis a patient has, the next path is to set a treatment plan. With both forms of inflammatory arthritis being very painful, a course of pain medications is often the first step. Steroids can be used to combat the inflammation and the pain that is then caused by the inflammation.

There are also medications that contain no steroids but are still good at providing pain relief and can help with the inflammation. A physician may prescribe one course of treatment and then change the dosage, and it may take awhile to get relief from the pain.

An inflammatory arthritis course of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may include medications that assist the immune system to try and stop it from attacking the rest of the body. These medications all come with side effects and a physician can explain the complications that are associated with them.

Sometimes the only answer for a patient with osteoarthritis is to have joint replacement surgery. This can be very successful but is a big decision that can also come with some risks. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may also benefit from this surgery.

Inflammatory arthritis is a life altering disorder that many people have. Talking with a physician to determine if this is what you have is the first step in beginning a treatment plan that can help with the pain associated with these disorders.