I. Inflammatory Arthritis

 The most common types of inflammatory arthritis are;

·         Rheumatoid arthritis

·         Psoriatic arthritis

The immune system’s role is to protect against disease and fight disease.  The system accomplishes this by generating internal inflammation to get rid of any infection and prevent onset of disease.  The immune system can however go haywire, mistakenly attacking the joints with uncontrolled inflammation, potentially causing erosion and damage to internal organs, eyes and other parts of the body. The body’s attack on itself is referred to as autoimmunity.

     

Risk factors for degenerative arthritis (factors that can trigger autoimmunity):  

1.       Genetics  

2.       Environmental factors e.g. smoking  

According to the Arthritis Foundation, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment is critical with autoimmune/ inflammatory types of arthritis. Slowing disease activity can help minimize or even prevent permanent joint damage. Remission is the goal and may be achieved through the use of medications known as Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs). The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent further joint damage.