Are you experiencing flashes of joint pain, swelling, and warmth that appear randomly? Do you have joint pain from wear and tear? Then you may have inflammatory arthritis.
There is still a lot to learn about when it comes to this condition, but there is a better understanding of where it may stem from. Here’s an overview of inflammatory arthritis and what may be causing it.
What Are the Kinds of Inflammatory Arthritis?
Inflammatory arthritis is a group of diseases caused by an overactive immune system. Many people experience joint pain and stiffness that can feel warm, swollen, or tender. This condition can make daily life difficult, as random flashes can occur at anytime.
This condition can also cause other body parts, including the tissues in the lungs, heart, eyes, skin, and other organs. If left untreated, this could cause irreversible damage to your body.
Some of the types of inflammatory arthritis that people can suffer from include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Gout and Pseudogout
What Can Cause Inflammatory Arthritis?
Many people associate inflammatory arthritis with the wear and tear of joints. However, it is an autoimmune disorder. When your body is exposed to bacteria, viruses, or fungi, your immune system will produce white blood cells to fight it off. And one of the chemicals that’s called into action includes immune proteins that will cause inflammation.
When you have inflammatory arthritis, your body doesn’t know when to stop producing these proteins, so you have consistent inflammation. This can cause several uncomfortable symptoms such as:
- Joint pain and stiffness after periods of rest or inactivity, particularly in the morning
- Swelling, redness, or feelings of warmth in the affected joints
- Loss of mobility as the condition worsens
- Inflammation of other areas in the body, such as the skin or internal organs like the lungs and heart
People experiencing inflammatory arthritis can get help from a functional medicine doctor.
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