Arthritis - recognising and treating inflammatory joints

Arthritis is noticeable in small joints

Symptoms of arthritis are stabbing joint pain, marked joint stiffness and swelling of the joints. A typical sign is morning stiffness of the joints, which can last for one or more hours. Sometimes it is not even possible to close a fist.

How else does arthritis manifest itself? In the early stages, joint inflammation is noticeable in small joints such as the fingers or toes. The inflamed joints swell, hurt even at rest and react sensitively to pressure. They are often also overheated.

If the arthritis progresses over the next few weeks or months, other joints become diseased, this time the larger ones: Joints in the elbow, shoulder, knee and hip can be affected. The inflammation can also spread to tendon sheaths and bursae.

Also look out for general symptoms, as the inflammatory processes of rheumatoid arthritis affect the entire organism: they manifest themselves as tiredness, malaise, poor performance, slight fever, night sweats and occasionally weight loss.

Clinical examinations and laboratory tests for suspected arthritis

If arthritis is suspected, the rheumatology specialist will first take a detailed medical history and examine you clinically. If there are typical symptoms of arthritis at the time of the examination, the joint inflammation should definitely be recorded using objective examination methods. At Bethesda Hospital, we use high-resolution ultrasound equipment for this purpose, which can visualise the inflammation virtually "live".

Depending on the situation, further imaging examinations such as X-rays, computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also used. Laboratory tests are also very important to determine the degree of inflammation in the blood and to classify the arthritis. Laboratory tests are also necessary so that drug therapies can be determined.

What can be done against arthritis?

Effective treatment methods with medication

Today, we are in the fortunate position of being able to treat most patients with arthritis very effectively. In addition to tried and tested medications, we have a whole range of modern, targeted medications at our disposal, such as "biologics", which include "TNF blockers". Biologics are genetically engineered from biological material. TNF blockers block a specific inflammation-promoting messenger substance in the body. In this way, they inhibit inflammation and combat the symptoms.

Our medical specialists select the therapy to suit the individual patient and the stage of the disease. We will inform you carefully about the effects and side effects as well as the risk-benefit ratio. The Rheumatology and Pain Medicine Clinic at Bethesda Hospital employs several specialists with many years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis patients. The necessary imaging procedures (joint ultrasound, MRI) and the special "arthritis consultation hour" are also available to you.

Injections for joint pain

Glucocorticoids ("steroids", "cortisone") help very quickly and effectively with individual acutely inflamed joints. At Bethesda Hospital, we inject these drugs directly into the joint under ultrasound guidance. This method enables us to achieve the greatest possible local effect with minimal side effects.

Drug therapy for arthritis includes oral (tablets) and parenteral (infusions; injections under the skin) therapies. They are combined for optimum effect. All established arthritis therapies are available to our patients, including basic drug therapies, biologics (including infusion therapies) and ultrasound-guided joint treatments.

Arthritis affects people of all ages

People can be affected by arthritis regardless of their age. Rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis associated with collagenoses, e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus (also known as SLE or lupus), occur around nine times more frequently in women than in men. The disease typically begins around the time of the menopause, but sometimes even earlier.

Spondarthritis and gout usually affect people in adulthood. Pseudogout is common in older people, typically over the age of 70.