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- What is arthritis?
- Symptoms of arthritis
- Causes of arthritis
- Prevention of arthritis
- Risk factors for arthritis
- Complications of arthritis
- When to see a doctor about arthritis
- Diagnosis of arthritis
- Conventional treatment of arthritis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of arthritis
- Living with arthritis
- Caring for someone with arthritis
There are a number of possible complications of osteoarthritis:
- Bleeding in the joint - sometimes the friction in the joint becomes severe enough to cause bleeding in the joint which can further aggravate symptoms and make pain much worse
- Chondrolysis - this causes the cartilage to break down very rapidly, which results in loose tissue in the joint, which can hamper nutrient delivery to the bone and joint
- Infection of the joint - in some cases of osteoarthritis, the joint can more easily become infected
- Osteonecrosis - this is when there is death of the bone at the affected joint, mainly due to inability of nutrients getting to the bone and subsequently resulting in the death of the bone. This complication is quite rare and only happens in very serious cases of osteoarthritis that are not adequately treated. This can be potentially very debilitating, depending on where the bone is located
- Pinched nerves - some of the nerves can become pinched in the joint, in severe cases of osteoarthritis, especially of the spine
- Stress fractures - these are hairline cracks in the bone at the affected joint(s), which may develop gradually in response to repeated injury or stress
- Tendon and ligament problems - the tendons and ligaments at the joint(s) can deteriorate or rupture, which can lead to loss of stability of the joint. This can be very debilitating, especially if it is the knee joint
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There are a number of possible complications of rheumatoid arthritis:
- Anaemia - people with rheumatoid arthritis may develop some type of anaemia and this could be due to the inflammatory nature of rheumatoid arthritis, which may interfere with iron metabolism and haemoglobin function. In addition to this, the medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis may also contribute to the anaemia. Studies show that as many as 60% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have anaemia
- Heart disease - people with rheumatoid arthritis are are at higher risk for developing heart disease, which is thought to be due to the inflammation caused by this condition, which may also injure arteries and heart muscle tissue
- Lung disease - people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to get any type of lung disease, most likely due to the inflammation in the body
- Lymphoma - people with rheumatoid arthritis are four times more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and this could be related to not just the ongoing and chronic inflammation in the body, but also the medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis - risk for developing osteoporosis in the hips is increased in post-menopausal women and for men over 60 with rheumatoid arthritis
- Peripheral neuropathy - there is an increased risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, which is a condition that affects the nerves, usually in the hands and feet and can result in tingling, numbness, or burning
- Scleritis - there is an increased risk of developing scleritis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the eye that can result in corneal damage and ultimately blindness
- Skin problems - there is a high risk of developing mild to very severe skin problems, especially on the fingers and under the nails
- Vasculitis - occurs when the blood vessels become inflamed. Vasculitis causes ulcers or lesions to appear on the skin. Vasculitis may also affect the internal organs
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< 5: risk factors 7: when to see a doctor > Last reviewed: 3 January 2009 || Last updated: 8 February 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
