Arthritis in women

Sandipta hates waking up in the morning. Early in the day, her joints are stiff and painful, and she has to hobble around till the discomfort eases a bit. She is unable to grasp her coffee cup without pain. Sandipta has arthritis. She is learning to cope with arthritis so that she can lead as normal a life as possible.

Women are more likely to get arthritis than men, but the reasons for this are not exactly known.

Arthritis often causes pain in the joints, and medications may be necessary for pain relief. Joint-related arthritis problems are the most common form of arthritis. Many forms of arthritis are more of an annoyance than serious. The impact of arthritis on women depends on the type of arthritis, but many arthritic conditions may be very painful and debilitating.

Common types of arthritis affecting women

• Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease. This type of arthritis usually occurs in older people. The wear and tear of the cartilages which cushion the bones in a joint, results in osteoarthritis. With the cartilage worn away, the bones come into contact with each other and this can be excruciatingly painful. The commonest joint to be affected is the knee joint. Excessive weight can cause or worsen the condition. Overweight women have nearly 4 times the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. It occurs most often in women between the ages of 15 and 45. It can cause pain, swelling and stiffness and in severe cases can deform joints. While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness (meaning it can last for years) patients may experience long periods without symptoms.

• Fibromyalgia is a disorder that creates pain in the tissues that support bones and joints.

• Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons. It may be caused by overuse (as in tennis elbow), injury or a rheumatic condition.