Having swollen and painful joints can be agonising, especially if you are working, as this would even interfere with your daily routine. This kind of condition, also known as arthritis, is where the joints become swollen, inflamed and painful, causing difficulty in working.

According to Eugene Habimana, a general practitioner at University Teaching Hospital, Kigali, (CHUK), there are many types of arthritis involving different joints and occur due to various causes.

"For instance, there is rheumatoid arthritis, which involves the small joints of the body, mostly hands and feet. It is hereditary, common in young women, but can occur in other age groups and in men as well,” he says.

Habimana notes that with rheumatoid arthritis, apart from just the pain, one experiences stiffness of the joints, especially in the morning.

The other type is rheumatic arthritis, which is a result of a reaction to the infection by bacteria known as beta hemolytic streptococci.

The condition is more common in young people and also those from poor socio-economic backgrounds.

Habimana says with this type, one experiences some pain in knees and shoulders, adding that it can even lead to the damage of the heart valves and other complications if therapeutic care is not sought early.

On the other hand, Dr Jean de Dieu Sibomana of la Polyclinic in Remera, Kigali, says a case where a person experiences some toe pains, pain in the joint of the foot, ankle and knee, has a kind of arthritis known as gout.

Risk factors

Sibomana says the more one ages, the more likely they are to develop arthritis, adding that as one grows older the stiffness of the joints also advances, making them vulnerable to other problems.

"This happens to any sex as long as they are aged, the reason being the wear and tear in the joints, leading to more pain and stiffness. This may sometimes contribute to one having difficulties even in doing their daily chores,” he says.

Infectious germs can also affect the joints, resulting in pain, swelling and redness of the joint along with high fever, according to experts.

"The nature of the work also puts one at high risk of having joint pains, especially those spending long time sitting with their legs crossed,” Sibomana says.

He also says due to genetic factors, one may be at risk of developing arthritis.

"Previous injuries can also make one susceptible to the condition.”

Sibomana cites other factors such malnutrition, alcoholism, smoking and some other diseases such as diabetes, as being the other factors that put one at risk of developing arthritis.

Causes

Although there are no specific causes of arthritis, the causes can vary from injury, abnormal metabolism, genetics and infections to immune system dysfunction.

Sibomana says different types of arthritis involve different joints and occur due to various causes.

"Many factors working together can cause one to develop arthritis, while others come as emergencies from accidents,” he adds.

Remedies

Although there is no specific treatment for different types of arthritis, Rachna Pande says there are medicines and remedies for temporary relief.

For instance, one can use analgesic ointments to apply on the regions that are painful. However, she cautions that painkillers should only be used for a short time because if taken for long time, it would lead to gastric ulcers, as well as kidney failure.

"Preventing people from relying on painkillers is essential, and they should be aware that these medicines, if taken repeatedly, are not safe for their health. But again, for the severe cases, one should opt for them once in a while,” she says.

According to Habimana, there are also surgical remedies that can be used to relieve the joint pains.

He adds that when one experiences acute pain, they can apply hot compression on the affected part. This would definitely provide some relief to the affected areas.

"Once one has relief from the acute pain, it is better to take due precaution to avoid exacerbation of pain and inflammation. For example, a patient of gout should avoid beer and red meat,” he says.

One suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Habimana says, should not do heavy manual work with the affected joint.

"Hot compression of the affected joints even when there is no pain, especially during cold weather is a very useful measure to avoid development of severe pain,” he adds.

Some exercises, specifically for the joints, can be done regularly to reduce the pain, as well as to maintain flexibility. This approach aims at increasing the range of motion and improving the condition of the muscles that supports joints.