The Stages of Arthritis

Arthritis is hardly one disease; in fact, it’s an umbrella term for over 100 joint disorders that progressively worsen over time. For the main types of arthritis, understanding their stages can be crucial for both patients and podiatrists like us at Podiatry Center of New Jersey to manage the disease and anticipate its development. In today’s article, we’ll go over how each of the five most common forms of arthritis progresses.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis progresses through stages of gradual cartilage breakdown. Initially, there may be minor cartilage damage that is often asymptomatic or causes occasional stiffness.

However, as OA advances, cartilage thins and causes friction between bones, which creates pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion.

In later stages, significant cartilage loss can lead to bone-on-bone contact that leads to severe pain, joint instability, and the formation of bone spurs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is the autoimmune version of arthritis, so it unfolds in stages driven by chronic inflammation. The initial stage involves inflammation of the synovial lining of the joints, which causes swelling, warmth, and stiffness.

As RA progresses, the inflamed synovium thickens and forms an abnormal layer of tissue that erodes cartilage and underlying bone. This erosion leads to joint damage, pain, and eventual deformities. Late stage RA can result in significant joint destruction, chronic pain, and loss of function.

Gout

If you have gout, you’ll experience it in distinct phases. The first stage is asymptomatic hyperuricemia, where uric acid levels are high, but no symptoms are present. This is followed by acute gout attacks, characterized by sudden, intense joint pain, redness, and swelling.

There is often an asymptomatic period between these stages, but don’t be fooled: this is just gout building up more uric acid crystals in the joints. If gout is not managed, it can progress to the point where the development of these crystals is so advanced that it leads to persistent pain and joint damage.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Much like the skin condition from which it stems, the progression of psoriatic arthritis is more variable. Some individuals may experience mild, intermittent joint pain, while others develop a more aggressive and debilitating form.

If it continues to develop without treatment, it can lead to joint damage, stiffness, swelling of the fingers and toes, and, in some cases, ankylosis (fusion of the joints). The severity and pattern of joint involvement can vary significantly.

Juvenile Arthritis

Unlike some other forms of arthritis, JA doesn’t have a universally accepted staging system that applies to all its subtypes. Instead, its course is characterized by patterns of disease activity and remission. Some forms, like oligoarthritis, may see symptoms resolve over time, while others, like polyarthritis, can be more persistent and lead to joint damage and functional limitations if not effectively managed.

If you have more questions about foot care or want to address specific concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the expert team at Podiatry Center of New Jersey! Give us a call at (973) 925-4111 or make an appointment online.