Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition characterised by painful inflammation of the joints. However, early diagnosis and targeted treatment can effectively and lastingly address the symptoms. Our experienced doctors are here to support you at all our locations.

For a reliable diagnosis of arthritis, the following values must be demonstrated through laboratory testing:

• markedly elevated inflammatory markers in the blood
• exclusion of other conditions by X-ray
• bacteria and inflammatory cells in the joint aspirate

Triggers of arthritis include:

• in rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, connective tissue diseases, and vasculitis: autoimmune, rheumatological conditions
• in bacterial and septic arthritis: colonisation by pathogens from the outside (e.g. following an injury) or carried via the bloodstream (e.g. in gonorrhoea or Lyme disease)
• in reactive arthritis: bacterial infections (frequently involving gastrointestinal or urinary tract pathogens) on the basis of a pre-existing rheumatological condition

The typical features of arthritis are joint pain that is predominantly noticeable in the morning and persists even at rest. The pain improves with movement or the application of cold.

The first step in the comprehensive treatment of your arthritis is diagnostics, through which the specific type of arthritis is determined. This is followed by targeted therapy tailored to the form of joint inflammation. Treatment includes:

• immobilisation and cooling
• in bacterial arthritis: antibiotic therapy
• in reactive arthritis: corticosteroid preparations
• anti-inflammatory analgesics
• in hospital: surgical debridement of the joints

At avi, therapy is further complemented by physiotherapy as part of follow-up care.