Arthritis: More Than Joint Pain

Arthritis isn’t just joint pain. It comes with several other symptoms and sometimes comorbidities. People often assume arthritis is inevitable - something that happens only to the elderly. While there is some truth to that, it is not the whole truth. I am in my mid-20s and I live with a type of inflammatory arthritis called axial spondyloarthritis (AS) and also have fibromyalgia, a comorbid chronic pain condition.

Osteoarthritis, the type of joint pain typically associated with seniors, can happen with wear and tear occurring over the years, leading to joint pain. Seniors aren’t the only ones who can get osteoarthritis. Injuries can also cause damage to joints and their connected tissues and ligaments. These injuries can come from physically demanding jobs, playing sports, or an accident. Sometimes, the body can also attack the joints, tendons, and ligaments itself, causing damage and inflammation. The body attacking itself is characteristic of an autoimmune condition and when it targets joints and the associated tendons and ligaments it is called inflammatory arthritis. 

There are numerous types of inflammatory arthritis, some target smaller joints, some target larger joints, some target the tendons or ligaments, some are combinations of all of these, some are secondary to another condition, etc. Besides joint pain and inflammation, all of these types of arthritis also cause other symptoms. This is because some types of arthritis are systemic conditions, meaning they affect the entire body.

For me, axial spondyloarthritis causes many symptoms. Beyond the characteristic pain in my neck, lower back, and sacroiliac joints, many of my other joints hurt as well. However, the most bothersome symptom I deal with everyday is fatigue. I get tired very easily, even if I haven’t done a lot. I don’t get very restful sleep due to the pain and stiffness and wake up tired. With AS, as with most inflammatory arthritis, it is essential to stay moving. This reduces stiffness caused by AS and helps retain mobility. I am constantly fidgeting because staying in one spot for too long worsens my pain, but moving around almost constantly is also tiring for someone who is fatigued. It’s kind of a no-win situation, but through techniques like pacing, which consists of breaking tasks up into smaller chunks and scheduling regular rest into your day, I’ve struck a decent balance with navigating movement for pain reduction and resting to improve fatigue.

Another symptom I deal with is dry eyes. Learning that this is connected to my AS, surprised me initially, I thought, “how can my arthritis make my eyes dry?” This is when I learned that AS is a systemic condition. The inflammation in my body, while mainly affecting my joints, is not exclusive. The constant inflammation in my eyes has created noticeable dryness and light sensitivity. I have to use a warm compress on my eyes for ten minutes daily to stimulate oil production so my eyes can stay lubricated. I also have to use artificial tear drops to externally add moisture to my eyes.

These are just some of the symptoms that affect me in addition to joint pain. There are several other ways arthritis impacts my life too, including socially, financially, career prospects, and more, but that will have to be another blog post.