Arthritis
Overview
Arthritis refers to inflammation of joints leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. It is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting adults, especially with increasing age. The disease may involve one or multiple joints and can significantly affect daily activities and quality of life.
Common types include:
Osteoarthritis – wear-and-tear degeneration of cartilage (most common)
Rheumatoid arthritis – autoimmune inflammatory arthritis
Inflammatory spondyloarthropathies – such as ankylosing spondylitis
Crystal arthritis – gout and pseudogout
Causes and Risk Factors
The causes vary depending on type but generally include:
Age-related cartilage degeneration
Autoimmune immune system activation (rheumatoid arthritis)
Previous joint injury or overuse
Obesity causing mechanical stress
Genetic predisposition
Metabolic disorders (uric acid in gout)
These processes result in joint inflammation, cartilage destruction, and chronic pain.
Common Symptoms
Typical symptoms include:
Persistent joint pain
Morning stiffness (lasting >30 minutes in inflammatory arthritis)
Swelling and warmth around joints
Reduced range of motion
Difficulty walking or gripping objects
Joint deformity in long-standing disease
Pain often worsens with activity in osteoarthritis and improves with activity in inflammatory arthritis.
Screening and Prevention
There is no universal screening test, but early diagnosis prevents joint damage.
Preventive measures:
Maintain healthy weight
Regular low-impact exercise (walking, swimming)
Avoid repetitive joint strain
Early treatment of autoimmune disease
Adequate calcium and vitamin D
Early medical consultation for persistent joint swelling prevents disability.
Treatment Approaches
Treatment depends on the type and severity of arthritis.
Conservative treatment
Physiotherapy and strengthening exercises
Weight reduction
Activity modification
Medications
Pain relievers (paracetamol, NSAIDs)
Disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis
Biologic therapies for autoimmune arthritis
Steroid injections in joints
Procedures
Joint replacement surgery in severe degeneration
Role of Radiation Therapy in Arthritis Pain
Low-dose radiation therapy has been used in certain chronic inflammatory and degenerative joint conditions when conventional therapy fails, particularly in:
Painful osteoarthritis
Heel spur (plantar fasciitis)
Tennis elbow
Frozen shoulder
Small joint inflammatory arthritis
Very small anti-inflammatory radiation doses are delivered to the affected joint.
These doses are much lower than cancer treatment doses and work by:
Reducing inflammatory cell activity
Decreasing pain mediators
Improving joint mobility
Treatment is painless, outpatient-based, and often provides long-lasting relief when medications are inadequate or contraindicated.
Cutting-Edge Care by Dr. Rajesh Natte
Dr. Rajesh Natte, an expert in precision radiation oncology, uses advanced radiotherapy technology both for cancer care and selected benign painful conditions.
With Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) and highly conformal planning techniques, extremely low doses can be accurately delivered to inflamed joints while protecting surrounding tissues.
The same advanced technology is also used in treating colorectal cancers, where precise radiation targeting allows:
Better tumor control
Preservation of bowel function
Reduced side effects
Shorter treatment duration
This integration of technology and individualized care ensures patients receive safe and effective treatment tailored to their condition.
Conclusion
Arthritis is a common but manageable condition. Early diagnosis, lifestyle modification, medications, and physiotherapy form the backbone of treatment. In selected chronic painful cases, low-dose radiation therapy offers an effective non-invasive option for long-term pain relief.
Through modern precision radiotherapy and compassionate care, Dr. Rajesh Natte provides advanced treatment for both arthritis pain and colorectal cancer — improving comfort, function, and quality of life.