What Is Arthritis? | About Arthritis Today

While many people assume the term "arthritis" describes a single condition, there are actually hundreds of different medical conditions commonly referred to as arthritis. Trademarked by swelling, stiffness, and pain in the affected area, arthritis is caused by an inflammation of the affected joint.

Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is commonly referred to as degenerative joint disease. It's often brought about by the general wear that our bodies endure throughout life. Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, or the spine. Symptoms include pain, tenderness of the area, decreased functionality of the area, and swelling. Your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age, and the condition usually causes some form of debilitation over time.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very different type of arthritis; it’s a disease in which the human immune system mistakes the cell linings of the affected joint as an invader, and attacks them. It’s a chronic disease that can potentially cause a complete disability of the affected joint. Those with rheumatoid arthritis often face symptoms of joint pain, stiffness, loss of function and a swelling of the afflicted area.

There are many other types of arthritis, including juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, pseudogout, and scleroderma. These different sub-classifications of the disease can be caused by numerous factors, and they all relate to inflammation of a joint in one way or another. The treatments used to aid these diseases vary according to the type of arthritis faced. In addition, different degrees of severity of the diseases merit different forms of treatment. Medicine, physiotherapy, exercise programs, and surgery are all recommended treatments for various types of arthritis.

In order to properly diagnose arthritis, health care professionals will often employ the use of blood and urine tests, as well as reviewing your past medical history and family history of arthritis. In addition, the use of x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging may be called upon.

Arthritis is a disease that is quite unpredictable. Those who are afflicted with it often experience few symptoms until they encounter completely unexpected ‘flares’ of pain. For this reason, when arthritis is diagnosed, doctors often set up a treatment plan based upon your pain experiences over an extended period of time. Just because the symptoms of the disease may have tapered off for awhile does NOT mean that the problem is disappearing. Arthritic pain ebbs and flows, and it’s important to realize that even small amounts of pain should be properly treated.

As with any serious health issue, if you suspect you may have arthritis, it’s important to speak to your doctor to discuss possible treatments.

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Did You Know?

Osteoarthritis: This is by far the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops as a result of the continual wear and tear experienced by the cartilage that surrounds our joints. As the cartilage gradually breaks down, the joints are no longer cushioned and protected. They may become stiff, swollen, and painful to the touch. Osteoarthritis usually becomes obvious around middle age. It is a gradual progressive disease, in which symptoms worsen over time. However, osteoarthritis may also be the result of injury. Most patients with osteoarthritis experience the worse symptoms in the areas of the hips, knees, fingers, and the spine. Osteoarthritis is very common. It is estimated that up to 90 per cent of all people over 60 will develop some form of this condition. The symptoms of osteoarthritis can range from very mild to severe. In general, men experience the brunt of their symptoms in the knees and hips while women tend to suffer more in their fingers.