If you live long enough, there is a good chance that you will develop some type of arthritis. Everyone will have pain somewhere in their body from time to time, but you need to go to the doctor if that pain is severe or does not go away, to see if you have arthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritis, and some are much more severe than others. Arthritis simply means the inflammation of a joint. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs in approximately 120 people out of 1,000 between the ages of 18 and 79, affecting around 16 million Americans. It is more common in women than in men. If the cartilage is worn down or the joint's surface has decreased, bone will rub against bone, and that is when osteoarthritis develops. Most often the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and spine, are affected with osteoarthritis. You may experience pain and stiffness in the joint and sometimes even deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that affects the joints, often those in a person's wrists, fingers, arms, legs,and feet. The symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, deformity, and fever. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting about two to three million Americans. It usually first appears between the ages of 25 and 50, but it can occur in children and in senior citizens. It usually involves the same joints on both sides of the body. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis may also affect the heart, lungs, and eyes of some patients.
Some patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience constant symptoms while others have courses of bad periods or flares and good periods called remissions. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown but it is thought to be an autoimmune disease meaning that the body tissue is the victim of an immune response against itself. Because it may do most of its damage in the first year, early diagnosis and aggressive therapy is critical.
Fibromyalgia is a soft tissue form of arthritis that is due to defective neurotransmitter function in the brain. affects approximately five million Americans. Eighty to 90 percent of all patients are women between the ages of 35 and 60. Constant fatigue, deep muscle pain, sleeplessness and depression are common. Tender points under the skin have become a hallmark of this disease. For all patients, these tender points are painful when pressed. Fibromyalgia does not involve the joints like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is a type of rheumatism of the muscles, ligaments, tendons or soft tissues. Although the symptoms may come and go, the disease itself is chronic.
Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially serious inflammatory form of arthritis that is often found in association with psoriasis. It may begin and progress gradually and can cause serious problems. Early diagnosis and aggressive intervention are recommended.
Polymyalgia rheumatica occurs in people after the age of 50 and presents with severe stiffness and aching in the neck, shoulders, and hips. It is treatable.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints. Low back pain is common. It is treatable; accurate diagnosis and agressive therapy are advisable.
Reactive arthritis is a form of arthritis that comes on after infections. Young adults are often affected. Appropriate medical treatment is very effective.
Gout is due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. In addition to joints, the kidneys are a big target of this disease. Dietary changes and medicines are very effective in treating this disorder.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a relatively common autoimmune disease and capable of affecting many internal organ systems. It most often affects women in the child-bearing years. Early diagnosis and management are necessary since this disorder is potentially life-threatening.
Polymyositis This inflammatory form of muscle disease is often associated with arthritis. Because it is a systemic condition that affects all muscles- including those that are responsible for the functioning of the heart, lungs, etc., careful examination and appropriate aggressive medical therapy are necessary.
Lyme disease Lyme disease occurs as a result of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. The organism is transmitted by a deer tick bite. Early recognition and antibiotic therapy is effective in most cases.
Most people develop some type of arthritis some time in their life. There are many different types of arthritis. Talk to your doctor to determine if you have arthritis. Early diagnosis may be the key in treating many of the different types.
