If you experience chronic pain, inflammation or swelling within your joints, you may have a medical condition called arthritis. In 2008, the Arthritis Foundation reported that more than 46 million children, adolescents and adults in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, of which osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus are most common.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It causes the cartilage between your joints to deteriorate over time. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, researchers believe it may occur due to normal aging, genetics, obesity or a joint injury. Symptoms of osteoarthritis progress over time and include pain, stiffness, tenderness or decreased flexibility of the joints. These symptoms commonly occur within the hands, feet, arms and legs and can interfere significantly with your ability to walk or move normally. There is no treatment for osteoarthritis, but your doctor can recommend pain medications or alternative therapies to help you manage the painful symptoms associated with this condition.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system abnormally attacks the healthy tissue within your body. This type of arthritis causes inflammation within the lining of the joints and can cause a number of symptoms to develop. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you can experience joint pain, swelling and stiffness, fever, weight loss or fatigue. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there are a number of prescription medications available that your doctor may recommend for symptom management. Additional treatments, including physical therapy or surgery, can be helpful in alleviating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is an arthritic condition that affects more than 5 million people in the U.S., based upon estimates provided by the Arthritis Foundation. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include pain throughout the muscles and joints of your body, especially at certain locations called tender points. These tender points can occur within the upper chest or hips, inner knees, outer elbows or between the shoulder blades. Fibromyalgia can cause extreme fatigue to develop in some patients. There is no cure, but medications and alternative therapies are available to help you deal with your symptoms.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that causes chronic inflammation throughout the body. Symptoms of lupus vary based upon the body region affected. They include painful, stiff or swollen joints, hair loss, mouth sores, chest pain, fatigue, fever, changes in body weight, anxiety or memory loss. Your doctor may recommend the use of analgesic or steroid medications to help you manage your symptoms.
