Arthritis Types

A List Of Arthritis Types And Causes

A number of arthritis types can affect you. Most types of arthritis strike as you grow older, but arthritis can also occur in very young people.

Almost any part of your body can become afflicted with some type of arthritis. It doesn't only affect joints: it can also affect muscles, bones, internal organs and even the skin.

Here's a quick list and description of the most common arthritis types.

Osteoarthritis  Osteoarthritis is also widely known as OA. This is the arthritis type that's characterized by degeneration or destruction of cartilage. Knees, hips, hands and spine are most often affected. OA usually comes on gradually after the age of 40. There are no cures for this type of arthritis. All you can do is try to relieve the symptoms and maintain joint function through diet, exercise, therapy, medication or surgery.

Rheumatoid Arthritis  Also known as RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease which affects multiple joints of the body. Cartilage and bone erodes and sometimes the joint deformed. RA can strike at any time of life. Symptoms are pain, swelling, and redness. Causes of this type of arthritis are somewhat mysterious, but it's believed to from a faulty immune response. No cure has been found, but new treatment drugs are being discovered. Surgery is sometimes necessary, but lifestyle changes including exercise and diet can relieve pain and reduce disability.

Gout This arthritis type results when the body produces either too much or too little uric acid. Crystals become deposited in tissues and fluids, often resulting in redness, swelling and sometimes, severe pain. Gout usually responds well to oral anti-inflammatory medicines. Prevention is sometimes possible with proper nutrition and certain medications.

Fibromyalgia The number of different arthritis types and related conditions reaches three digits--there are more than one hundred. This article focuses on the most common.

Muscular pains and fatigue are typical symptoms of this type of arthritis. No one knows what causes fibromyalgia, but genetic factors, along with emotional triggers like stress, seem to play a role. It's difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to many other conditions, and there are no specific tests for it. Exercise seems to help, along with certain pharmacologic agents and nonpharmacologic therapies.

 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) SLE is an autoimmune disease, which means the body' s own immune system attacks the its cells and tissue. inflaming and damaging them., The causes of SLE haven't been clearly identified, but seem to be connected to genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. Symptoms of this type include fatigue, pain or swelling in joints, skin rashes, and fevers.

Other, less common types of arthritis

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, which is a sac filled with a lubricating fluid that reduces friction between bone, muscle, tendons, and skin, These sometimes become swollen, irritated and inflamed due to overuse. Pain is the most typical symptom. Treatment usually requires rest, and sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children) JRA is a type of arthritis that afflicts about 50,000 children in the United States alone. It usually appears between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. Exact causes remain unknown, but it appears to be an autoimmune disorder.

Sometimes symptoms of JRA are subtle, sometimes they're obvious. The child may begin to limp or complain of a sore wrist, finger, or knee. The neck, hips, or other joints may suddenly become stiff, swell and remain enlarged. Sometimes a rash will appear, and the child may experience fevers which spike and then suddenly appear.

A combination of medications, physical therapy, and exercise are used to treat JRA. In certain situations, an injection of corticosteroids into the joint may be necessary. Surgery may also be an option.

Osteomyelitis is an inflammation of the bone and marrow, caused by an infection. It can be caused by a number of microbes, usually staphylococcus aureus. The infection may come through an injury to the bone (especially a compound fracture), an infection elsewhere in the body, a trauma that causes a blood clot, or a surface injury that eventually extends down to the bone surface.

This type of arthritis only occurs in approximately one of every five thousand people.

The word arthritis has both Greek and Latin roots. In Greek, the word "arthron" meant "joint." The Latin word "itis" meant "inflammation." Combine the Greek and Latin and you have a good description of exactly what arthritis is: an inflammation of the joints.