
Symptoms
Arthritis contains a assortment of inflammatory together with noninflammatory joint diseases for instance osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and also juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. While the name arthritis is placed on a multitude of disorders, arthritis signifies inflammation of the joint, whether the consequence of an illness ...
Causes
Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness when you wake up or after you’ve been sitting for a while
- Tenderness -- the area is sore when you touch it
- Lack of movement -- the joint won’t complete its full range of motion
- Grating -- you might feel things rubbing together inside the joint
- Bone spurs -- lumps of bone form around the joint
Prevention
What Type of Arthritis Do You Have?
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Juvenile arthritis (JA)
- Spondyloarthropathies
- Lupus erythematosus
- Gout
- Infectious and reactive arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
- Other conditions and joint pain
- Takeaway
Complications
Arthritis can limit the type of work they are able to do or keep them from working at all. In fact, 8 million working-age adults report that their ability to work is limited because of their arthritis. For example, they may have a hard time climbing stairs or walking from a parking deck to their workplace.
How would you describe arthritis?
How can you tell if you have arthritis?
What are the three main types of arthritis?
What are some interesting facts about arthritis?

What are the types of arthritis and their characteristics?
The five main types of arthritisOsteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. ... Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. ... Psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is typically seen in people who have psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition. ... Fibromyalgia. ... Gout.
What are four main symptoms of arthritis?
Common arthritis symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and diminished range of motion in joints. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and may come and go.
How can you identify arthritis?
Symptoms of arthritisjoint pain, tenderness and stiffness.inflammation in and around the joints.restricted movement of the joints.warm red skin over the affected joint.weakness and muscle wasting.
What is osteoarthritis characterized by?
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Although it can occur in any joint, usually it affects the hands, knees, hips, or spine. The disease is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease.
What are 5 symptoms of arthritis?
Early warning signs of arthritisMorning joint stiffness. Joint stiffness when you first wake up is often a sign of the early stages of arthritis. ... Joint swelling. Swollen joints are a sign that your arthritis is worsening. ... Fever. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause a low-grade fever. ... Numbness and tingling. ... Chronic fatigue.
What is the main cause of arthritis?
Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis usually comes with age and most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows a joint injury. For example, you might have badly injured your knee when young and develop arthritis in your knee joint years later.
What is arthritis pain like?
In general, the first sign of arthritis is pain, also called arthralgia. This can feel like a dull ache or a burning sensation. Often, pain starts after you've used the joint a lot, for example, if you've been gardening or if you just walked up a flight of stairs. Some people feel soreness first thing in the morning.
Where does arthritis usually start?
Rheumatoid arthritis often starts in the small joints of the hands and feet, and it can affect the same joints on both sides of the body at the same time. It can start quite slowly and then gradually get worse, or it can start more aggressively. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect adults of any age.
What are the 3 types of arthritis?
Arthritis TypesOsteoarthritis.Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)Childhood Arthritis.
What does arthritis do to bones?
Inflammation, which is a major feature of rheumatoid arthritis contributes to joint pain and swelling, and cartilage damage, which then leads to erosion into the bone around the around the joint. Inflammation also affects bones, including contributing to the loss of bone mineralization.
Is arthritis caused by lack of calcium?
Milk is an excellent source for calcium which is important for bone formation. However, a low calcium diet is known to increase one's chance of getting osteoporosis, not osteoarthritis. Calcium intake is not directly associated with the onset of osteoarthritis.
What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?
The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joints. It may begin any time in life.
Osteoarthritis
Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Another common form of arthritis, RA, is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body’s immune system attacks the tissues of the body, resulting in inflammation to joints as well as other body organs.
Supplements
While clinical evidence and safety data are lacking for many herbs and supplements marketed for arthritis, there are a few supplements that may be beneficial. For example, avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) may help OA symptoms. Fish oil and turmeric supplements may help reduce inflammation in RA.
Surgery
Surgery to replace your joint with an artificial one may be an option. This form of surgery is most commonly performed to replace hips and knees.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint is a core component of arthritis treatment.
What is the most common type of arthritis?
Degenerative Arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. When the cartilage – the slick, cushioning surface on the ends of bones – wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time, joints can lose strength and pain may become chronic.
How many types of arthritis are there?
Actually, “arthritis” is not a single disease; it is an informal way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults ...
What is the Arthritis Foundation?
The Arthritis Foundation is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to serving all people with arthritis. It has many resources for learning about arthritis, connecting with other people who have arthritis and helping to raise funds for a cure. Get Expert Advice.
What are some examples of organisms that can infect joints?
Examples of organisms that can infect joints are salmonella and shigella (food poisoning or contamination), chlamydia and gonorrhea (sexually transmitted diseases) and hepatitis C (a blood-to-blood infection, often through shared needles or transfusions).
What is the first step to get a diagnosis of arthritis?
What You Can Do. The most important first step is to get an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing your joint pain. Talk to your primary care doctor about your symptoms. You may be referred to a rheumatologist or orthopedist, doctors who specialize in arthritis and related conditions.
How to prevent osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis may be prevented by staying active, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding injury and repetitive movements.
Can arthritis be mild?
It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older. Common arthritis joint symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Symptoms may come and go. They can be mild, moderate or severe. They may stay about the same for years but can progress or get worse over time.
What does arthritis mean?
"Arthritis" means joint inflammation. Although joint inflammation is a symptom or sign rather than a specific diagnosis, the term arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints.
What is the term for arthritis in children?
Juvenile Arthritis is the term used to describe arthritis in children. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis usually comes with age and most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows a joint injury.
What is the difference between reactive arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
Reactive Arthritis is pain or swelling in a joint that is caused by an infection in your body. You may also have red, swollen eyes and a swollen urinary tract. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the body’s own defense system doesn’t work properly.
What is joint inflammation?
Although joint inflammation is a symptom or sign rather than a specific diagnosis, the term arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. There are different types of arthritis. In some diseases in which arthritis occurs, other organs, such as your eyes, ...
How to help a weakened joint?
Try relaxation therapy to help reduce pain by learning ways to relax your muscles. Use splints and braces to support weakened joints or allow them to rest. You should see your doctor to make sure your splint or brace fits well. Use assistive devices, such as a cane or shoe insert, to ease pain when walking.
How to reduce swelling in joints?
You should speak to your doctor about a safe, well-rounded exercise program. Use heat and cold therapies to reduce joint pain and swelling. Try relaxation therapy to help reduce pain by learning ways to relax your muscles.
How to live with arthritis?
There are many things you can do to help you live with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, including: Take your medications when and how you’re supposed to. Exercise to reduce joint pain and stiffness. It also helps with losing weight, which reduces stress on the joints.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Arthritis means inflammation of a joint, where two bones meet. The main symptoms are pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and surrounding tissues. But just because you have these symptoms doesn’t mean you have arthritis. Muscle strain, bursitis, tendinitis, and other conditions can have the same symptoms.
What is the cause of arthritis?
Infectious arthritis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It usually travels to a joint from other parts of the body, but may also enter directly when an injury introduces bacteria to a joint. Examples of infection include staph infection, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, or Lyme disease.
What is the name of the arthritis that inflames the joints around your spine, hips, and pelvis
Your health care provider might also suggest surgery in serious cases or as a last resort. Other Types of Arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that inflames the joints around your spine, hips, and pelvis.
How many types of arthritis are there?
Types of Arthritis. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, there are two that are the most common: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, affecting more than 32 million U.S. adults, mostly older individuals.
How many people have rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common type, affecting 1.3 million people in the United States.
What causes osteoarthritis in the knee?
Other causes of osteoarthritis include: 1 Being overweight (puts more strain on weight-bearing joints, especially knees) 2 Injury or trauma to joint surfaces
What causes a person to have more strain on their joints?
Being overweight (puts more strain on weight-bearing joints, especially knees) Injury or trauma to joint surfaces. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Doctors know your immune system mistakenly starts to attack your joints (autoimmune disease), but they don’t know why it happens. Some things seem to raise your risk of RA.
How many types of arthritis are there?
100 types of joint pain. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that can cause debilitating joint pain. There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis affects more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children in America, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The causes and treatment options available vary ...
What causes joint pain?
Many other forms of arthritis and other conditions can also cause joint pain. A few examples include: fibromyalgia syndrome, a condition in which your brain processes pain in your muscles and joints in a way that amplifies your perception of the pain.
What is gout in the body?
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of urate crystals inside your joints. High levels of uric acid in your blood may put you at risk of gout.
How many people have RA?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune disease in which your body attacks healthy joint tissue. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that about 1.5 million adults in the United States have RA. Nearly three times as many women have RA than men.
What is the condition that attacks the tendons and ligaments that attach to the bone?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other types are autoimmune conditions that can attack the locations where tendons and ligaments attach to your bone. Symptoms include pain and stiffness, especially in your lower back.
What is JA in children?
JA is an umbrella term for several types of arthritis that affect children . The most common type is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is a group of autoimmune disorders that can impact children’s joints. JIA starts to occur in children younger than 16 years old.
What happens when you have OA?
With OA, cartilage in your joints breaks down, eventually causing your bones to rub together and your joints to be inflamed with subsequent pain, bone injury, and even bone spur formation. It may occur in just one or two joints, on one side of the body.
How many people with psoriasis get psoriatic arthritis?
Only about 10% to 30% of people with psoriasis will also get psoriatic arthritis. What happens: This type of arthritis usually starts between ages 30 and 50, but it can start as early as childhood. It's equally common among men and women. The skin disease (psoriasis) usually shows up first.
How long does gout last?
But drugs, stress, or another illness can also trigger a gout attack. The attack will last between 3 and 10 days, even if you don’t treat it.
What happens when you have lupus?
Instead of attacking viruses and other invaders, it starts to cause inflammation and pain throughout your body, from your joints, to your organs, to your brain.
What happens to cartilage when you are overweight?
Cartilage, the slippery material that covers the ends of bones, gradually breaks down. One example is what can happen to your knees when you're overweight. The extra pounds put more pressure on the cartilage as it gets squeezed between the bones.
Can arthritis affect your hands?
The most common include: Pain, stiffness, and swelling in your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, feet, jaw, and neck. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects multiple joints. More than one swollen joint.
Can arthritis cause joint pain?
That leads to inflammation, which can cause severe joint damage if you don't treat it. About 1 out of every 5 people who have rheumatoid arthritis get lumps on their skin called rheumatoid nodules. These often form over joint areas that receive pressure, such as over knuckles, elbows, or heels.
Can gout cause kidney problems?
If gout goes untreated too long, it can affect your joints and kidneys. Gout results from one of three things: Your body is making more uric acid. Your kidneys can’t process the uric acid your body makes. You’re eating too many foods that raise uric acid levels.
What is autoimmune arthritis?
This is what happens with an autoimmune disease. There are also autoimmune forms of arthritis, where the immune system attacks joints and causes inflammation. The most common types of autoimmune arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis . The cause of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune arthritis, are not known, ...
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are usually accompanied by systemic symptoms like fatigue, fever, and weakness. That’s because RA can affect other body systems besides joints. However, osteoarthritis damages the cartilage between joints only, so the symptoms are usually felt around the joints and not the whole body.
How long does it take for psoriatic arthritis to start?
This disease can start at any age, but commonly affects those between 30 and 50 years old. 5 For many people, psoriatic arthritis starts about 10 years after psoriasis develops. In psoriasis, an overactive immune system can cause a rapid increase in skin cell production that leads to raised, scaly patches on the skin.
How many people have psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis affects about 30% of people who have psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that affects the skin. 4 Psoriatic arthritis affects the joints and where the ligaments and tendons connect to bone.
Why is it important to give your doctor all the information needed to diagnose autoimmune disease?
With so many different types of autoimmune arthritis and other autoimmune diseases that can cause joint pain and swelling, it is important to give your doctor all the information needed to correctly identify and target the one causing your symptoms.
What is palindromic rheumatism?
Palindromic rheumatism is a rare type of recurrent arthritis characterized by episodes, or attacks, of joint inflammation, sequentially affecting one to several joint areas for hours to days. An attack can occur without any obvious triggers or warning signs.
How many people have RA?
Rheumatoid Arthritis. RA affects about 1.28 to 1.36 million adults in the United States, and is three times more prevalent in women than in men. 2 It commonly affects the joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. The tissue damage caused by RA can lead to chronic pain, lack of balance, and joint deformity.

Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
The Mayo Clinic Experience and Patient Stories
- The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis, signs and symptoms may include: 1. Pain 2. Stiffness 3. Swelling 4. Redness 5. Decreased range of motion