What is Arthritis

There are several different kinds of arthritis, the following are the most common:


Osteoarthritis:

Also called degenerative arthritis. Occurs when the cushioning cartilage in a joint breaks down. Commonly affects feet, knees, hips, and fingers. Affects an estimated four crore Indians, mostly 45 years and older. About half of those 65 years and older have this form.


Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The body's own immune system attacks the lining, or synovial membrane, of the joints. Joint damage can become severe and deforming. Involves the whole body, and may also cause fatigue, weight loss and anaemia, and affect the lungs, heart and eyes. Affects about 50 lakh Indians, thrice as many women as men.


Gout:


Sudden, severe attacks, usually in the big toe, but any joint can be affected. A metabolic disorder in which uric acid builds up in the blood and crystals form in joints and other places. Drugs and attention to diet can control gout. Affects about 30 lakh Indians (almost 80 percent of them men), with the first attack starting between 40 and 50 years of age.
Anky losing Spondy lit is: A chronic disease of the spine that can result in fused vertebrae and rigid spine. Often milder and harder to diagnose in women. Most people with the disease also have a genetic marker known as HLA-B27. Usually affects men between the ages of 16 and 35.

Juvenile Arthritis:

The most common form is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Its characteristics are different from those seen in adults. Some children recover completely; others remain affected throughout their lives.


Psoriatic Arthritis:

The bone and other joint tissues become inflamed, and, like rheumatoid arthritis, it can affect the whole body. Affects about 5 percent of people with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease. Likely to affect fingers or spine. Symptoms are mild in most people but can be quite severe.


Rheumatic Fever:

In this fever, fleeting joint pains, malaise, sore throat and affliction of the heart caused by streptococcus infection.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:


Involves skin, joints, muscles, and sometimes internal organs. Symptoms usually appear in women of childbearing age but can occur in anyone at any age. Also called lupus or SLE, it can be mild or life threatening. Affects nine to ten times as many women as men.



Other Conditions:

Arthritis can develop as a result of an infection. For example, bacteria that cause gonorrhea or Lyme disease can cause arthritis. Infectious arthritis can cause serious damage, but usually clears up completely with antibiotics. Tubercular arthritis can affect any joint in the body and will require anti-tubercular medication.
Scleroderma is a systemic disease that involves the skin, but may include problems with blood vessels, joints and internal organs.
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a soft-tissue rheumatism that doesn' t lead to joint deformity.
Fibrositis usually occurs mostly in women after chiidbearing, though it is known to affect teenagers as well. Symptoms worsen with cold and humidity.
Bursitis is a painful inflammation of the bursa—small sacs with fluid that function as shock absorbers between bones, muscles and joints. The area surrounding the joint rather than joint itself is affected

Are all Joint Pains Signs of Arthritis?


Tennis elbow or epicondylitis of elbow joint is a condition often confused with arthritis. It is caused by overuse of arms, weight lifting, etc. Frozen shoulder or pericapsulitis leads to a loss of motion and causes general pain and tenderness. Same is the case with Achilles Tendinitis, a painful condition of the foot caused by athletic overactivity. These are passing pains and usually disappear after due rest has been afforded to the exerted joint. For example, stiffness in the neck may be of muscular origin and not necessarily arthritis and may actually be a result of sleeping in an awkward position. Many such discomforts disappear after a while, but if pain persists or occurs more frequently arthritis may be suspected. In children, growing pains—which often interfere with children's sleep—may also be mistaken for arthritis, but these require no specific treatment as they shall soon pass.