What is Arthritis?
Did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis? Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that can take several forms:
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type. It is the "wear and tear" and breakdown of the cartilage within the joint.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that targets the lining of the joints.
- Gout arthritis is cause by too much uric acid in the blood and can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling of a joint.
- Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that can affect people with psoriasis.
Arthritis can also be caused by prior injury, especially breaks in the bones of a joint, or could have developed based on how the joints formed during childhood.
Symptoms of arthritis can include:
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Decreased motion
- Swelling in the joint
- Difficulty walking, going up and down stairs, squatting, or kneeling
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee.
- Cartilage is the smooth shock absorbing Teflon-like covering on the ends of the bone
- Inflammation results in a destruction of the cartilage
- Damaged cartilage allows the rough bones on either side of the joint to rub against each together causing pain and restricted motion
Diagnosis is made by your physician based on a physical examination and x-rays. The doctor is looking for pain or swelling around the joint, grating or crunching in the joint, or decreased motion.
