What is arthritis?

Did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis?  

Arthritis is 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 caused 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 a prior injury, especially breaks in the bones of a joint, or it could have developed based on how your joints formed during childhood.  

Symptoms of arthritis can include:

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Decreased motion
• Swelling in the joint
• Difficulty with shoulder motion that impacts your ability to do activities that you enjoy, and routine activities such as bathing and dressing