Arthritis Basics- What You Need to Know

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis. It affects about 33 million Americans and is the most common chronic joint condition. This type of arthritis results from overuse of joints. It can be the consequence of demanding sports, obesity, or aging. Some individuals notice symptoms earlier in life. Osteoarthritis in the hands is frequently inherited and often happens in middle-aged women. Osteoarthritis is most common in joints that bear weight (knees, hips, feet, and spine). It often happens gradually over months or even years. Except for the pain in the affected joint, you usually do not feel sick, and there is no unusual fatigue or tiredness as there is with some other types of arthritis.

Gout is characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe. Gout is a complex form of arthritis. It can affect anyone. However, men are more likely to get gout, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. You are more likely to get gout if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or eat too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines.

Fibromyalgia is the most common musculoskeletal condition after osteoarthritis. Still, it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Its characteristics include widespread muscle and joint pain and fatigue, as well as other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can lead to depression and social isolation. Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related condition, it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition, a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. For reasons no one fully understands, in rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This leads to long-term inflammation. Lupus causes pain and swelling. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs of the body. Most patients feel fatigue and have rashes, arthritis and fever.

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