Arthritis Basics

Right now there are over 100 types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Arthritis means joint inflammation. Inflammation is one our body’s natural reaction to disease or injury and this includes swelling, pain and stiffness. Inflammation which lasts for long periods of time or recurs as in arthritis can become the cause of tissue damage.

So first thing, what is a joint? A joint is where two or more of your bones come together such as your hip or knee. These bones of a joint are covered with a sponge type, smooth material known as the cartilage which cushions the bones and allows your joint to move without pain. Then comes synovium. Synovium is a think film of tissue lining your joint. This lining produces a slippery fluid that nourishes the joint and helps to reduce the friction when you use your joints. Strong bands of tissue called ligaments serve as connections for the bones and help to keep the joint stable. Then come the Muscles and tendons which also help to support the joints and help you to move.

When person get arthritis the area in or around the person’s joint becomes inflamed leading to stiffness, pain and sometimes causing difficulty in moving. Other types of arthritis can also affect other parts of the body for example the skin and other internal organs.

As stated above there are more then a 100 different types or arthritis. Let us take a look at some of the common ones:

Osteoarthritis is the most commonly found arthritis. It occurs when some ones cartilage covering the end of the bones over time wears away. When this happens the protection of the cartilage is gone and the bones begin to rub against each other and this causes friction which in turn causes pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis can occur in any of the joints but mostly it affects the hands and the weight bearing joints like the knee, hip and the facet joints located in the spine. Osteoarthritis often starts as the cartilage breaks down or with age degenerates thus it is sometimes also called degenerative joint disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect any joint in any part of the body and is a long lasting disease. It most commonly affects the hands, the wrists and the knees. In rheumatoid arthritis the immune system gets confused and attacks itself and thus causes the joint lining to swell. The inflammation then spreads to the surrounding tissues and this can eventually damage the bone and the cartilage. In severe cases rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas of the body like the skin, eyes and the nerves.

Then comes gout. Gout is a painful condition. It occurs when the body is unable to eliminate a natural substance called uric acid. When this happens the excess uric acids leads to the formation of needle like crystals in the joints which cause swelling and severe pain. Gout mostly affects the knee, the big toe and wrist joints.