subject: Things You Should Know About Arthritis [print this page] Arthritis, in one of its 100 forms, afflicts millions of Americans. A lot of sufferers want answers about what's causing the pain and what can be done to treat it. Arthritis simply means "inflammation of a joint." There are more than 100 different diseases that are considered forms of arthritis. All of them attack joints and connective tissues in the body. But each form has different symptoms, and each must be treated differently.
The most common form is osteoarthritis, affecting 20 to 25 million Americans. This type happens when the elastic surfaces at the end of the bones - called cartilage - begin deteriorating. Osteoarthritis usually strike people over 60, affecting mostly joints in the feet, fingers, hips and knees. It usually hits only a few joints at any one time.
Next most common is rheumatoid arthritis. In this disease, the film-like membrane surrounding a joint becomes inflamed, eventually leading to destruction of the joint itself. This kind of arthritis strikes people of various ages and can affect many joints at once. It can even cause problems with other organs like the eyes, lungs, blood vessel and skin. Other forms include spinal arthritis, lupus, gout, scleroderma and juvenile arthritis.
Although exact causes are still uncertain, scientists are beginning to think that some people may inherit the tendency to get arthritis, especially the rheumatoid variety. Several forms also seemed to be triggered by infections. For example, some kinds of diseases caused by tick bites can lead to arthritis-like inflammation in joints.
There is no known cure for arthritis. However, crippling pain of arthritis usually can be controlled, especially if the disease is caught early. Control measures include medicines, diet, exercise, rest, protection of the affected joints, and sometimes, surgery. A surgeon can replace whole joints with artificial materials.
Many people seem to believe that arthritis is natural result of growing old and think that arthritis isn't harmful, so they treat themselves rather than going to a doctor. However, since there are different types of arthritis, and because of the high death rate of rheumatoid arthritis, a doctor should always be consulted. Early and aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is very important. Researchers have found that waiting too long to treat rheumatoid arthritis can be fatal.
Medical treatment within the first six months of rheumatoid arthritis also can prevent irreversible damage to the joints and cartilage, as well as lowering the death rate. Treatment varies, depending on the patient and the specific type of arthritis.
