Arthritis Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis Show all 9 photos Arthritis Definition Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. See also: Joint pain Alternative Names Joint inflammation Causes, incidence, and risk factors Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joint, allowing for smooth movement. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, like when you walk. Without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness. You may have joint inflammation for a variety of reasons, including: Broken bone Infection (usually caused by bacteria or viruses) An autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself because the immune system believes a body part is foreign) General "wear and tear" on joints Often, the inflammation goes away after the injury has healed, the disease is treated, or the infection has been cleared. With some injuries and diseases, the inflammation does not go away or destruction results in long-term pain and deformity. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type and is more likely to occur as you age. You may feel it in any of your joints, but most commonly in your hips, knees or fingers. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include: Being overweight Previously injuring the affected joint Using the affected joint in a repetitive action that puts stress on the joint (baseball players, ballet dancers, and construction workers are all at risk) Arthritis can occur in men and women of all ages. About 37 million people in America have arthritis of some kind, which is almost 1 out of every 7 people. Other types or cause of arthritis include: Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults) Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Gout Scleroderma Psoriatic arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis) Adult Still's disease Viral arthritis Gonococcal arthritis Other bacterial infections (non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis ) Tertiary Lyme disease (the late stage) Tuberculous arthritis Fungal infections such as blastomycosis Symptoms If you have arthritis, you may experience: Joint pain Joint swelling Stiffness, especially in the morning Warmth around a joint Redness of the skin around a joint Reduced ability to move the joint Signs and tests First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history to see if arthritis or another musculoskeleta ... Continue reading this article

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Rheumatoid arthritis (3 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/27/2007
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Osteoarthritis (2 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder. Reviewer: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/06/2007
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Joint pain (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Joint pain can affect one or more joints. See also arthritis (inflammation of joints), muscle pain, and bursitis. Reviewer: Lisa Christopher-Stine, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University,Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/22/2006
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Viral arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Viral arthritis is inflammation of the joints that results from a viral infection. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/27/2007
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Psoriatic arthritis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Psoriatic arthritis is an arthritis that is often associated with psoriasis of the skin. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/27/2007
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Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a general term for the most common types of arthritis in children. It is a long-term (chronic) disease resulting in joint pain and inflammation, which may lead to joint damage. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/27/2007
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Gout - chronic (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Gout is a disease involving uric acid deposits in the joints. The disorder causes pain, especially in the joints of the feet and legs. Chronic gout involves repeated episodes of joint pain. See also: Gout - acute Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/18/2007
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Acute gouty arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Acute gouty arthritis is a sudden attack of pain in the joints, especially in the feet and legs, that occur when uric acid builds up in the joints. See also: Chronic gouty arthritis Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/26/2007
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Fungal arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Fungal arthritis is an inflammation of a joint caused by infection by a fungus. Reviewer: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/27/2006
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Gonococcal arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Gonococcal arthritis is an infection, usually of a single joint (in 90-95% of cases) that occurs with gonorrhea. Reviewer: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/10/2006
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Arthritis - resources (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy.Date: 10/13/2006
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Tuberculous arthritis (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Tuberculous arthritis is an infection of the joints due to tuberculosis. See also: Spondylitis Reviewer: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/15/2006
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