Overview

Arthritis is a disorder that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in or around joints. It's a chronic disorder affecting about 40 million Americans, and nearly 50 percent of people 65 years old and older. As a leading cause of disability, arthritic conditions limit the activity of more than 7 million people in the United States and are second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability. Progression of certain arthritis types, such as osteoarthritis, may be slowed in certain cases by following well-structured disease management strategies. Arthritis can be managed better through by identifying symptoms early and taking measures to reduce pain, discomfort and the risk of disability.

Types of arthritis

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These are separate diseases that affect people in different ways.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 21 million Americans. It is also called "degenerative joint disease" and most often involves the weight-bearing joints. The disorder results from mechanical joint damage - whether from long-term "wear and tear" or previous injury. Osteoarthritis usually is diagnosed in people older than 40. Nearly everyone over 70 has osteoarthritis in at least one joint, but not everyone develops symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not result from overuse of joints. Rather, it is an autoimmune disease. For reasons that are not fully known, the body's own natural immune system develops a response against its joint tissue that results in inflammation and damage. It can affect someone's entire body and often causes general symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, in addition to joint pain. RA is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 25 to 50, but can affect people of all ages, including children.

Many other types of rheumatic disorders exist. Not all of them are primarily diagnosed in adults. Juvenile arthritis is the name given to a group of arthritis-related conditions that affect children.

Prognosis

Osteoarthritis has no cure, however, treatments allow most people with the disease to lead active and productive lives. Treatment plans often include methods for pain management and improving function. Such plans may include exercise, rest and joint care, pain relief, weight control, medicines, surgery, and non-traditional treatment approaches.

National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeltal Diseases says treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can help relieve pain, reduce swelling, slow down or help prevent joint damage, increase your function, and improve overall well-being. Most people take medications for RA; some drugs provide only pain relief, some reduce inflammation and others, called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), may slow the course of the disease. Early treatment with powerful drugs and drug combinations, including DMARDs, may help prevent disease progression and greatly reduce joint damage.

A doctor may recommend surgery to restore function or relieve pain in damaged joints. Surgery may improve the ability to perform daily activities. Joint replacement and tendon reconstruction may be performed for patients with severe joint damage.

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