The Types & Symptoms of Arthritis

Arthritis is a medical term that comes from a Greek word, meaning joint inflammation. Arthritis is in all probability one of the most misunderstood of all diseases as it is an umbrella name for a group of more than 100 diseases that cause pain, stiffness and (often) inflammation in one or more joints. Time after time, arthritis is a long lasting disease, that can manifest itself in different joints in the body, especially in the knees, hips, and spine affecting people over many years.

Arthritis is the largest cause of disability in people over the age of 65 but if you imagine that arthritis is something that only affects older individuals, think again. Though arthritis is mainly a disease of adults, children may also suffer with it. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is arthritis that causes joint inflammation and stiffness for longer than 6 weeks in a child of 16 years of age or under.

Arthritis isn't a life sentence, but it can be very life changing and is far more widespread than imagined. It is a very common medical condition, estimated to affect around seven million people in the United Kingdom alone and is the biggest cause of chronic disability in the United States.

Rheumatoid arthritis is among the most debilitating of all forms of arthritis, causing joints to ache and throb and in due time become deformed and is found more commonly in women than in men. Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from general wear and tear on your joints over time, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition. Rheumatoid arthritis is marked by being tender to touch with warm, swollen and stiff joints. The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis is not known but is a disease that primarily affects the linings of the joints.

Obtaining information and treatment for arthritis is a major key in finding relief from it. Sufferers of osteoarthritis very often feel their condition is worse at night or following rest but rheumatoid arthritis is generally speaking worse in the morning. There are abundant old folk remedies for arthritis which even includes drinking raw potato juice!

My arthritis started at a fairly early age and I've had it for 14 years as of writing. At first it was little more than an annoyance but it has gradually gotten worse to the point where it has become a real disability. It affects my hands, wrists, shoulders and more recently my elbows.

One thing I have learnt from speaking to many other arthritis sufferers is that the condition affects everybody differently. That is, the experience is usually changing and VERY personal though many comparisons can be drawn between them. It is also true of the various remedies available. My Mother swore by cod liver oil and rubbing her affected areas with peppermint oil. I find I get best relief from wrist supports and strapping. Everybody has their favourite remedy and what works for them won't necessarily work for you.