 |
FAQ | Inflammation
& the Joint
Live
long enough and you can pretty much count
on developing arthritis: a touch of osteoarthritis,
at the very least. |
What
is arthritis?
Arthritis
("arth" meaning joint, "itis" meaning inflammation)
isn't a one-note story or even a few variations
on a single theme; it actually consists of more
than 100 different conditions. These can be anything
from relatively mild forms of tendinitis (as in
"tennis elbow") and bursitis to crippling systemic
forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are
pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related
disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus,
that involve every part of the body. There are
forms of the disease, such as gout, that almost
nobody connects with arthritis, and there are
other conditions - like osteoarthritis, the misnamed
"wear and tear" arthritis - that a good many people
think is the only form of the disease.
What
causes arthritis?
No
one knows what causes arthritis, though scientists
have uncovered a host of clues. Something can
be done to manage most forms of arthritis, but
it's very important that a correct diagnosis is
established early. Most therapies work best when
started early in the disease process.
|
