| The term arthritis is derived from the Greek: "arthron" | | | | Polymyalgia rheumatica occurs in people after the age |
| meaning "joint" and "itis" meaning inflammation. | | | | of 50 and presents with severe stiffness and aching in |
| It refers to more than 100 different types of arthritis | | | | the neck, shoulders, and hips. Because it is very |
| conditions. These 100 different conditions pose special | | | | treatable, accurate diagnosis is needed. Because so |
| problems for both diagnosis and treatment. | | | | many other conditions look like it, an accurate diagnosis |
| Some of these conditions involve inflammation and | | | | is not always easy. |
| others do not. Inflammation is the body's natural | | | | Ankylosing spondylitis affects the spine and the |
| response to injury or infection. | | | | sacroiliac joints. Since it often presents with low back |
| For an example of inflammation, take a simple | | | | pain, it is often misdiagnosed. AS is very treatable; |
| scratch...your body automatically releases chemicals | | | | accurate diagnosis and agressive therapy are |
| that cause fluids to accumulate and white blood cells | | | | advisable |
| to gather around the area of the scratch. As your | | | | Reactive arthritis is a form of arthritis that comes on |
| body fights foreign substances and bacteria, | | | | after infections... the most common being types of |
| inflammation...redness...heat...swelling...and pain occur at | | | | infections being intestinal or genitourinary. Young adults |
| the sight of the injury. | | | | are often affected. Appropriate medical treatment is |
| In arthritis, unfortunately, this natural defense | | | | very effective. |
| mechanism goes awry. Elements from the blood | | | | Gout is due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) |
| designed to fight infection and repair injury attack the | | | | crystals. In addition to joints, the kidneys are a big |
| body instead. | | | | target of this disease. Dietary changes and medicines |
| And, unless this inflammatory process is stopped, it will | | | | are very effective in treating this disorder. |
| continue to attack the body and cause joint | | | | Pseudogout is also due to crystals- deposits of calcium |
| destruction. | | | | pyrophosphate or hydroxyapatite in most instances. |
| So you can begin to see how treatments that just | | | | Pseudogout may mimic other types of arthritis such as |
| relieve the pain associated with the problem - but that | | | | gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Further, it may coexist |
| do not completely halt inflammation - may not | | | | with other types of arthritis making it very difficult to |
| adequately treat this disease. | | | | diagnose. |
| Getting proper treatment early on is | | | | Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune |
| important...because proper care can help sufferers lead | | | | disease that affects many organ systems. |
| more active and comfortable lives. | | | | SLE most often affects women in the child-bearing |
| Let's examine some of these types of arthritis... | | | | years. Early diagnosis and management are |
| Osteoarthritis is the arthritis people think of as being | | | | necessary since this disorder is potentially |
| associated with aging. osteoarthritis affects | | | | life-threatening. |
| weight-bearing areas such as the spine, hips, knees, | | | | Polymyositis is an inflammatory form of muscle |
| base of the thumbs, and feet. Genetics and | | | | disease that is often associated with arthritis. Because |
| mechanical factors also play a big role. Research is | | | | it is a systemic condition that affects all muscles- |
| being done on medications that will slow down the | | | | including those that are responsible for the functioning |
| progression of this disease. | | | | of the heart, lungs, etc., careful examination and |
| Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common serious | | | | appropriate aggressive medical therapy are |
| inflammatory form of arthritis. It affects roughly 1 per | | | | necessary. |
| cent of the population and is the prototypical | | | | Fibromyalgia is a soft tissue form of arthritis that is due |
| autoimmune form of arthritis. Because it may do most | | | | to defective neurotransmitter function in the brain. |
| of its damage in the first year, early diagnosis and | | | | Because these neurotransmitters are responsible for |
| aggressive therapy is critical. Left untreated RA may | | | | many sensory functions, patients with fibromyalgia |
| shorten life expectancy by as much as 18 years! | | | | present with bizarre symptoms. It is imperative that |
| Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially serious inflammatory | | | | other forms of arthritis be ruled out first. |
| form of arthritis that is often found in association with | | | | Lyme disease occurs as a result of infection with |
| psoriasis. Because it may begin and progress | | | | Borrelia burgdorferi. The organism is transmitted by a |
| insidiously, it can cause serious problems. Early | | | | deer tick bite. Early recognition and antibiotic therapy is |
| diagnosis and aggressive intervention are | | | | effective in most cases. |
| recommended. | | | | |