| Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to | | | | limb. The pain is generally worse in the morning and |
| the joints of the body. There are different forms and | | | | associated with stiffness in the early stages. |
| each has a different cause. The early symptoms of | | | | Anemia (which is very common) and extra-articular |
| arthritis differ across the different types but with one | | | | ("outside the joints") manifestations are known to occur |
| common denominator - pain. | | | | with RA. |
| There are around 200 kinds - the most common | | | | With OA the main symptom is a sharp ache or a |
| forms are osteoarthritis - OA (degenerative joint | | | | burning sensation in the associated muscles and |
| disease) and rheumatoid - RA in adults; Juvenile | | | | tendons, causing loss of ability. It can cause a crackling |
| idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children. | | | | noise when the affected joint is moved or touched. |
| All arthritides feature pain. The patterns may differ | | | | Patients may experience muscle spasm and |
| depending on the source and the location. | | | | contractions in the tendons. |
| Elements of the history of the disorder guide diagnosis. | | | | In JIA the symptoms are often non-specific initially. |
| Important features are speed and time of onset, | | | | They include lethargy, reduced physical activity, and |
| pattern of joint involvement, symmetry of symptoms, | | | | poor appetite. The first manifestation particularly in |
| early morning stiffness, tenderness, gelling or locking | | | | young children may be limping. They may also become |
| with inactivity, aggravating and relieving factors. | | | | quite ill presenting with flu-like feelings that persist. |
| Early Symptoms of Arthritis include: | | | | A healthy arthritis diet will boost the immune system |
| There will be medical problems affecting the joints and | | | | and provide the sufferer with extra energy to fight the |
| connective tissue. The aged patient simply moves less | | | | disease. |
| and the infantile patient refuses to use the affected | | | | |