| Arthritis affects the movements you rely on for | | | | arthritis can attack almost any joint in the body. Most |
| everyday activities. Arthritis is usually chronic. This | | | | of the time with rheumatoid arthritis if you have arthritis |
| means that it can last on and off for a lifetime. There | | | | in a joint on one side of the body the same joint on the |
| are over 100 kinds of arthritis that can affect many | | | | other side of the body will be affected. |
| different areas of the body. | | | | The duration, severity and the type of joint involvement |
| Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. It is one of | | | | may give a clue to the type of arthritis, since the |
| the most common diseases in the United States. This | | | | prognosis will vary according to the cause of this |
| condition means that different individual illnesses with | | | | disease. |
| differing factors, treatments, complications and | | | | If only a single joint is involved then you would consider |
| prognosis occurs. They are similar in that they have a | | | | causes like septic arthritis (with fever/ inflammation), |
| tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, | | | | reactive arthritis, transient synovitis etc. On the other |
| cartilage and may affect internal body areas. | | | | hand, if multiple joints are involved then a possibility like |
| You should suspect arthritis if you have signs and | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatic fever, Osteoarthritis |
| symptoms: | | | | etc. may need to be kept in mind. The diagnostic clues |
| Persistent joint pain, Pain or tenderness in a joint which | | | | will give ides for specific tests to be done so that |
| is aggravated by movement or activity, such as | | | | appropriate therapy can be given to minimize pain and |
| walking, getting up from a chair, writing, typing, holding | | | | activity disruption, with a minimum of side effects. If |
| an object, throwing a ball, turning a key, Inflammation | | | | you have arthritis signs and symptoms, it is important |
| indicated by joint swelling, stiffness, redness, and/or | | | | to schedule an appointment with your doctor. |
| warmth, Joint deformity, Loss of range of motion or | | | | Diagnosing arthritis early can help to prevent |
| flexibility in a joint, Other associated symptoms that | | | | irreversible damage and disability. The arthritis signs |
| may be present may include unexplained weight loss, | | | | and symptoms must be taken seriously because there |
| Extreme fatigue, lack of energy, Non-specific fever | | | | is currently no known cure for arthritis. Because there |
| without any cause. Different forms of arthritis such as | | | | is currently no known cure, you must have early and |
| osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause | | | | aggressive treatment in order to minimize your |
| changes that you can see and feel. With Osteoarthritis | | | | symptoms and the on-going joint destruction of arthritis. |
| the symptoms can range from stiffness and mild pain | | | | Many patients have benefited greatly with early and |
| that comes and goes with activities like walking, | | | | aggressive treatment and by working closely with your |
| bending or stooping to severe joint pain. Rheumatoid | | | | health care provider you too have this opportunity. |