| Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability | | | | hypertrophic arthritis. |
| among people of different age groups although older | | | | Diagnosis of some of the existing types of arthritis is |
| people suffer more than the younger ones. It is a | | | | rather difficult as most of them have more or less |
| disease that restricts movements of joints because of | | | | similar symptoms. Proper diagnosis by the physician |
| pain and swelling. | | | | includes medical history, X-rays, blood tests and |
| This disabling disease has been prevalent for | | | | Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans. |
| thousands of years as was found in the bones of | | | | Some types of arthritis afflict the spine mainly due to |
| prehistoric humans, animals and even dinosaurs that | | | | old age, trauma or injury and improper posture or poor |
| appeared millions of years ago. It has hit famous | | | | diet. Common of these is the Ankylosing Spondylitis |
| personages such as Goethe, Alexander the Great, | | | | which is inheritable as the genetic marker HLA-B27 |
| Charlemagne and Henry VI. | | | | establishes a predisposition to it. An onset of lower |
| Arthritis is a joint inflammation in the body usually | | | | back pains together with stiffness that lasts for weeks |
| occurring on those weight-bearing joints like knees, | | | | or months is one of its symptoms. Arthritis in the upper |
| lower back and hips. There are about more than a | | | | spine may be classified as Cervical Arthritis with |
| hundred types of arthritis that has been discovered, | | | | symptoms as extreme pain and stiffness in the neck |
| studied and treated. | | | | area. Degeneration of the spine or old injuries that has |
| Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the two | | | | directly impacted the spine may cause the occurrence |
| major joint disorders afflicting millions of people all over | | | | of Lumbosacral Arthritis or Lumbar arthritis. It affects |
| the world. The difference of the two is largely the | | | | the lower back or the pelvic area that cause pain and |
| period on which symptoms may show. | | | | inability to move. |
| Rheumatoid arthritis usually develops before the age | | | | Gout is one of the ancient types of arthritis. It is a |
| of 45 marked by inflammation of the joints which is | | | | chronic disease which is caused by excess uric acid in |
| accompanied by changes of the substances found in | | | | the body that the kidneys may not be capable to |
| the blood. As a symmetric disease it involves the | | | | dissolve. These acid forms sodium monourate crystals |
| same joints on both sides of the person. It affects | | | | that collect in the joints which cause swelling and pain. |
| almost any joint in the body but more commonly the | | | | Its frequent target is the big toe. |
| wrists, hands, knees, foot and ankles. The symptoms | | | | Infections from bacteria, viruses and fungi may also |
| of | | | | cause the joint disease called Sceptic or Infectious |
| Osteoarthritis appear at a later age usually around 50 | | | | Arthritis. Symptoms include pain in one place of the |
| where the cartilage of the bones that cushions them | | | | body in cases where it is a bacterial or fungal infection |
| has been dried up or used. The wear and tear of this | | | | accompanied by low to mild fever. Viral infections may |
| cartilage exposes the bones against each other and | | | | cause aching of the whole body that may reside after |
| through friction produces intense pain. This disease is | | | | the virus has run its course. With proper treatment this |
| not as disabling as rheumatoid arthritis and is also | | | | type of arthritis can be generally cured. |
| known by the names, degenerative joint disease and | | | | |