Understanding Arthritis - the Basics

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis includes a variety of inflammatory and noninflammatory joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Although the term arthritis is applied to a wide variety of disorders, arthritis means inflammation of a joint, whether the result of a disease, an infection, a genetic defect, or some other cause. Arthritis inflammation causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and surrounding tissues. Many people, however, perceive arthritis as any kind of pain or discomfort associated with body movement, including such localized problems as low back pain, bursitis, tendinitis, and general stiffness or pain in the joints.

For many, although by no means everyone, arthritis seems to be an inevitable part of the aging process, and there are no signs of real cures in the immediate future. On the positive side, advances in both conventional medical treatment and alternative therapies make living with arthritis more bearable.

The Major Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, refers to the pain and swelling that can result from the progressive loss of cartilage in the joints. It is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 21 million adults in the U.S., particularly the elderly. In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones within joints gradually wears away, which is why it is sometimes called "wear and tear" arthritis. It can affect almost any joint in the body but commonly involves the weight-bearing joints: the knees, hips, and spine. It can also affect the fingers and any joint with previous injury from trauma, infection, or inflammation. The inner bone surfaces become exposed and rub together, and in some cases bony spurs develop on the edges of joints, causing damage to muscles and nerves, pain, deformity, and difficulty in movement.

Although the mechanism behind osteoarthritis is unknown, some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to degenerative bone disorders. In rare cases, bone deformation appears at an early age. Misuse of anabolic steroids, which are popular among some athletes, can also bring on early osteoarthritis. Being overweight also contributes to early and more rapid progression of joint problems, especially in the knee.

In many people, the onset of osteoarthritis is gradual and has no serious debilitating effect in the beginning, although it can change the shape and size of bones. In other people, bony growths and gnarled joints may cause painful muscle inflammation or nerve damage, along with significant changes in posture and mobility. Osteoarthritis can be part of the aging process. The condition may be associated with broken bones and can develop in young adults from wear and tear on the body's load-bearing joints, often as a result of intense athletic activity. In cases of osteoarthritis, the cartilage and bone cannot repair themselves sufficiently to keep up with the damage.