What is Arthritis?
Derived from two Greek words – ‘arthro’ meaning joint and ‘it is’ meaning inflammation, arthritis is a joint disorder that results in inflammation of one or more joints. It is a common problem plaguing millions of men and women across the world. There are over a hundred different types of arthritis, some mild and others extremely serious, that may cripple patients and restrict their natural movement significantly.
Some of the most common forms of arthritis include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Septic arthritis
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Gout and pseudo gout
- Ankylosing spondylitis
Arthritis is often caused due to a trauma inflicting the joints in the body, infections in the joints or simply due to the natural process of aging. No matter what form of arthritis an individual have, the common complaint is that of excruciating joint pain, often localized to the affected joint. The pain is often a result of several factors, including inflammation around the affected joint, damage caused to the joint from disease, general wear and tear, muscle strain or spasm caused by forceful movements and fatigue.
Arthritis, if not treated timely, can cause severe impairments in the body. In fact, this joint disorder is by far the most common cause of disability in the U.S. with over 20 million people facing severe limitations in their daily movements due to this disease. Each year, more than a million people undergo hospitalization due to arthritis. Although arthritis commonly affects the elderly, an increasing number of cases show that children are not completely immune to it. Did you know joint disease is more prevalent in women than in men? In North America, over 70% people over the age of 65 years suffer from arthritis of different types. Arthritis can cause people to become physically weak and limit their movement.
The only plausible cure for arthritis includes physical therapy, modifications in lifestyle, exercise, weight control and continued medication to reduce inflammation and joint pain. In extreme cases, a joint replacement surgery may be required to restore a healthy joint and natural movement whilst eradicating pain and inflammation.
