Arthritis refers to about 200 rheumatic conditions that affect the joints and the tissues surrounding the joints.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is an inflammatory disease affecting more than 50 million adults in the United States. Substantially impacting the mobility of those affected.
Our physicians at Advanced Dermatology, NY, can help diagnose the specific arthritis type that may affect you and discuss the treatment options available to you.
Arthritis Symptoms
This disease has a diverse range of symptoms, with factors such as injury, abnormal metabolism, genetic makeup and health directly affecting the development of arthritis.
The most common arthritis symptoms include:
- Persistent joint pain, tenderness and swelling.
- Lack of movement within your joints.
- Pain and stiffness in your hands and wrists after immobiliztion.
Your symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly depending on the type of arthritis.
The Most Common Types of Arthritis
The are many types of arthritis, but the most common in the United States are:
- Osteoarthritis
A degenerative joint disease that mostly affects the hands, hips and knees. - Rheumatoid arthritis
An autoimmune inflammatory disease that commonly affects the hands, wrists and knees. - Gout
A very painful form of inflammatory arthritis that ordinarily affects one joint at a time. Symptoms can come and go, also referred to as remission.
What Causes Arthritis?
The cause or causes of arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis. Possible causes may include:
- Aging.
- Overuse.
- Injury.
- Abnormal metabolism.
- Genetics.
- Infections.
- Immune system dysfunction.
