Arthritis may be the most misunderstood disease crippling the population, the workforce and the economy today.

For most people, the word arthritis conjures up pictures of swollen stiff joints in old people—someone who can no longer play the piano or tennis. And that is one definition of the disease. But arthritis can strike at any age and reach far beyond joint pain and stiffness to cripple joints, muscles and internal organs. You can be born with it or you can get it later. We’ll explain.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis encompasses over 100 diseases or symptom clusters.  The word arthritis, sometimes misspelled “arthritus” or “athritis,” actually means inflammation of the joints. However, few people realize that inflammation, a rheumatic condition, can be caused by metabolism, infection or genetics.

Rheumatism can refer to a number of different conditions with symptoms of pain, inflammation and swelling not only in joints but also in muscles and other tissues. It can affect internal organs, too, which may account for most deaths from arthritis. And this can occur whether or not the “rheumatoid factor” (an autoantibody that reacts against IgG immunoglobulins) is present.

Is arthritis the same as rheumatism? Yes and no. Arthritis is a rheumatic disease, but not all rheumatism is arthritic. There are many kinds of arthritis, but all of them make up only a small part of all the diseases that are rheumatic. However, when people say rheumatoid arthritis, you can be sure they are referring to a type of rheumatism that is arthritic.

All arthritis is rheumatic, but not all rheumatism is arthritic.

Types and Causes of Arthritis

Most kinds of arthritis cause red, swollen painful joints in varying degrees. Like the “hokey pokey” it could be fingers, thumbs, knees, toes, hips, neck or spine. Some kinds affect organs, like eyes, liver or skin.

Here are some of the diseases that fall under the diagnosis of arthritis. Notice that some are familiar and some that may surprise you.

• Osteoarthritis—the most common form of arthritis (OA). Cartilage, the cushiony material in joints that keeps two bones from rubbing together, progressively breaks down. When bone hits bone, there is pain and a loss of flexibility. Osteoarthritis is degenerative, meaning it gets worse.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and crippling types, and it mostly strikes women (RA). Joint linings are attacked a person’s own immune system, and the joints become swollen, puffy, red and very painful (sinusitis).
• Gout, as though evening the score, affects mostly men, usually between 40-50 years of age. While it may result from a genetic predisposition, it can usually be controlled with diet and medication.
• Ankylosing spondylitis results in spinal fusion caused by inflammation.
• Juvenile arthritis covers any kind of arthritis in children, whether it’s rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or another diagnosis.
• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), can affect joints, connective tissue and organs. Again, it primarily affects women.
• Scleroderma attacks connective tissue, resulting in thick, hard skin. Remember the skin is the largest organ of the body.
• Fibromyalgia shows up as generalized pain throughout the body, mostly where muscles and bone are attached. It affects mostly women.
• Psoriatic arthritis follows an outbreak of psoriasis about 85% of the time. (Psoriasis is a lifelong skin condition characterized by red patches and scaliness.)

 

Remember, we told you there are 100 kinds of arthritis so this is the very short list. In addition to a genetic predisposition to

How Widespread is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States in people over 15 years old. Nearly one out of three adults has arthritis. Many more people may have a form of arthritis that has not been diagnosed because they have not sought medical care for joint pain, stiffness or other discomfort.

The Economy of Arthritis

Besides the billions of dollars a year people with arthritis, and their insurance companies, pay to medical care providers such as doctors, physical therapists and hospitals, there is an almost equal amount of money spent to accommodate people with disabilities, besides the loss of productivity and loss of wages.

In all, arthritis costs nearly 100 billion dollars a year just in the United Sates.

Treatment of Arthritis

The most important treatment for arthritis is “whatever’s soonest.” In other words, early diagnosis is extremely important for there to be good success in treating this disease. If someone is noticing stiff joints or unexplained general fatigue, that person will not benefit from “not knowing,” because delayed treatment will never be as effective. Remember, arthritis can be degenerative; it marches forward every second of every day left untreated.

Some remedies are as natural as exercise or a change in diet. Others may require of one the many tested, proven or even new medications that have been developed for treating arthritis.

 

 

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