Arthritis is a disorder of the joints, featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more than one joints. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia. Hence, arthritis is defined as a form of the joint disorder which involves inflammation of one or more joints.
There are many different kinds of arthritis. Over a hundred are identified and the number is still growing. The types range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage, such as, osteoarthritis and those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system such as rheumatoid arthritis. The spinal cord gradually gets narrowed in lumbar spinal stenosis, and arthritis might be a common cause of that. Look for medical care providers who provide lumbar spinal stenosis treatment in India, with effective post surgery care. Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that a different individual illnesses with different features, complications, treatment and prognosis. They are quite similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, ligaments, cartilage, muscles and tendons and many have the potential to affect other internal body areas.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Other more common types of arthritis include, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children, gonococcal arthritis, gout, other bacterial infections such as the non gonococcal bacterial arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis or the Reiter syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis in adults, scleroderma, systematic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) etc. Arthritis involves the breakdown of a cartilage. A cartilage usually protects the joint, allowing it to move smoothly. It also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when we walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage the bones will rub against each other causing pain, swelling, inflammation and stiffness. The major risk factors for most forms of arthritis are the genes, which are inherited from our ancestors. Trauma related arthritis is related to the risk of injury from specific activities. Joint inflammation may result from an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, broken bone, general wear and tear on joints, infection usually by bacteria or virus.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury, leading to osteoarthritis, metabolic abnormalities such as gout and pseudo gout, hereditary factors, the direct and indirect effect of infections (bacterial or viral), and a misdirected immune system with autoimmunity such as in rheumatoid arthritis and systematic systemic lupus erythematosus.
Usually the joint information goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, a person has chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur irrespective of men or women. Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from Arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling redness and warmth.
