Arthritis: a term for many disorders
Arthritis is a general term for several chronic and painful joint disorders. It affects people in different ways, depending on the type. The two most common forms are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the population. People of any age can get it, but the condition most often strikes women between the ages of 25 and 55. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be an autoimmune disorder because the body attacks its own joints, starting with the tissue that lines and cushions them. This causes inflammation and, eventually, scarring as the cartilage, bone and ligaments slowly erode. No one knows for sure why this happens, but research is ongoing.
This type of arthritis usually shows up first in the hands and feet, and then moves into other joints in the body. As the joints become inflamed, scar-like tissue forms in them, causing joint stiffness. As arthritis progresses, joints, especially those of the fingers and toes, may become bent and distorted.
Some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- fatigue
- weight loss
- joint pain, especially first thing in the morning or after long periods of rest
- joint swelling that lasts for hours
- low-grade fever
- round, painless nodules (bumps) under the skin
Osteoarthritis is the type many of us think of when we hear "arthritis" and it's the most common form. Four out of 10 people in North America have this condition. Because it usually affects people as they age - the result of years of wear and tear in the joint or prior injuries - it's also called degenerative arthritis. Unlike in the rheumatoid type, where swelling occurs and scar tissue forms, osteoarthritis attacks the cartilage (the cushioning that acts as shock absorbers in the joints) and breaks it down, resulting in pain as the bones rub against each other.
There are two forms of osteoarthritis: primary and secondary. The primary type is the "wear and tear" arthritis, while the secondary form is the result of earlier problems in the joints, such as previous infections or injuries.
Osteoarthritis appears in men and women equally before the age of 55. After age 55, however, more women than men develop it. Most people over 65 have some form of this disorder, but only a third actually experience pain.
This condition generally affects the hands, knees, hips and feet. It may show up in the spine as well; doctors think there may be a genetic link to arthritis in the spine, especially when it also develops in the hands.
Some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- pain that seems to come from deep within the joint
- grating or crunching sounds from a joint during movement
- bumps or swelling in the fingers
- stiffness in the joints, especially after resting
Other, less common types of arthritis include:
- psoriatic arthritis, which affects people who have psoriasis of the skin or nails
- gout, which generally occurs in men, results from a build-up of uric acid that accumulates around certain joints, particularly the big toe
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