FAQ

Some of the questions you may have about arthritis may be addressed below. These are what we call frequently asked questions (FAQ's). If the answers to your questions are not answerd in the FAQ section, or if you want further details, please look into the more detailed section on arthritis or consult your physician.

What is arthritis?
Arthritis affects nearly 40 million people in the United States and is the number one cause of chronic disability. The term arthritis refers to more than 100 diseases that cause pain, stiffness and swelling from the inflammation of a joint or the area around joints.

What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting about 16 million people in the United States. This disease typically afflicts middle-aged and older people. Osteoarthritis is a noninflammatory degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. The exact cause of osteoarthritis is unknown.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis where the synovium (lining that encapsulates the joint) becomes inflamed. This inflammation causes chemicals to be released that thicken the synovium and damage the cartilage and bone of the affected joint. This leads to inflammation of the synovium causing pain and swelling.

What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is the second most common type of arthritis affecting 3.7 million people in the United States. This disease afflicts mainly women (70 to 90 percent of those developing this disease are women aged 20 to 50). Fibromyalgia is a disease involving pain in muscles or joints with no clinical signs of infection. It is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, and usually does not require surgery.

What causes arthritis?
The specific cases of arthritis are unknown. Since there are nearly 100 different types of arthritis it is suspected that the causes are likely to vary. Researchers continue to study the roles of major factors including genetics and lifestyles on the development of arthritis.

What changes occur in the cartilage of an arthritic joint?
In a healthy joint, cartilage cushions the area surrounding the two bones that come into contact with one another. This allows easy movement without pain. In an unhealthy joint, the cartilage is damaged or worn away causing pain from bones rubbing and grinding together.

What are some of the symptoms of arthritis?
Pain is a major symptom of arthritis. Your pain may be continuous or intermittent and can happen after activity or exercise but it may also happen even if you've been resting and still for a period of time. Your pain could be concentrated in one spot or you may feel it all over your body. The affected joints may feel stiff and difficult to move. Some types of arthritis cause swelling or inflammation making the skin over the joint appear swollen and red, and feel hot when touched.

How can I know if I have arthritis?
Only your physician can determine if you have arthritis and what type it is. Arthritis is diagnosed based on the overall pattern of symptoms, medical history, physical exam, X-rays and lab tests.

What are the treatment options for arthritis?
Because there are nearly 100 types of arthritis, different types are treated differently. Treatment for arthritis often involves multiple strategies. Your treatment may vary over time and may be different from someone else's depending on the type of arthritis you have. Your physician will work with you to determine the best treatment options for your specific condition. Listed below are some common treatment oiptions:

• Medication: Both prescriptions and over-the-counter medications are used to treat arthritis. Common medications are aspirin-free pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, disease modifiers, and sleep medications.
• Exercise: Regular exercise helps to lessen pain, increase movement, reduce fatigue.
• Heat or cold: The use of heat or cold over your affected joint may provide short-term relief from pain and stiffness.
• Pace your activity: Pacing yourself helps protect your joints. Continuous activity without rest stresses your joints. Make sure you take the time to add periods of rest between your activities.
• Joint Protection: You can help protect your joints by learning ways of avoiding excess stress. Whenever possible, avoid using the sore joint by using others to compensate. Devices like canes can help take some of the load off your knee and hip joints. Your physician will also tell you that proper weight control is important in reducing joint stress.
• Surgery: Although most people with arthritis will not require surgery, severe cases require sugery when other nonsurgical treatments have failed.