Arthritis & Rheumatism

Arthritis and rheumatism are the words commonly used to describe joint pain, but there are many different types of arthritis and rheumatism, each with their own different cause and treatment, and so it is important to know which one you have. Osteoarthritis is the commonest one, and then some way behind is rheumatoid arthritis .

What Are The Different Sorts of Arthritis & Rheumatism?

Joint pain is very common, and can be caused by different conditions. It is important to know which one you have before you can understand and treat it properly.

Arthritis is any painful condition of the joints. There are about 200 types of arthritis, and each one has a different cause, and shows a different pattern of symptoms. The two commoner ones are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis . Others include juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and gout. It is important to have a proper diagnosis, as the treatment for each type is very different.

Rheumatism is a broader term than arthritis, where not only are the joints involved, but also the muscles and ligaments associated with the joints.

Arthritis is the commonest disease in the UK, affecting about 7 million people. Half the people over 65 have signs of the disease that can be shown by X-rays, but not everyone shows symptoms.

Osteoarthritis is by far the commonest form of arthritis, affecting between 3 and 6% of the population. The exact figure is uncertain, because many people put down the joint pain and stiffness to just getting old, rather than having a diagnosis of osteoarthritis put into their medical records. osteoarthritis is caused by thinning of the cartilage lining the joints. Cartilage is nature's shock absorber, which stops bones rubbing together. Throughout life it is always being broken down by the body and replaced. Unfortunately after the age of about 25 the breakdown happens faster than the build up, and so cartilage tends to thin with the passing of the years. This brings the bones closer together, to the stage where they are close enough to cause pain, and the closer rubbing of the bones can cause inflammation. It can also be caused by damage to the joints by injury.

Rheumatoid arthritis is totally different. Here the body's immune system attacks the joint causing inflammation. The joint becomes hot, swollen and stiff. The inflammatory reaction releases chemicals into the body which also make you feel ill.

Gout is caused by an accumulation of uric acid in the blood, which deposits sharp chemical crystals in the joints. This is extremely painful.