Arthritis' Many Faces
Arthritis can be an incredibly painful and even debilitating disease, and it is in fact one of the most common diseases in the world. What many people do not know is that there are actually different types of arthritis, as many people assume that all arthritis pain is the same. By understanding about the different types of arthritis that are out there, you will be able to tell between the different signs and symptoms, and you will thus be able to be more accurate if you start getting arthritis pains, in terms of recognizing which type it is, and this is incredibly important because this is the only way that you will be able to get the proper form of treatment for your arthritis.
Types of Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis, affecting over two million Americans at the present time. Rheumatoid arthritis is a symmetric disease, meaning that it usually involves the same joints on both sides of the body, unlike most other types of arthritis. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is actually unknown, however many doctors believe that a virus or a bacterium may prompt it to develop in those people who have a genetic predisposition to it. Then there are those experts who think that it is an autoimmune disease, in that the body tissue is the victim of an immune response against itself. Another type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, and this particular type of arthritis is the one that people think of as being associated with aging, as osteoarthritis affects the weight-bearing areas of the body, such as the spine, hips, knees, base of the thumbs, and the feet, for example. Psoriatic arthritis is yet another very common type of arthritis, and this one is a potentially serious inflammatory form of arthritis that is often found in association with psoriasis. As well, because it is able to begin and progress rather insidiously, it is thus able to cause very serious and detrimental problems, which is why early diagnosis and aggressive intervention are not only recommended but in fact necessary for this type of arthritis. The only real way that you can be sure to know what type of arthritis you have is by making an appointment with your doctor so that they can complete a full examination on you and be able to make the proper diagnosis as well as prescribe you with the proper treatment. |