What kind of arthritis do you have?

I have osteoarthritis and I'm wondering what everyone else might have.

[mike7748]

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, there is a common perception by the public at large that the word "arthritis" implies a diagnosis. The word arthritis comes from the Greek arthron meaning "joint" and the Latin itis meaning "inflammation". The plural of arthritis is arthritides. Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries.

Arthritis is not a single disease - it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly patients. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age.

There are over 100 types of arthritis. Here is a description of some common ones, together with the causes:

•Osteoarthritis - cartilage loses its elasticity. If the cartilage is stiff it becomes damaged more easily. The cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber, will gradually wear away in some areas. As the cartilage becomes damaged tendons and ligaments become stretched, causing pain. Eventually the bones may rub against each other causing very severe pain.

•Rheumatoid arthritis - this is an inflammatory form of arthritis. The synovial membrane (synovium) is attacked, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated the arthritis can lead to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is significantly more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60. However, children and much older people may also be affected. Swedish scientists published their study in JAMA in October 2012, explaining that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of blood clots in the first ten years after diagnosis.

•Infectious arthritis (septic arthritic) - an infection in the synovial fluid and tissues of a joint. It is usually caused by bacteria, but could also be caused by fungi or viruses. Bacteria, fungi or viruses may spread through the bloodstream from infected tissue nearby, and infect a joint. Most susceptible people are those who already have some form of arthritis and develop an infection that travels in the bloodstream.

•Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) - means arthritis that affects a person aged 16 or less. JRA can be various forms of arthritis; it basically means that a child has it. There are three main types:

1. Pauciarticular JRA, the most common and mildest. The child experiences pain in up to 4 joints.

2. Polyarticular JRA affects more joints and is more severe. As time goes by it tends to get worse.

3. Systemic JRA is the least common. Pain is experienced in many joints. It can spread to organs. This can be the most serious JRA.

The short answer to your question is that the word arthritis covers many conditions of which osteoarthritis is the most common followed by Rheumatoid arthritis.

[Hidden]

Hi,

Thank you for answering. I was hoping more people on this site would at least comment in what they are experiencing.

Best wishes

[tettridge]

Hi

Sorry for being late but have been in Hospital with pneumonia for a while.

I have had Osteoarthritis for many years but when I got Pneumonia a few years back it wiped me out for weeks and the OA really got to work on my skeleton, I have it all over now and am determined that this bout of Pneumonia will not get me any worse than last time, so this time I am doing gentle exercises and movement, have bought a book on T'ai-Chi and hope to get some help from that until I can get out and move.

The worse thing with this is the tiredness, I have quite a few drugs I take for pain and unfortunately had ME years ago and it seems that never goes either so what with all that as well as the Pneumonia I have a fight on. I will cope and they will not prevail as I have been there before and although every step is agony it is my progress so I will keep going just through bloodymindedness.

Take care and kindest regards

Terry

[rowantree]

Hi ageingwithgrace ,

This seems to be a very quiet forum! I have osteo too. When I first fit it I was told it wouldn't spread to other joints, but it seems it has!

[Gracie_Allen in reply to rowantree]

Hi Rowantree!

You can avoid the osteoarthritis thorough natural remedies.

Go through the address below to find out for the food that can help you ease through your osteoarthritis

goo.gl/LesCpU

[Hidden]

Hmm ok so there are over 100 types of arthritis,,, that's interesting .. So what sort do I have ... The painful sort which I have been told is osteo arthritis..

[ladymoth]

I have mixed arthritis, so I'm told, which is a mixture of osteo and inflammatory arhritis.

I suspect the inflammatory arthritis is the most troublesome, as my pain levels vary between perfectly manageable and occasionally excruciating!

On bad days I am convinced that I have all 100 types!

[tettridge]

Hi

Just to clear things up a bit With the types of arthritis I have, I was first diagnosed with Gout which may or may boot be arthritis and then a couple of years after the gout I was diagnosed with Cervical spondylosis and Osteo-arthritis in various joints and was told that if I did not change my lifestyle I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 40.

So as I was only 29 to 30 and a motor mechanic this seemed a bit of a difficult thing to achieve but as my career progressed I managed to get an office based job so this was supposed to make a difference but by then I was 45 (ish) so was a bit slow in getting there.

after a bout of pneumonia when I was about 56 which knocked me for six and allowed the Osteo-Arthritis to have a field day with my body. it has taken over in the spine so that I get false flag messages of severe hip pain then knees or the other hip, some days the heels of my feet or foot are agony to walk on

And on another it is the shoulders and right down the back that is agony or the elbows and wrists and fingers swell up and I have to be careful as my wedding ring has been stuck on fast for a few days.

These pains do come at different times and generally they are manageable but some days they are so crippling i worry that this is when I will need a wheelchair.

my only advice is to keep moving and exercise as much as you can WITHOUT creating any pain. No pain, no gain does not apply here. with us it is 'No Pain. thank God'

Sorry for keeping on but at least I got through it.

Take care and Kindest regards

Terry

[Hidden]

I have degenerative disc disease, which I assume is osteo? It is hard to get any answers from specialists, they only seem interested if you have something show up in your bloods, they just tell me there is nothing they can do and send me on my way, in worsening pain and mobility.

My husband has the same problem, even though there is now nerve involvement from bony spurs in his spine, the guy was just annoyed at him for wasting his time.

I also have rls, and possible fibro and sjrogrens, but getting a definitive diagnoses just does not seem possible.

Best of good wishes,

Cazx

[Hidden]

Nice to see you all here on this site, and thanks everyone for sharing! I hope we can help each other get through some of those painful times eh

[rowantree]

Osteo for me. Bilateral toes, heels, wrists, thumbs, fingers.

[Dorothy1952]

Recently diagnosed with osteo arthritis of hands knees and lower back am on pain killers from doctor for the moment but am booked in to the pain clinic early next year hop they can help'

[bella1955]

I hv AO , PMR,And FM, finally got to 5 mg pred after 4 yrs

Now bad flare up sed rates ESR. CPR very low , suffering bad flare up

HELP

[Jennylyn]

I suffer from Systemic Lupus. SLE and Rhematoid Arthritis.