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Diseases & Conditions- Adult Health Library
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Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases What is the difference between arthritis and other rheumatic diseases? Arthritis, itself a group of more than 100 different diseases, is one category of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases may cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and other supporting body structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. However, rheumatic diseases can affect other areas of the body, including internal organs. Some rheumatic diseases involve connecti...
Anatomy of a Joint
Anatomy of a Joint Click Image to Enlarge Joints are the areas where two or more bones meet. Most joints are mobile, allowing the bones to move. Joints consist of the following: Cartilage. A type of tissue that covers the surface of a bone at a joint. Cartilage helps reduce the friction of movement within a joint. Synovial membrane. A tissue called the synovial membrane lines the joint and seals it into a joint capsule. The synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid (a clear, sticky fluid) around the joi...
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis What is ankylosing spondylitis? Click Image to Enlarge Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Ankylosing means stiff or rigid, spondyl means spine, and itis refers to inflammation. The disease causes inflammation of the spine and large joints, resulting in stiffness and pain. The disease may result in erosion at the joint between the spine and the hip bone (the sacroiliac joint), and the formation of bony bridges between vertebrae in the spine, ...
Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Statistics
Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Statistics The following statistics are from the CDC, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and the Arthritis Foundation: Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. report having some form of arthritis that has been diagnosed by a doctor. By 2030, 67 million Americans are anticipated to have arthritis. One in 20 U.S. workers face limitations due to arthritis. Approximately 27 million adults in the United States have the most common form o...
Bursitis
Bursitis What is a bursa? A bursa is a closed, fluid-filled sac that functions as a cushion and gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. When the bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is known as bursitis. Bursitis is usually a temporary condition. It may restrain motion, but generally does not cause deformity. What causes bursitis? The most common causes ...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome What is carpal tunnel syndrome? Click Image to Enlarge Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through an opening from the wrist to the hand called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed by the carpal bones on the bottom of the wrist and the transverse carpal ligament across the top of the wrist. Since the median nerve provides sensory and motor functions to the thumb and three middle fingers, many symptoms may result. Fac...
Common Types of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Common Types of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Many forms of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Ankylosing Spondylitis Bursitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fibromyalgia Gout Infectious Arthritis Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Lyme Disease Low Back Pain Osteoarthritis Psoriatic Arthritis Raynaud's Phenomenon Reactive Arthritis (Reiter's Syndrom...
Diagnosing Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Diagnosing Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Diagnosing arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is often difficult, as many symptoms are similar among the different diseases. To make an accurate diagnosis, a doctor may need to conduct the following: Review the medical history Perform a physical examination Obtain laboratory tests, X-rays, and other imaging tests What is involved in reviewing your medical history? When reviewing your medical history, your doctor may ask the following questions: Where...
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia What is fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues surrounding the joints throughout the body. The disease is fairly common, affecting approximately 2 to 4 percent of the U.S. population, mostly middle-aged women. Although its symptoms are similar to other joint diseases, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia is actually a form of soft tissue or muscular rheumatism that causes pain in the muscles and soft tissues. What causes or triggers fibromyalgia? Alt...
Glossary - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Glossary - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases | A | | B | | C | | D | | E | | F | | G | | H | | I | | J | | K | | L | | M | | N | | O | | P | | Q | | R | | S | | T | | U | | V | | W | | X | | Y | | Z | A [return to top] Ankylosing spondylitis - a disease that affects the spine, causing the bones of the spine to grow together. Arthritis - inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and sometimes change in structure. Arthrogram - an X-ray to view bone structures following an inject...
Gout
Gout What is gout? Gout is characterized by inflamed, painful joints due to the formation of crystal deposits at the joints. It also known as the disease of kings and the king of diseases because it was associated with overindulgence of rich foods and wine. In truth, anyone can get gout. Gout affects more men than women and is often associated with obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids in the blood), and diabetes. What causes gout? Gout is caused by monosodiu...
Home Page - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Topic Index Statistics Anatomy of a Joint About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Diagnosing Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Common Types of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Treatment for Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Living With a Rheumatic Disease Glossary Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are characterized by pain, swelling, and limited movement in joints and connective tissues in the body. According to the CDC, an estimated 50 million people in the U.S. have some form...
Infectious Arthritis
Infectious Arthritis What is infectious arthritis? Click Image to Enlarge Infectious arthritis is an infection in the joint (synovial) fluid and joint tissues. The infection usually reaches the joint(s) though the bloodstream, although some joints may become infected due to an injection, surgery, illness (such as pneumonia), or injury. Different bacteria and viruses can infect a joint and usually are associated with a person's age, including the following: Staphylococci (a common bacteria that often cau...
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis What is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis? Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a form of arthritis in children ages 16 or younger that causes inflammation and stiffness of joints for more than six weeks. Unlike adult rheumatoid arthritis, which is chronic and lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. However, the disease can affect bone development in the growing child. The disease can be classified into three categories based on the number of a...
Living with a Rheumatic Disease
Living with a Rheumatic Disease Living with a rheumatic disease does not necessarily mean living a limited lifestyle. With proper management, a rheumatic disease often does not have to hinder your daily activities. Exercise and rheumatic diseases Exercise, when done correctly, can help reduce rheumatic disease symptoms, including the following: Preventing joint stiffness Keeping muscles strong around the joints Improving joint flexibility Reducing swelling Reducing pain Maintaining strong and healthy bo...
Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain What is low back pain? Click Image to Enlarge Low back pain can range from mild, dull, annoying pain, to persistent, severe, disabling pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning. Low back pain is one of the most significant health problems facing society today. Consider these statistics from the National Institutes of Health: Eight out of ten people have back pain at some time in their life. Back pain is a commo...
Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease What are the dangers of tick bites? While most tick bites are harmless, several species can transmit life-threatening diseases. Two of these well-known diseases are Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease. Ticks can also transmit tularemia (a plague-like disease in rodents that can be transmitted to man), relapsing fever, and ehrlichiosis (an abrupt illness consisting of fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss). What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease (LD) is a multi-stage, multi-sy...
Online Resources - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Online Resources - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases This Web was compiled from a variety of sources including the online resources listed below, but is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your health care provider. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your con...
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis What is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic degenerative joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Although it can occur in any joint, usually it affects the hands, knees, hips, or spine. The disease is also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Click Image to Enlarge What causes osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis can be classified as ...
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis associated with psoriasis, a chronic skin and nail disease characterized by red, scaly rashes and thick, pitted fingernails. The disease is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in symptoms, characterized by joint inflammation. However, psoriatic arthritis tends to affect fewer joints than rheumatoid arthritis and does not produce the typical rheumatoid arthritis antibodies. The arthritis associated with psoriatic arth...
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Raynaud's Phenomenon What is Raynaud's phenomenon? Raynaud's phenomenon or, simply, Raynaud's, is a disorder characterized by decreased blood flow to the fingers, and less frequently to the ears, toes, nipples, knees, or nose. Vascular spasms usually occur as attacks in response to cold exposure, stress, or emotional upset. Raynaud's can occur alone (primary form) or may occur with other diseases (secondary form). The diseases most frequently associated with Raynaud's are autoimmune or connective tissue...
Reactive Arthritis (Reiter's Syndrome)
Reactive Arthritis (Reiter's Syndrome) What is reactive arthritis? Reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's syndrome, is a type of arthritis that occurs as a reaction to an infection somewhere in the body. Most infections that cause the disease originate in the genitourinary tract (the bladder, urethra, penis, or vagina) and are spread through sexual intercourse, a form of the disease called genitourinary Reiter's syndrome, or urogenital Reiter's syndrome. Other infections that can cause reactive arth...
Scleroderma
Scleroderma What is scleroderma? Scleroderma can be either a localized disease or a disease that affects the whole body. When it affects your whole body it is also called systemic sclerosis or systemic scleroderma. Scleroderma is a chronic, degenerative disease causing abnormal growth of the connective tissue that affects the joints, skin, and internal organs. Scleroderma is also associated with blood vessel abnormalities. Scleroderma is thought to be an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's immun...
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) What is lupus? Systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE, or simply lupus, is a disease that is characterized by periodic episodes of inflammation of and damage to the joints, tendons, other connective tissues, and organs, including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, brain, kidneys, and skin. The heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain are the organs most affected. Lupus affects each individual differently and the effects of the illness range from mild to severe. Lupus ...
Tendonitis
Tendonitis What are tendon problems? Two major problems associated with tendons include tendonitis and tenosynovitis. Tendonitis, inflammation of a tendon (the tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones) can affect any tendon in the body. When the tendons become irritated, swelling, pain, and discomfort will occur. Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the lining of the tendon sheaths which enclose the tendons. The tendon sheath is usually the site which becomes inflamed, but both the sheath and...
Topic Index - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases
Topic Index - Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Arthritis & Other Rheumatic Diseases Home Statistics Anatomy of a Joint About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Diagnosing Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Common Types of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases Ankylosing Spondylitis Bursitis Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fibromyalgia Gout Infectious Arthritis Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Lyme Disease Low Back Pain Osteoarthritis Psoriatic Arthritis Raynaud's Phenomenon Reactive Arthritis (Re...
Treatment for Arthritis
Treatment for Arthritis How is arthritis treated? Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. The goal of treatment is often to limit pain and inflammation, while ensuring optimal joint function. Each treatment plan designed by a doctor should be specifically tailored to the individual's type of arthritis, as well as the severity of the condition. Treatment plans often involve both short-term and long-term relief approaches, including the following: Short-term relief Medications. Short-term relief fo...
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SEARCH HEALTH LIBRARY
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