Though most people think of arthritis as being old person’s disease it is not always the case. People in their early years too can become affected by this condition; what’s more, arthritis refers to more than one hundred different types of medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system – though, it mainly affects the joints. These different forms can do harm to the muscles, joints and in fact, to the entire body including a person’s heart, kidneys and lungs.

Different Types

At present, more than one hundred and twenty-five different arthritis types have been identified and been defined. Among these different types are some common forms of this condition including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis and gout as well as scleroderma and fibromyalgia.

Arthritis is a condition that can cause inflamed joints accompanied by tenderness; soreness as well as swelling that can last for over a fortnight and which can also be accompanied by aches in the muscles. Other symptoms include tiredness as well as not being able to get enough sleep and the condition can perhaps even lead to depression; in addition, moving about is also a most painful experience. At its worst, arthritis can lead to immobility and other disabilities.

Unfortunately, neither the exact causes nor the cures for arthritis are known and those who are affected by this condition will, unfortunately, have to suffer for the remainder of their lives in spite of the fact that medications, exercise and diet as well as weight control and also surgery can help alleviate the symptoms.

As soon as pain in the joints is experienced for more than a fortnight and is accompanied with swelling and fever in the person’s joints it is time to consult your local doctor or physician to determine whether the condition is not in fact arthritis.

In any case, you must also be careful that you do not become influenced by some common myths surrounding this condition. For one, people believe that arthritis is not a very serious condition; this is not so. For another, it is a condition that only involves pain and aches and affects only old people; it affects young people as much as it does old people. A third myth is that there is not much that can be done to alleviate the pains and aches; no doubt, a cure has yet to be found but there is a lot that can be done to lessen the pain and disabilities.

The bottom line is that arthritis is unique and it is up to the physician to diagnose the type and then prescribe the most suitable treatment. Remember also that people react differently to treatments and so there is no single treatment method for the same kind of arthritis.