Many people wonder what their daily aches and pains are from. Chances are that if you experience aches in pains on a regular basis in the same areas you are suffering from arthritis. It is a common disorder that causes pain and stiffness. Anyone can become subject to it and nearly 350 million people worldwide experience this type of pain. It is the largest chronic illness in the United States. It has many known causes, symptoms and treatments. It is important to know the facts because most likely you know someone with the disorder. This article will give you a brief overview of this type of debilitating disorder.

This is a diseases caused by joint inflammation. When joints are inflamed they become hard to move and extremely sore. The cause of joint inflammation varies and the severity differs greatly. There are over a hundred types of arthritis, and the amount is growing rapidly. It is known as the number one cause of chronic pain in the United States.

There are just as many causes of this disease as there are types. The most common causes are injury, metabolic abnormalities, hereditary factors and infection. All of these things can affect joints and in turn can cause discomfort. Injury will most commonly lead to osteoarthritis, whereas metabolic abnormalities cause gout or pseudogout. Hereditary factors and infections normally cause rheumatoid aches. The type of ache is directly related to the cause. Although the causes differ, the symptoms are usually the same.

Joint pain, or arthralgia, is the number one symptom of disorder. Other symptoms include stiffness and swelling of joints. Many people have reported that when their arthritis flairs they experience redness and swelling at the joint area. Because it can affect organs in the body fever, weight loss, fatigue and gland swelling can occur. On rare occasion, people with arthritis will obtain organ abnormalities. These abnormalities can take place in the lungs, heart or kidneys. Some people claim that their arthritis is most painful in cold weather or when it rains. This has yet to be proven, but it has been reported.

The last major part of ache is the treatment. The therapies for this disease depend on the type. The most common treatment is medication. Doctors normally prescribe a medication to dull the pain. Other therapies of arthritis include physical, splinting or surgical operations. All of these things are done by a trained doctor and lessen the pain. This disease can be extremely aggravating and can interrupt daily life. In most cases after getting some sort of treatment the pain will start to go away.

As stated before, this is one of the most common disorders. The types and causes may vary, however the symptoms are usually the same. If experiencing any of the previously stated signs medical treatment is recommended. This can happen to people of all ages and should be taken very seriously. It can lead to other disorders if not handled properly. The most important thing to remember about it is that is can be treated.