WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?

When people hear “arthritis”, they may think of joint pain that old people get from a buildup of wear and tear from the aging process.  However, arthritis is a general term that means pain from joint disease.  There are hundreds of different types of arthritis.  People can get arthritis at all ages, for many different reasons.  Symptoms may be mild or severe, and may be a short term, chronic, or recurrent problem. 

Arthritis occurs when a problem develops in the joint.  The joint is where the ends of 2 bones comes together.  The bones at the joint are held together by ligaments, but joints can bend, extend, turn, and rotate.  The joint contains fluid, cells, and special tissue called cartilage that cushions the bones and allows for smooth movement.

There are a few categories of arthritis.

DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS:  degenerative arthritis occurs from breakdown of the cushioning cartilage and bone surfaces in the joint from the aging process.  Osteoarthritis is the main type of degenerative arthritis, which is also the most common type of arthritis in general.  Degenerative arthritis can also develop from one or more major traumas to the joint. 

INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS:  Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can infect a joint, causing a reaction that triggers painful inflammation.  Infections can occur when organisms get into the joint directly during surgery or injection.  A joint can also become infected when organisms reach the joint through the bloodstream or from a soft tissue infection nearby.  If left untreated, infectious arthritis can lead to permanent joint destruction and even death.

Infectious arthritis can come on suddenly and can be an emergency that must be treated immediately.  Specific infectious arthritis such as Lyme disease may develop more gradually over time. 

INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS:  Inflammatory arthritis occurs when the immune system becomes activated in one or more joints.  In some cases, such as gout, a substance builds up in the joint, causing the immune system to react with intense inflammation.  In other conditions, the immune system malfunctions and attacks the joints.