How can people with both fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) know which condition is causing their pain? What factors or characteristics allow the patient to distinguish between the two conditions? ... Read More

Hand damage and deformity caused by arthritis can include nodules, ulnar drift, contractures, and other problems. Hand deformity is one of the known characteristics associated with rheumatoid arthritis. View the ... Read More

Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions. The most common types are osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia, according to the CDC. ... Read More

Systemic lupus erythematosus, also commonly referred to as lupus or SLE, is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system and other ... Read More

Low-dose steroids (i.e. glucocorticoids such as prednisone) can inhibit joint damage when prescribed early in the course of rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence appears in The Cochrane Library, a publication of ... Read More

Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. Gout results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in connective tissue, joint spaces, or both. These deposits lead to ... Read More

Big purses are trendy and convenient but there is a down side. Once you've packed them up with everything you need - cell phone, wallet, water bottles and more - ... Read More

A major part of the treatment plan for arthritis is medication. There are over 100 medications used for treating arthritis and related conditions. The drugs fall into several classes and ... Read More

When Enbrel (etanercept), the first biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis became available in 1998, it was said that it could slow disease progression. Other biologics followed including: Remicade (infliximab), ... Read More

Cartilage which covers the ends of bones allowing for the smooth, gliding movement at the joints is known as articular cartilage. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage wears away and causes ... Read More

Joint protection is as important to managing arthritis as any other aspect of your treatment plan. As you perform daily activities or work activities, be mindful of ways you can ... Read More

The cost of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in 2003 (the latest available statistics) was $128 billion, more than a 48 percent increase over the previous amount of $86.2 billion ... Read More

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis and other rheumatic conditions are recognized as the leading cause of disability in the United States. Of adults with ... Read More

Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are specific symptoms and distinguishing characteristics which determine the diagnosis and course of treatment. Osteoarthritis, ... Read More

Arthritis is not a single disease. There are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions. Men, women, children and people of all racial and ethnic groups are affected. ... Read More

Switching from one TNF blocker drug (i.e. Enbrel, Remicade, Humira) to another can be an effective treatment strategy. Some arthritis patients are forced to stop using a TNF blocker because ... Read More

Proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, Protonix, and Prilosec), which are taken for acid-related diseases and also by many arthritis patients trying to reduce potential gastrointestinal side effects ... Read More