There are over 100 types of arthritis, rheumatic diseases and related conditions. Information about the causes, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options for the most common types of arthritis, rheumatic diseases and related conditions.
Certain types of arthritis can be classified as systemic disease. Arthritis is typically thought to involve the joints, but there can be involvement in other areas of the body as well, making it a systemic disease.
Beyond the misconceptions and misinformation, there are 10 things you should know about arthritis.
Have you had persistent joint pain and you don't know the cause? Do you think it may be arthritis? Have you discounted the possibility of it being arthritis because you think arthritis is just an old-person's disease?
Arthritis is a complex disease with overlapping symptoms. Arthritis is expected to become more prevalent as baby boomers age. How much do you know about arthritis?
Hand damage and deformity caused by arthritis can include nodules, swelling, stiffness, ulnar drift, contractures, and other problems. Photos of hands damaged by arthritis.
The terms rheumatism, rheumatic disease, and arthritis are often used interchangeably. Are they the same?
The term "arthritis" refers to a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and other related conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints.
There are over 100 types of arthritis and related rheumatic conditions. Overlapping symptoms can make some types of arthritis difficult to diagnose, but each type has prominent characteristics. How much do you know about the types of arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. It is typically seen as a primary disease in older people but can occur as a secondary condition in younger people. Injury, occupation, excess weight, and genetics are among the factors which cause the cartilage of a joint to wear away. Take our Osteoarthritis Screening Quiz.
There are many types of arthritis. How is osteoarthritis diagnosed and treated? How much do you know about osteoarthritis? Take the quiz.
Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and early, aggressive treatment can help prevent joint damage and deformity. A combination of diagnostic tests, physical examination, and x-ray evidence confirms the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Take our screening quiz and if you suspect rheumatoid arthritis, consult a rheumatologist.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is triggered by a malfunction in the immune system. The cause of the malfunction is unknown. How much do you know about RA? Take Rheumatoid Arthritis - Test Your Knowledge.
Various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis make it different from other kinds of arthritis. It is important to learn all that you can about the disease. Better understanding will enhance your ability to manage the condition.
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. Do you know the difference?
Two of the 100 types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. There are specific symptoms, distinguishing characteristics, as well as overlapping symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Do you know the difference?
People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood which target tissues within their own body. Lupus is one of the autoimmune diseases. The chronic inflammation which is associated with this condition can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system.
Palindromic rheumatism is a rare inflammatory arthritis which is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis. What are the symptoms of palindromic rheumatism?
Myofascial pain is a condition that is often confused with fibromyalgia. Myofascial pain is considered one of the 100 types of arthritis. Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of myofascial pain.
Arthritis is associated with pain and swelling of the joints. There are over 100 conditions related to arthritis.
Lupus is not easy to diagnose. It may take your doctor weeks or months to reach a definitive diagnosis. How much do you know about lupus? Take this quiz: Lupus - Test Your Knowledge.
It's very difficult for a parent to see their child in pain. Take the Juvenile Arthritis Screening Quiz. Juvenile arthritis is not a single disease, but rather a variety of diseases with persistent symptoms of arthritis which start before age 16. Consult a pediatric rheumatologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
Psoriatic arthritis is one of over 100 types of arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is associated with psoriasis (a skin disease in which scaly red and white patches develop on the skin). Researchers believe psoriatic arthritis is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. How much do you know about psoriatic arthritis? Take this quiz.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are variable making it difficult to diagnose. Symptoms can mimic other forms of arthritis too. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings and diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions. Do you have symptoms which could be associated with psoriatic arthritis? Take the screening quiz.
Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by body aches, pain, sleep problems, extreme fatigue, depression and anxiety, in combination with tenderness of specific areas (muscles and tender points) on the body. Learn more about fibromyalgia by signing up for our free newsletter e-course.
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. Combinations of symptoms can occur which overlap with other autoimmune diseases. There are symptoms which are considered "defining" of fibromyalgia. There are also symptoms considered "non-defining" but they often occur as part of fibromyalgia syndrome. Take our Fibromyalgia Screening Quiz.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can overlap with autoimmune diseases and other musculoskeletal conditions making it difficult to diagnose. Everyone knows the syndrome involves muscle pain and tender points. It's much more complex however.
Fibromyalgia is often regarded as a medical enigma. Symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome can overlap with other conditions making it difficult to diagnose. How much do you know about fibromyalgia? Take this quiz.
Sjogren's syndrome can occur as a primary condition or a secondary condition. Take our screening quiz and see if you have symptoms associated with Sjogren's syndrome.
Raynaud's phenomenon can occur as a primary condition or secondary condition (for example, along with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma). The primary characteristic is cold and discolored fingers and toes. Take the Raynaud's Phenomenon Screening Quiz.
Referred to often as a single disease, scleroderma is actually a symptom of a group of diseases complicated by abnormal growth of connective tissue.
A series of complicated and overlapping symptoms make scleroderma difficult to diagnose. How much do you know about scleroderma?
Osteoporosis is a condition which is characterized by loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in brittle bones. Brittle bones are subject to fracture. The disease process can be silent (without symptoms for decades. Do you have symptoms or risk factors for osteoporosis? Take our Osteoporosis Screening Quiz.
We have designed our free newsletter e-course to guide you to better understand gout. Learn more about gout basics, history, gout cause, gout diagnosis, gout treatment, gout prevention, gout diet, gout medication, and gout research.
How much do you know about gout? You probably heard of it, but do you know the difference between purines and probenecid? Do you know what you need to do to prevent gout attacks? Does your lifestyle put you at risk for gout? Take the Gout Quiz and test your knowledge.
Gout is one of the most painful types of arthritis. Do you have symptoms which are associated with gout? Do you have a lifestyle which increases the risk factors associated with gout? Take our Gout Screening Quiz.
Gout and pseudogout are similar in some ways yet different in other ways. The term pseudogout means "false gout". How much do you know about both diseases? Take our quiz.
What is the meaning of musculoskeletal? What is the musculoskeletal system? What type of specialist treats musculoskeletal disorders?
It's a condition you hear a lot about, but do you understand carpal tunnel syndrome? More importantly, do you have any of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome? Take our screening quiz.
HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, can also cause arthritis pain, joint pain, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. It's important to determine whether the symptoms of rheumatic disease presented by a patient are or are not associated with HIV. Rheumatic disease associated with HIV may alter usual treatment and prognosis.
Referred to often as a single disease, scleroderma is actually a symptom of a group of diseases complicated by the abnormal growth of connective tissue which supports the skin and internal organs. Learn about the different types of scleroderma.
A list of the signs and symptoms leading to a diagnosis of arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is one of the rheumatic diseases which belong to the group of conditions known as spondyloarthopathies. Statistics reveal that about 129 out of 100,000 people in the United States have ankylosing spondylitis. Do you have symptoms associated with ankylosing spondylitis?
Harris Poll survey shows AS patients have difficult time getting a proper diagnosis, making life difficult.
A brief explanation and fast facts about this often confused term.
The steps involved in the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Two recent reports offer different solutions as to what should be the primary treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. One study from the Netherlands suggests surgery is more effective than splinting, while another report claims prevention is the key.
It has been suggested that joint hypermobility (JH) may be associated with the pathology of fibromyalgia (FM).
Options for preventing and treating gout.
A brief explanation and fast facts about the term autoimmune disease.
Since the days of Hippocrates, gout has caused much human suffering and has been studied intently by physicians. Once known as "the disease of kings" and "the king of diseases", gout was recognized as one of the leading causes of painful, disabling, chronic arthritis.
A common misconception is that only only the old can get arthritis. Arthritis is not just an old person's disease. The disease affects approximately 285,000 American children.
New research from scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has revealed that a single defect in a common protein causes a severe autoimmune disease akin to lupus.
Inflammation is a natural defense of the body to protect against foreign substances or injury, but it can cause problems in certain diseases.
Ticks are known vectors for the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease. The photo gallery shows the ticks, spirochetes, and other aspects of Lyme disease.
How much do you know about Lyme disease? What causes it? Can it be prevented? What's the association between Lyme disease and arthritis? How did Lyme disease get its name which many people misspell as Lime?
Do you have any of the symptoms associated with Lyme disease? Would you know what to look for and what symptoms are important to report to your doctor?
A brief explanation and facts about the term systemic.
The more risk factors you have for a specific disease, the more likely it is you will develop that disease. Do you have any of the risk factors associated with osteoporosis? Take the Osteoporosis Risk Factor Quiz.
Diagnostic tests are focusing on earlier detection of osteoporosis, a disease with symptoms which can remain hidden for years.
Raynaud's Phenomenon can exist as a primary condition or in congruence with an underlying disease, most commonly one of the connective tissue diseases.
After decades of research, experts still disagree on some of the specific criteria used for the classification and diagnosis of Reactive Arthritis, formerly known as Reiter's syndrome.
As part of the rheumatoid process, firm, non-tender, subcutaneous nodules develop in about 25% of rheumatoid arthritis patients. See what they look like.
What is a comorbid condition? Do most people with arthritis have a comorbid condition? Does it make them harder to treat?
Terminology for inflammatory arthritic conditions is explained.
Arthritis patients have dissimilar courses of disease and treatment effectiveness.
Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
Learn more about arthritis pain in this comprehensive guide.
Restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest.
Reactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs as a reaction to an infection elsewhere in the body. Reactive arthritis is also known as Reiter's syndrome, and your doctor may refer to it by yet another term, as a seronegative spondyloarthropathy.
Sjogren's syndrome is a condition which is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Awareness and recognition of Sjogren's syndrome is important.
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease. In Sjogren's syndrome, the immune system targets moisture-producing glands and causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Other parts of the body can be affected as well, resulting in a wide range of possible symptoms.
Avascular Necrosis is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of the blood supply to the bones. The disease is also known as osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis and ischemic bone necrosis.
Distinction between rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Behçet's disease was first described in 1937 by Dr. Hulusi Behçet, a dermatologist in Turkey. Most symptoms of the disease are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels. The five most common symptoms of Behçet's disease are mouth sores, genital sores, other skin lesions, inflammation of parts of the eye, and arthritis.
TMD is not just one disorder, but a group of conditions, often painful, that affect the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint, or TMJ) and the muscles that control chewing. TMD disorders fall into three main categories: myofascial pain, internal derangement of the joint, and degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition thought to be a disorder of the nervous system. Older terms used to describe complex regional pain syndrome are reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) and causalgia.
A five-part guide to the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the different forms of scleroderma.
A three-part guide to the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon, a disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Raynaud's phenomenon can be primary, or secondary to other conditions such as scleroderma, lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren's syndrome, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis.
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Polyarthritis is one of the major criteria associated with rheumatic fever. Polyarthritis occurs in 75% of cases of rheumatic fever.
