PRC - Arthritis - What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is Arthritis and Its Causes?
From the Greek word arthron, meaning “joint” and the Latin suffix itis, meaning inflammation, arthritis translates to “the inflammation of the joint.” Arthritis is an ailment that affects the musculoskeletal system, often leading to the painful swelling of the joints. With over 50 million cases reported every year, it is the leading cause of disability among people over the age of 55, even though arthritis can affect people at any age. Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not considered a single disease but instead is a term that converts a large range of conditions. The most common forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, which is usually caused by normal wear and tear, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is an inflammatory form of arthritis.
What causes arthritis? Understanding the cause of arthritis forces us to examine the source of the pain: joints. A joint is the location where two bones are joined together. The joint cavity (or the space between the two bones) has synovial fluid, which nourishes the joint and cartilage (which protects the bones from directly rubbing on each other). Arthritis occurs when something goes wrong with the joint or joints in the body. The “something that goes wrong” will determine the type of arthritis you have. Examples of what could go wrong include the wearing away of the cartilage, the decline or lack of synovial fluid, autoimmunity (or when your body attacks itself), infection, etc.
There are a number of risk factors that may make you more prone to arthritis. Things like family history, age, gender, existing joint injury, and obesity can all contribute to arthritis.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Opposed to osteoarthritis, which is caused by the deterioration of cartilage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of inflammation and swelling in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect any of your joints but tends to be more common in smaller joints such as those in your feet and hands.
Signs of Rheumatoid arthritis can be redness, heat and/or swelling in the joints. Pain symptoms can range from a low dull ache, to a severe stabbing pain (some people describe the pain as feeling like shards of glass are in the joints). Range of motion will also be limited.
If you are struggling with arthritis and are looking for much needed at home or at work support to help you better manage your pain, pay a visit to one of our Relax The Back locations in St. Louis. Our back care product consultants at Relax The Back understand arthritis pain and can help you on chose the best products for your rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis pain.
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