Per the CDC, arthritis means inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. It describes more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness.

Basically, joint inflammation is joint irritation. Joint pain can make it hard to keep doing the exercises you love and daily tasks. Almost 55 million American adults  have joint pain of some sort, and per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, almost 24 million have had their action/mobility levels impacted by joint inflammation.

Joint pain is an ongoing condition that influences your joints. Of the in excess of 200 sorts of joint pain, the most widely recognized structures are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid joint pain. 

On the CDC website, they state that Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees.

With Osteoarthritis, the cartilage within a joint begins to break down and the underlying bone begins to change. These changes usually develop slowly and get worse over time. Osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases it also causes reduced function and disability; some people are no longer able to do daily tasks or work.

Another form of arthritis is Rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once. It commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. With Rheumatoid arthritis, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed, causing damage to joint tissue. This tissue damage can cause long-lasting or chronic pain, lack of balance, and misshapen/deformity such as very large knuckles.

Unfortunately, Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other tissues throughout the body and cause problems in organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes.

For joint/arthritis care, visit Temecula Family Medicine in Temecula, CA. You can call to make an appointment at 951-501-0049 or book an appointment here.