Pain and stiffness in the body or problems in moving around
can be caused by arthritis. Most kinds of arthritis cause pain and swelling
in the joints. Joints are places where two
bones meet, such as the elbow or knee.
Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis
can also cause problems in the organs, such as the eyes or skin.
|In rheumatoid arthritis (A) the synovial
membrane (1) becomes inflames and thickened and produces increased
synovial fluid within the joint
(2). The capsule and surrounding tissues (3) become inflamed, while
joint cartilage is damaged (4).
Peripheral joints, such as hands and feet, are most commonly affected.
Blood tests show rheumatoid factor. Osteoarthritis
(B), a degenerative disease, involves thinning of cartilage (5), loss
of joint space (6), and bone damage (7). Heavily-used or weight bearing
joints, such as knees and feet, are affected. Blood tests are normal.
One type of arthritis, osteoarthritis,
is often related to aging or to an injury. Other types occur when the immune
system, which normally protects the body from infection, attacks the
body's own tissues. Rheumatoid
arthritis is the most common form of this kind of arthritis. Juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis is a form of the disease that happens in children.
Source: National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases