Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints and the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the joints to allow them to be able to move smoothly, and it also absorbs pressure when it is placed on the joint(walking). if you are without the usual amount of cartilage, the bones will rub together causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Here are some symptoms of arthritis
*Joint pain
*Joint swelling
*Stiffness (especially in the morning)
*Warmth around a joint
*Redness of the skin around a joint
*Reduced ability to move the joint
treatment
where possible, the treatment given to those suiffering from arthritis will focus on eliminating the underlying cause. However, the cause is NOT necessarily curable, as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment, therefore, aims to reduce the pain and discomfort and helps with the prevention of further disability.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from "wear and tear" on a joint, although there are other causes such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. Joints appear larger, are stiff and painful and usually feel worse the more they are used throughout the day
Rheumatoid arthritis
The pattern of joints affected is usually symmetrical, involves the hands and other joints and is worse in the morning. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a systemic disease, involving other body organs, whereas osteoarthritis is limited to the joints. Over time, both forms of arthritis can be crippling.
