The 4 Major Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is a disorder that affects your joints, causing inflammation and pain. Arthritis can affect both children and adults, but according to research, it affects adults more than children. As per arthritis foundation research, there are over a hundred types of arthritis that you can suffer from. Arthritis is a condition that can be treated and prevented, but for you to undergo treatment, your doctor will take you through a check-up. In case you feel changes in your joints, consult Clover Internal Medicine Associates for examination and treatment of arthritis in Fort Worth. Below are the main types of Arthritis.

1.     Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects healthy joint tissues. It is prevalent in adults, where more of them are women.  The most likely symptoms are pain around the joints, inflammation or swelling at the joint, weakness in joints and muscles, etc. However, rheumatoid arthritis can also show its symptoms in other parts of the body like the eyes, lungs, skin, and heart. Dry skin, eyes, and mouth are signs of rheumatoid arthritis.

2.     Juvenile Arthritis (JA)

According to the arthritis foundation, juvenile arthritis affects more children than adults. On average, about twenty percent of the world’s children have juvenile arthritis. The most prevalent type of juvenile arthritis is called idiopathic arthritis. It affects children at the age of 16 and below. Its symptoms include swelling around the joint, muscle fatigue, fever, difficulties during sleeping, and stiffness. When juvenile arthritis persists, it can lead to paralysis. Other forms of juvenile arthritis your child can be diagnosed with are lupus, Kawasaki disease, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma. 

3.     Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis is very common, and it affects adults. It is also known as degenerative arthritis. Osteoarthritis is called degenerative arthritis since it causes your cartilage in the joint to break down and cause friction. When your joint bone breaks, they rub each other, injuring nerves, ligaments, and soft tissues. Damaged tissue becomes inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. Osteoarthritis can also result in bone injuries and spur formation. Its symptoms include swelling of joints, stiffness, coordination problems, and pain. Moreover, some factors like age, obesity, genetic inheritance, prolong joint movement, and injuries can make you suffer from osteoarthritis.

4.     Gout

Gout is a common type of arthritis that is caused by the presence of uric acid inside your joint. It is prevalent in adults, where six percent are men and two percent are women. Despite the fact that gout is caused by excessive uric acid in your blood, other factors like age, diet, alcohol, and genetic inheritance cause gout. Its symptoms include pain, swelling, and redness around the joints. They appear in your legs, knee, toes, hands, etc.

Your joints are very important since they enable your body parts to move and rotate. When they become infected by arthritis, you need a professional doctor to treat and keep them on course. Clover Internal Medicine Associates have the best specialists who can take care of your joint disorder. Contact them today and see the difference.