Arthritis »
What is arthritis? What causes arthritis?
Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where
two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones.
Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints.
Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is
referred to as arthralgia.
There are many types of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The types range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many types of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), metabolic abnormalities (such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, infections, and unclea...
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When I first discovered that something was wrong with me, I was not surprised because I had had some type of pain in my legs since I was three years old. When I was 30 years old, I started getting stiff in the mornings and after sitting for a while, it was difficult for me to walk at first. While changing sheets on my king size bed, I climbed on the bed to place the sheet on the opposite side and suddenly realized that my knees were gone because I could not place any weight on them. All of a sudden I seemed like an invalid. My husband had to help me get off the bed because my knees were locked in place. Such terrific pain I had never experienced before in my life. This was 33 years ago; I now take a pain pill in the morning and one in the evening for some relief. I had microscopic surgery on the left knee three years ago which helped quite a bit; but I am now starting to have severe pain in it again. I have a torn meniscus in the right leg and need surgery. I really would like to have a knee replacement in both legs. I have sent for information on the ZIMMER for women only replacement. There is always hope for a better tomorrow; I hope this is it for me. Published: August 14 ::