The CDC estimates 46 million American adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Despite the high prevalence of arthritis, many people don't know basic facts about the disease. Part of the issue is how hard it is to test for and diagnose individual types of arthritis. A patient may have multiple forms of the disease, such as Osteoarthritis and Fibromyalgia. Any type of arthritis can and will generate muscle and joint pain. There is no day that is pain free. Pain is measured on a scale from 0 [no pain] to 10 [the most pain imaginable]. Most strive to live in the 2-4 zone, but some have higher base lines.
You may have seen Phil Mickelson on TV discussing his arthritis and the biologic he takes called Enbrel. Small children/infants who cannot articulate what the pain feels like or where it hurts, can only be diagnosed by measures of weakness and blood testing. People with arthritis are chronically fatigued and need at least 8 hours of sleep, sometimes more. Everyone needs to exercise and eat healthy to prevent further damage. And, stay in close working contact with their Doctor(s). Powerful research is being done to help find answers to stop the damage and keep people moving.
Terms & Definitions:
Osteoarthritis: Sometimes called degenerative joint disease, OA is the most common type of arthritis, affecting nearly 27 million Americans.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: An inflammatory disease of the joints, RA can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain and disability.
Juvenile Arthritis: Children as young as infants are affected by autoimmune forms of arthritis which can cause joint and other issues.
Fibromyalgia: Marked by muscle pain and areas that are sensitive to pressure, fibro is confusing and often misunderstood
Psoriatic Arthritis: An inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis, a chronic skin disease.
Gout: A form of arthritis that causes sudden, severe episodes of pain and swelling of joints.
Osteoporosis: A condition, sometimes called brittle bone disease, in which the bones become fragile and prone to fracture.
Sjögren's Syndrome: This condition affects the moisture-producing glands, causing a cottony mouth and dry, gritty-feeling eyes.
Back Pain: One of the most common health conditions in the U.S., back pain affects 50 to 80 percent of adults.
Lupus: Severe lupus nephritis, characterized by widespread inflammation and decreasing kidney function. Typically such disease is treated with a single immunosuppressive drug, but efficacy is usually poor.
For more information on Arthritis, check out the following links:
Arthritis Research and the National Data Bank for Rheumatoid Disease:http://www.arthritis-research.org/
Popular Magazines
Arthritis Today: http://www.arthritistoday.org/
News Sites
About Arthritis: http://arthritis.about.com/
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