What is Arthritis & What Causes it? | NIAMS
Types of Arthritis. There are several types of arthritis. Common ones include the following. Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs as flares, typically in your big toe or a lower limb.
Arthritis Basics: Overview, Symptoms, and Causes
What is arthritis? "Arthritis" literally means joint inflammation. Although joint inflammation is a symptom or sign rather than a specific diagnosis, the term arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. There are different types of arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis | Health Topics | NIAMS
Overview of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease that mostly affects joints. RA occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. The disease causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Basics: Overview, Symptoms, and Causes
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) disease that mostly affects joints, such as the wrist, hands, feet, spine, knees, and jaw. In joints, RA causes inflammation that leads to: Pain. Swelling; Stiffness. Loss of function. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder because the immune system attacks the healthy joint tissues ...
Juvenile Arthritis Treatment & Diagnosis | NIAMS
Overview of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) Like adults, children can develop arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the joints. The most common type of chronic, or long-lasting, arthritis that affects children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA is a broad term that includes several different diseases.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Causes & Treatment | NIAMS
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. It may also affect peripheral joints like the knees, ankles, and hips. Normally, the joints and ligaments in the spine help us move and bend.
Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases & Conditions | NIAMS
Sep 6, 2023 · Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness. There are several treatment options to control inflammation, but response to therapy varies and some people with RA never reach remission, suggesting there may be different drivers of inflammation.
What is Reactive Arthritis? Symptoms, Causes & Flare Ups | NIAMS
Overview of Reactive Arthritis . Reactive arthritis, as the name suggests, occurs in reaction to something—in this case, an infection. The condition is caused by a bacterial infection in the digestive or urinary tract or the genitals, but arthritis symptoms typically do not set in until after you have recovered from the infection.
Gout Symptoms, Causes & Diet Recommendations | NIAMS
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints, usually as flares that last for a week or two, and then resolve. Gout flares often begin in your big toe or a lower limb.
What Causes Osteoarthritis, Symptoms & More | NIAMS
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, in which the tissues in the joint break down over time. It is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people. People with osteoarthritis usually have joint pain and, after rest or inactivity, stiffness for a short period of time. The most commonly affected joints include the: