Types Of Arthritis

There are two major forms of arthritis. The most common is Osteoarthritis and the other is Rheumatoid Arthritis which is less common. The diagram on the below shows a normal joint.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis tends to occur later on in life. Around 80% of people over 50 currently suffer from it. By the age of 60, damage to the joint is visible on x-rays in 90% of cases.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage around bone joints, become pitted, rough and brittle. The bone underneath the cartilage thickens and broadens out to reduce the load the remaining cartilage has to bear; this can sometimes be seen as bony outgrowths on the joints.

Early symptoms include stiffness, inflammation and mild aching pain - usually around weight bearing joints such as the knees, back and hips. This slowly progresses to increased pain around these areas as the joints become stiffer, swollen and more inflexible.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting joints and tendons. Inflamed joints are swollen, reddened and warm to touch. In RA the inflammation causes damage. The immune system is partly to blame for RA - instead of protecting the body, it starts attacking it.

 

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