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Arthritis
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/arthritis.html

Arthritis

On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Living With
  • Related Issues
  • Specifics
  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • Test Your Knowledge

Research

  • Statistics and Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Patient Handouts

Summary

What is arthritis?

If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Any disorder that affects the joints is often called arthritis. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.

Most types of arthritis can cause joint pain and inflammation (swelling). Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged. Some kinds of arthritis can also cause problems in your organs, such as your eyes or skin. Treatment will depend on the type of arthritis you have.

What are the types of arthritis?

Common types of arthritis include:

  • Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It's often related to aging or injury.
  • Autoimmune arthritis happens when your body's immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of this type of arthritis.
  • Juvenile arthritis is a type of arthritis that happens in children.
  • Infectious arthritis is an infection that has spread from another part of your body to the joint. Reactive arthritis is one type.
  • Psoriatic arthritis affects people with psoriasis (itchy or sore scaly red and white skin patches).
  • Gout is a painful type of arthritis that happens when too much uric acid builds up in your body. It often starts in the big toe. Other joints can also be affected.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine that can cause stiffness and make it difficult to move and bend.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Pain, redness, warmth, and joint inflammation are common arthritis symptoms. You may not be able to move your joint as well as it should. Other symptoms could include fever, weight loss, breathing difficulties, or a rash.

Symptoms often get worse as you age. Some symptoms of arthritis may be signs of other illnesses.

Who is more likely to get arthritis?

A few things that might increase your chance of getting arthritis include:

  • Family history. You may be more likely to get certain types of arthritis if a member of your family has the disorder.
  • Age. The risk of getting many types of arthritis increases with age.
  • Sex. Certain types of arthritis are more common in women, while other types are more common in men.

Other factors that might increase your risk of getting arthritis include having a previous joint injury, obesity, or lupus.

How is arthritis diagnosed?

To find out if you have arthritis, your health care provider may:

  • Ask you about your medical history, including your symptoms.
  • Do a physical exam.
  • Order blood tests or take x-rays.

Your provider may refer you to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specializes in arthritis care) for tests, diagnosis, and care.

What are the treatments for arthritis?

Treatment depends on the type of arthritis you have. It may include medicine or surgery. Your provider will work with you to improve your symptoms and quality of life.

A few ways to help manage your symptoms include:

  • Hot or cold packs
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Use of splints, braces, and/or assistive devices

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

  • Arthritis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
  • Arthritis Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Bone X-Ray Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Direct Arthrography Video (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Musculoskeletal MRI (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
  • Synovial Fluid Analysis From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Arthritis Pain: Treatments Absorbed through Your Skin (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
  • Joint Injections (Joint Aspirations) (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish
  • Pain Relievers: MedlinePlus Health Topic From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Living With

  • About Physical Activity and Arthritis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Arthritis From the National Institutes of Health Easy-to-Read (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
  • Arthritis Pain: Do's and Don'ts (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

  • Employees with Arthritis (Office of Disability Employment Policy)
  • HIV and Rheumatic Disease (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish
  • Sex and Arthritis (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish

Specifics

  • Adult Still's Disease (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Arthritis of the Hand (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  • Arthritis of the Shoulder (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Also in Spanish
  • Arthritis of the Thumb (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  • Arthritis of the Wrist (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  • Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
  • Overview of Enteropathic Arthritis / Arthritis Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Spondylitis Association of America)
  • Thumb Arthritis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Genetics

  • Blau syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Genetics and Rheumatic Disease (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

  • Osteoarthritis and Activity Quiz (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

  • Arthritis by the Numbers: Book of Trusted Facts and Figures (Arthritis Foundation) - PDF
  • FastStats: Arthritis (National Center for Health Statistics)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Arthritis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Assessment of post-traumatic arthritis and functional outcome in patients treated operatively...
  • Article: The association between agricultural activities and arthritis in middle-aged and elderly...
  • Article: Distribution of Arthritis Subtypes Among Adults With Arthritis in the United...
  • Arthritis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • Arthritis Foundation: Local Office Directory (Arthritis Foundation)
  • Find a Rheumatologist (American College of Rheumatology)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases From the National Institutes of Health Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Arthritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Osteotomy of the knee (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Stay active and exercise when you have arthritis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Arthritis

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Adult Still disease
  • Anterior knee pain
  • Arthritis
  • C-reactive protein
  • ESR
  • Joint fluid Gram stain
  • Joint x-ray
  • Osteotomy of the knee
  • Stay active and exercise when you have arthritis
  • Toxic synovitis

Related Health Topics

  • Gout
  • Infectious Arthritis
  • Juvenile Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Arthritis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Arthritis

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

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