<p>Live long enough and you can pretty much count on developing arthritis.</p>
<p>Arthritis consists of more than 100 different conditions. These conditions can be anything from relatively mild forms of tendonitis (as in 'tennis elbow') and bursitis; to crippling systemic forms, such as rheumatoid arthritis. There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and arthritis-related disorders; such as systemic lupus erythematosus, that involve every part of the body. There are forms of the disease; such as gout, which almost nobody connects with arthritis, and there are other conditions - like osteoarthritis.</p>
<p>It is true that many older people suffer from arthritis; however it does not limit itself to the elderly. Some forms of arthritis affect children; as well as, thousands of people in the prime of their lives. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal pain, which is why they are grouped together as 'arthritis.' Often that pain is a result of inflammation of the joint lining.</p>
<p>Inflammation is involved in many forms of arthritis. It is the body's natural response to injury. The warning signs that inflammation presents are redness, swelling, heat and pain. These are the same kinds of reaction the body has to a sliver in the hand, for example. When a joint becomes inflamed, it may get any or all of these symptoms. This can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of function of that joint.</p>
<p>There are more than 100 joints connecting the body's 206 bones. Most of the major bone connections in the body are joints designed to allow a broad range of motion. There are different kinds for different functions: ball-and-socket (hips and shoulders), saddle joints (which connect thumb to hand), hinge joints (fingers and knees) or pivot joints (wrists). Tied together by ligaments, the bones of joints are capped with a smooth substance called cartilage. This tough elastic material acts as a shock absorber and allows the bone ends to glide smoothly across each other. If the cartilage is destroyed (as in osteoarthritis), the bones of a joint can grind against each other, causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.</p>
<p>Between the bones is a joint cavity. An elastic type capsule encloses this cavity. The capsule protects the joint against dislocation. The inner lining of this capsule, the synovium, produces a thick fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint. In many forms of arthritis, the synovium becomes inflamed and thickened, producing extra fluid, which contains inflammatory cells. The inflamed synovium and fluid can damage the cartilage and underlying bone.</p>
<p>No one knows what causes arthritis. Physical therapy and certain drugs can be prescribed to manage most forms of arthritis; however, if the disease is not detected early enough the treatments have a less chance of being successful. Hopefully, scientists will find a cure soon.</p>
<p>If you or someone you know suspects that he/she may have arthritis, then it is imperative to see a doctor for a consult.</p>
