Arthritis
Arthritis is a general term for diseases affecting the joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common types include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Arthritis associated with Lupus and other connective tissue diseases
- Gout
- Arthritis associated with infection, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease
Osteoarthritis is considered “wear and tear” and is ubiquitous, affecting almost everyone with advancing age. Typically Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1% of a population and is an autoimmune disease with characteristic joint inflammation.
Traditionally, once diagnosed with arthritis, it was taken for granted that there was only a life of pain to look forward to punctuated with the administration of painkillers in the more excruciating times.