Arthritis is an auto immune disease. It is a disease in which the human body attacks itself. It begins in one or two joints where an acute pain is felt. There are 2 main types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, both are painful and can be debilitating but there are major differences.

Osteoarthritis:occurs when the cartilage and lubricant that protects the bone structure and serves as a cushion between two bones wears thin, causing acute pain and inflammation of the joints during movement.

Rheumatoid arthritis: is a condition which is considered to be a chronic, inflammatory disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints. This debilitating disease is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, and can often lead to a major loss of mobility due to pain and joint expiration. Since rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, it often affects extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles.

Arthritis pain is most usually experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine. In osteoarthritis, any one or more of the affected joints can experience a progressive loss of cartilage.Which is the slippery material that cushions the ends of bones.

There are many different ways to be able to control your pain with arthritis pain medication. This is not meant to be a resource for you to ignore your doctor. It is meant to be able to help you to talk to your doctor about your choices. The information we provide on arthritis pain medication will help you make a decision on what you would like to use for your pain.

For more information, visit Discovery Health Web.