There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis, with many different possible causes. In a 2006 CDC survey of 30,000 U.S. adults, 20% reported having been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The survey also showed that arthritis was more common in overweight people. Eight percent reported some sort of limitation in movement because of arthritis.
In general, arthritis usually involves pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The following guide is about the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. People with this type lose cartilage, the tissue that protects the joints.
The steps below will supplement the information from your doctor and help you manage this challenging condition.
- I. The Basics
- Step 1: What is osteoarthritis?
- Step 2: Symptoms
- Step 3: Causes
- Step 4: How osteoarthritis is diagnosed
- II. Treating Osteoarthritis
- Step 5: Overview of arthritis treatment
- Step 6: Heat and cold therapy
- Step 7: Pain medication
- Step 8: Other options
- Step 9: Unproven remedies
- III. Managing Osteoarthritis
- Step 10: Weight control and exercise
- Step 11: Living with osteoarthritis
References
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Review Date:
10/6/2008
Reviewed By:
Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Previously reviewed by Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Stanford University School of Medicine, Chief of Future Health, A.D.A.M., Inc. (11/22/2006)
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