Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Arthritis

Arthritis , which means joint inflammation, causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints, such as fingers, neck, back, hips, and knees. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis is swelling of the joints caused by the wearing down of joint tissue and cartilage. Osteoarthritis affects the weight bearing joints of the arms and legs, such as the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, ankles, and thumbs, and often can be improved by joint replacement surgery.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long –term disorder that can involve the major organs of the body. It causes painful swelling of the legs, arms, and spine. The disease may get worse over time and lead to joint damage that cannot be repaired. There are other forms of Arthritis.

No comments: