There are many types of arthritis out there, but did you know that there are actually over one hundred forms of it?  It seems to be growing in numbers each year, making it the most common illness in The United States of America.  That’s pretty shocking, isn’t it?  It’s hard to believe that there can be so many different types of this condition, but there are.  Each individual form of arthritis will affect a person in such different ways, even twisting the hands and feet with some conditions.  Some forms of arthritis will even cause a person to lose complete control of range of motion!  Today, we are going to be taking a look at a few forms of arthritis.  

Osteoarthritis

This type of arthritis affects billions of people worldwide, but is more common in The United States.  A lot of the times, this type of illness is called degenerative disk disease and what this is, is simply the wear and tear of a person’s joints which does sound quite scary, I know.  The most common symptom of this form of arthritis is extreme stiffness, especially after sitting for long periods of time or when a person first rises in the mornings.  This is because the joints have not been moving and active during the night.  The treatment for such an illness is to exercise, as this keeps the joints strong and powerful, as well the usage of various forms of prescription medications. 

Lupus

Many people wouldn’t think that Lupus is a form of arthritis, but in fact it is.  Lupus is a long-lasting autoimmune illness which will affect different portions of a person’s body, including the joints of course, the kidneys, as well other organs.  It can also affect the skin, bloodstream, as well the brain.  The symptoms of this illness can include feeling fatigued out, rashes, joint pain, as well photosensitivity.  The treatment for such an illness include a combination of specific medications, as well life-style changes.  Keep in mind that these changes will not cure Lupus, but it will help to manage and deal with the illness itself.       

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Now, this form of arthritis is very serious, although all forms of arthritis is quite serious, but not in the way that rheumatoid arthritis is.  This is an autoimmune illness which can cause a person’s body to twist and form in very odd ways.  Some of the most common ways will be knotty, twisty fingers and toes that you see in a lot of older people.  Keep in mind that along with the common inflammation and pain, a person can also feel a loss of appetite, fatigue, and even a low-grade fever.  Rheumatoid arthritis is definitely a serious condition and remember, there isn’t a cure for this kind of arthritis.  A person can only prevent the symptoms from getting worse through various medications and forms of exercise. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What makes this type of arthritis so strange is the fact that it’s a complete state of profound fatigue which lasts six months or even longer.  It’s not improved by bedrest and this condition could very well get worse with mental or physical activity!  This type of arthritic symptom deeply interferes with a person’s daily activities, as well work.  The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is still unknown as to why it happens and some of the symptoms including the following.  If you are a sufferer of chronic fatigue syndrome, you will tend to experience general weakness, muscles, and joints which ache, exhaustion, tender lymph nodes, difficulty sleeping, headaches, experiencing dizziness, as well experiencing a low-grade fever.  Once again, there is no cure for this type of arthritis, but it can be treated with prescription medications.

Gout

This is a form of an anti-inflammatory illness which will develop in some individuals that have high levels of uric acid inside the bloodstream.  It’s more than likely to affect men than women and this condition occurs in four percent of adult Americans.  One of the most common symptom of gout is extreme pain and swelling in the big toe, but keep in mind that this condition can also show up in the knees and ankles as well.  One way to treat gout is to make sure that you always keep your uric acids levels down, as well taking prescription medications to take the severity of gout away.