Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that causes damage in your joints. Joints are places in your body where two bones meet.

Some joints naturally wear down as you age. Lots of people develop arthritis after that normal, lifelong wear and tear. Some types of arthritis happen after injuries that damage a joint. Certain health conditions also cause arthritis.

Arthritis can affect any joint, but is most common in people’s:

• Hands and wrists.
• Knees.
• Hips.
• Feet and ankles.
• Shoulders.
• Lower back (lumbar spine).

A healthcare provider will help you find ways to manage symptoms like pain and stiffness. Some people with severe arthritis eventually need surgery to replace their affected joints.

Visit a healthcare provider if you’re experiencing joint pain that’s severe enough to affect your daily routine or if it feels like you can’t move or use your joints as well as usual.

Types of arthritis

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Some of the most common types include:

• Osteoarthritis: Wear and tear arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Arthritis that happens when your immune system mistakenly damages your joints.
• Gout: Arthritis that causes sharp uric acid crystals to form in your joints.
• Ankylosing spondylitis: Arthritis that affects joints near your lower back.
• Psoriatic arthritis: Arthritis that affects people who have psoriasis.
• Juvenile arthritis: Arthritis in kids and teens younger than 16.

Depending on which type of arthritis you have, it can break down the natural tissue in your joint (degeneration) or cause inflammation (swelling). Some types cause inflammation that leads to degeneration.

How common is arthritis?

Arthritis is extremely common. Experts estimate that more than one-third of Americans have some degree of arthritis in their joints.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Studies have found that around half of all adults will develop osteoarthritis at some point.