Patient information: A guide to arthritis

ARTHRITIS OVERVIEW

Arthritis is a condition that causes a joint to become swollen, stiff, and painful. Arthritis can affect people of all ages, from childhood through older ages.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which develops with aging, injury, and normal joint wear and tear.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of arthritis. It occurs as a result of a problem in the immune system, which can damage the joints and lead to pain and swelling.

Treatments for arthritis depend upon the cause, but may include lifestyle changes (weight loss, exercise), physical therapy, medicines, or surgery.

UPTODATE ARTHRITIS RESOURCES

Patient information — UpToDate has a number of articles for family members and patients living with arthritis. These articles are available on the internet at www.uptodate.com/patients.

Osteoarthritis

  (see "Patient information: Arthritis")

  (see "Patient information: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)")

  (see "Patient information: Arthritis and exercise")

  (see "Patient information: Total hip replacement (arthroplasty)")

  (see "Patient information: Total knee replacement (arthroplasty)")

  (see "Patient information: Osteoarthritis symptoms and diagnosis")

  (see "Patient information: Osteoarthritis treatment")

  (see "Patient information: Shoulder osteoarthritis treatment")

Rheumatoid arthritis

  (see "Patient information: Complementary therapies for rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Patient information: Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy")

  (see "Patient information: Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and diagnosis")

  (see "Patient information: Rheumatoid arthritis treatment")

Other types of arthritis

  (see "Patient information: Psoriatic arthritis")

  (see "Patient information: Reactive arthritis (formerly Reiter syndrome)")

  (see "Patient information: Gout")

  (see "Patient information: Pseudogout")

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Osteoarthritis

  (see "Clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis")

  (see "Diagnosis and classification of osteoarthritis")

  (see "Nonpharmacologic therapy of osteoarthritis")

  (see "Pharmacologic therapy of osteoarthritis")

  (see "Surgical therapy of osteoarthritis")

  (see "Weight-resistance training in patients with osteoarthritis")

Rheumatoid arthritis

  (see "Clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Disease outcome and functional capacity in rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "General principles of management of rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Overview of the systemic and nonarticular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Total joint replacement for severe rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Treatment of early, mildly active rheumatoid arthritis in adults")

  (see "Treatment of early, moderately active rheumatoid arthritis in adults")

  (see "Treatment of early, severely active rheumatoid arthritis in adults")

  (see "Treatment of persistently active rheumatoid arthritis in adults")

  (see "Use of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis")

Other types of arthritis

  (see "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis")

  (see "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Management and complications of systemic onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis")

  (see "Septic arthritis in adults")

  (see "Specific viruses that cause arthritis")

  (see "Treatment of psoriatic arthritis")

  (see "Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis: Clinical manifestations, definition and diagnosis")