What Causes Joint Pain?

Arthritis

Dreamstime

Arthritis occurs when one or more joints become swollen and tender. The main symptoms are stiffness and pain in the joints, and the pain tends to get worse as patients age. There are more than one hundred kinds of arthritis, but the two most common are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the bones wears down over time, which causes the bones to grind painfully together. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means it causes the immune system to attack the joints. The first place rheumatoid arthritis targets is the lining of an individual's joints. If individuals have too much uric acid in their blood, uric acid crystals can form, which can cause gout. Some underlying conditions like lupus and psoriasis can lead to other kinds of arthritis. The treatment of arthritis varies based on the type, severity, and location. In general, the main goal of treatment is to improve the patient's quality of life and reduce their overall symptoms.

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