Arthritis-Related Conditions
āFibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a specific form of arthritis, affects 5 million adults in the U.S. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and often psychological distress. People with fibromyalgia may also have other symptoms, such as morning stiffness; tingling or numbness in hands and feet; headaches, including migraines; irritable bowel symptoms; problems with thinking and memory; and painful menstrual periods and other pain syndromes.
Gout
CDC Gout Resources
Gout, a specific form of arthritis, affects 3 million adults in the U.S. It is a form of inflammatory arthritis that is caused by the buildup of too much uric acid in the body. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of substances called purines. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood and passes through the kidneys and out of the body in urine. However, in some cases uric acid can build up in the blood and lead to sharp uric acid crystal deposits in joints, often in the big toe, causing pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness. A gout attack can be brought on by stressful events, alcohol or drugs, or another illness.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
CDC Rheumatoid Arthritis Resources
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a specific form of arthritis, affects 1.3 million adults in the U.S. It is an autoimmune disease, is a form of inflammatory arthritis. RA occurs when the immune system turns against parts of the body it is designed to protect, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis generally occurs in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that if one knee or hand is involved, the other one is also. The disease often affects the wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand and can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, "Lupus"
CDC Systemic Lupus Resources
Lupus, a specific form of arthritis, affects 166,000 - 323,000 adults in the U.S. Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly called lupus, is an inflammatory condition that can affect many organ systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. Although people with the disease may have many different symptoms, some of the most common ones include extreme fatigue, painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
CDC Osteoarthritis Resources
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. OA is characterized by focal and progressive loss of the hyaline cartilage of joints, underlying bony changes.