Arthritis - What Types Are There? 

By Peter Johnson

Arthritis is a condition which is generally not experienced til one reaches middle age- it is certainly not viewed as an illness to be aware of in one’s prime. However, arthritis does also affect younger age groups- even children. Arthritis is a condition of the body that damages and breaks down the joints or the areas in between the joints.  Ultimately, if not treated, Arthritis will lead to a disability generally when people reach the age of 60. Diagnosing arthritis as early as possible is vital in prescribing the most effective arthritis treatment.

Many people believe that there is only one form of Arthritis, that it only attacks the joints, this is however not always the case.  There have already been several types of arthritis identified. The intensity of the Arthritis may vary depending on who is affected by the illness and how a person is affected by it. Knowing the different types of arthritis would surely guide people on the proper ways to manage, control, and handle it.  Since there are several types of arthritis, one should know which of those, has affected him or else he wouldn't be able to address the problem directly and effectively.  Different types of arthritis are caused by different factors and must be given different treatments as well.  Some types of arthritis may be progressive and will always be felt by the person for his whole lifetime, while there are some types of arthritis that may be treated after an intake of medicines or surgery.

To mention some types of arthritis, there are the primary forms, which are directly affecting the joints and its surrounding areas, and the secondary groups, which occur when preceded by other types of illnesses.  The most common primary types of arthritis are: rheumatoid arthritis, Juvenile arthritis, foot arthritis, Still's Disease, ankylosing spondylitis, septic arthritis, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis; and those secondary to other diseases are: systemic lupus Erythematosus, Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, Psoriatic arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Hemachromatosis, etc.  There are also some disorders that are mistakenly thought as arthritis, but which in actuality just mimic arthritis.  These types of arthritis are caused by different causative agents but there are also several of these types that until now, despite all the research conducted, have unknown causes, which makes these even harder to diagnose and to treat. 

A large majority of the population approach life with a sense of apprehension and anxiety- for what lies ahead and that which is unknown to them.  It obviously depends on what the person in question perceives to be a threat or imposition to him/her --- however more often than not health is the concern of the anxiety or worry.  And in most cases, the most common illness that occurs when people tend to get older or weaker is arthritis. Arthritis treatments are easily accessible and a basic understanding of which arthritis treatments are effective for which forms of Arthritis is required.