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Overview
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a broad term for more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect the joints. It can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, or difficulty moving one or more joints. Arthritis can affect people of different ages, and its symptoms and causes vary by type. Common types include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and arthritis caused by infection or other inflammatory diseases.
Symptoms
Arthritis Symptoms
- Joint pain may occur with movement, at rest, or both.
- Stiffness can make a joint harder to move, especially after rest or in the morning.
- Swelling may make the joint look larger or feel tight.
- Warmth or redness can occur when a joint is inflamed.
- Tenderness may make the joint painful when touched or pressed.
- Reduced range of motion can limit how far a joint bends or straightens.
- Changes in joint function may make walking, gripping, climbing stairs, or other activities more difficult.
How Symptoms Differ by Arthritis Type
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often involve several joints on both sides of the body and may include prolonged morning stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. Osteoarthritis more often affects specific joints that have experienced long-term stress, with pain that may worsen with activity and stiffness that usually improves sooner after movement. Symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly, as with gout or an infection. The location, number of affected joints, and timing of symptoms help clinicians distinguish among types of arthritis.
Causes
What Causes Arthritis?
What causes arthritis depends on the type. It may result from cartilage breakdown and other structural changes, immune-system inflammation, crystal buildup, infection, an injury, or another medical condition. For example, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks joint tissues, while an arthritis infection can inflame a joint when microorganisms enter it. Because arthritis diseases have different causes, treatment must be matched to the specific condition.
| Mechanism | Examples | Typical joint effect |
|---|---|---|
| Wear and structural change | Osteoarthritis | Progressive cartilage and joint changes |
| Immune-driven inflammation | Rheumatoid arthritis | Inflammation that can damage joints and affect other organs |
| Crystal or infectious inflammation | Gout or septic arthritis | Sudden, painful joint inflammation |
Risk Factors
Arthritis Risk Factors
Who Has a Higher Risk?
- Older age increases the likelihood of some types, particularly osteoarthritis.
- A family history or inherited immune-system risk can increase the chance of certain arthritis conditions.
- Sex-related patterns vary by arthritis type, with some forms more common in women and others more common in men.
- A previous joint injury can increase the risk of later joint problems.
- Repetitive stress from work, sports, or other activities may strain particular joints.
- Higher body weight can increase stress on weight-bearing joints and contribute to inflammation.
- Smoking is linked with a higher risk of some inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
- Certain infections or other illnesses may trigger arthritis or increase susceptibility.
- An autoimmune disease can raise the risk of developing another inflammatory joint condition.
Complications
Arthritis Complications
- Pain may become more frequent or severe.
- Reduced mobility can make walking, reaching, or using the hands more difficult.
- Advanced joint damage may cause changes in joint shape or deformity.
- Muscle weakness can develop when pain or stiffness limits activity.
- Reduced balance and mobility may increase the risk of falls.
- Pain and discomfort may disrupt sleep.
- Arthritis may interfere with work, self-care, and other daily activities.
Effects Beyond the Joints
Some inflammatory forms, especially rheumatoid arthritis, can affect organs beyond the joints, including the eyes, lungs, heart, skin, or blood vessels. Early evaluation and an individualized treatment plan can reduce preventable loss of function and disability. The right approach may include arthritis pain relief, rehabilitation, and medicines that control the underlying inflammation.
Diagnosis
How Arthritis Is Diagnosed
Clinicians diagnose arthritis by reviewing the symptom pattern, affected joints, duration of symptoms, morning stiffness, family history, and other health conditions. A physical examination checks for swelling, warmth, tenderness, joint movement, and changes in function. These details help the clinician estimate which type of arthritis may be present and which tests are useful.
- X-rays can show changes in joint space, bone, or overall joint structure.
- Ultrasound or MRI can provide more detailed information about inflammation, cartilage, tendons, or other soft tissues.
- Blood tests may check for inflammation or autoimmune markers, although no single blood test diagnoses every type of arthritis.
- Joint-fluid analysis can help identify crystals, infection, or other causes when fluid is removed from a swollen joint.
SPECIALIST CARE
Finding the right evaluation
A primary care clinician may refer you to a rheumatologist for suspected rheumatoid arthritis or another complex inflammatory condition. An orthopedist may help evaluate structural damage or discuss procedures, while an infectious disease specialist or another clinician may be involved when an arthritis infection is suspected.
Treatment & Management
Arthritis Treatment and Management
Arthritis treatment depends on the type, affected joints, severity, and other health needs. Care is often long term, with goals of reducing pain and inflammation, preserving movement, supporting daily function, and preventing joint damage. A treatment plan may combine self-management, rehabilitation, medicines, injections, and surgery when needed.
SELF-MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATION
Regular joint-friendly exercise, stretching, physical therapy, and occupational therapy can improve strength, movement, and daily function. Weight management may reduce stress on weight-bearing joints, while heat, cold, pacing activities, assistive devices, and other strategies may support arthritis pain relief.
CLINICIAN-DIRECTED CARE
Clinicians may recommend pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medicines, injections, or other treatments based on the arthritis type. Rheumatoid arthritis treatment often includes disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and may include biologic medicines; surgery may be considered when severe joint damage or persistent symptoms do not improve with other care.
Medication safety
Use arthritis medicines as directed
Over-the-counter and prescription arthritis medication can cause side effects or interact with other medicines. Ask a clinician or pharmacist which treatment is appropriate, how to use it safely, and what monitoring is needed, especially when taking rheumatoid arthritis medication or other long-term treatments.
Prevention
Can Arthritis Be Prevented?
- Regular joint-friendly physical activity can support strength, mobility, and overall joint health.
- Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce stress on weight-bearing joints.
- Preventing and properly treating joint injuries may reduce later joint problems.
- Avoiding smoking may lower the risk of some inflammatory arthritis conditions.
- Managing related health conditions can support mobility and reduce arthritis-related disability.
Outlook and Prognosis
Arthritis Outlook and Prognosis
Some forms of arthritis are manageable with lifestyle changes and treatment, while others may progressively damage joints or require long-term disease control. Outlook depends on the arthritis type, affected joints, severity, other health conditions, and how early effective treatment begins. Regular follow-up can help adjust care as symptoms and treatment needs change.
| Arthritis type | General outlook | Why follow-up matters |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoarthritis | Often chronic and variable | Maintains function and manages pain |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Can be controlled but may cause joint or organ damage | Monitors inflammation and treatment response |
| Gout | Often manageable with prevention and treatment | Reduces recurrent attacks and joint damage |
| Infectious arthritis | Requires urgent treatment | Prevents permanent joint damage and systemic complications |
When Should You See a Doctor
When Should You See a Doctor for Arthritis?
- Arrange a medical visit for joint pain that persists or keeps returning.
- Seek evaluation for ongoing joint swelling or stiffness.
- Make an appointment if reduced movement affects normal activities.
- Discuss symptoms affecting multiple joints with a clinician.
- Arrange care when joint symptoms interfere with work, sleep, self-care, or other daily activities.
Seek urgent care
Sudden severe joint inflammation
Get urgent medical care for a suddenly very painful, hot, swollen joint, especially if you have a fever or feel very unwell. These symptoms may indicate an arthritis infection, which requires prompt treatment to help prevent permanent joint damage and serious complications.
Branches
2 topics
Arthritis
Orthopedics and Traumatology
Arthritis
Rheumatology
Symptoms
1 topic
Arthritis
Knee Pain
