Arthritis what kind do i have

Rheumatoid arthritis RA is a type of autoimmune disease in which your body attacks healthy joint tissue. Common symptoms of RA include morning stiffness and joint pain, typically in the same joint on both sides of your body.

Joint deformities can eventually develop. Additional symptoms may also develop in other parts of your body including the heart, lungs, eyes, or skin. This condition causes severely dry eyes and mouth. There is no one test to determine if you have RA. To develop a diagnosis , a doctor will likely take a medical history, conduct a physical exam, and order X-rays or other imaging tests.

These tests can determine whether you have an autoimmune reaction and systemic inflammation. JA is an umbrella term for several types of arthritis that affect children. The most common type is juvenile idiopathic arthritis JIA , formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Months of aching joints, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and fevers may indicate juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis AS and other types are autoimmune conditions that attack where tendons and ligaments attach to your bone.

Symptoms include pain and stiffness, especially in your lower back. Your spine will likely be affected the most, as AS is the most common of these conditions. It usually affects mainly the spine and pelvis but can affect other joints in the body. Other spondyloarthropathies can attack peripheral joints, such as those in your hands and feet. In AS, bone fusion may occur, causing deformation of your spine and dysfunction of your shoulders and hips.

Ankylosing spondylitis is hereditary. Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE is another autoimmune disease that can affect your joints and connective tissue in your body. It can also damage other organs, such as your:. You may experience more severe effects as the disease progresses. SLE affects people differently, but starting treatment as soon as possible can help you manage this condition. Gout is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of urate crystals inside your joints.

High levels of uric acid in your blood may put you at risk of gout. An estimated 3. Age, diet, alcohol use, and family history can affect your risk of developing gout. Gout can be painful. A joint at the base of your big toe is most likely to be affected, although it can potentially affect other joints. You may experience redness, swelling, and pain in your:.

An acute attack of gout can come on strong within a few hours and can linger for days to weeks. Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones and allows nearly frictionless joint motion, but enough damage can result in bone grinding directly on bone, which causes pain and restricted movement. This wear and tear can occur over many years, or it can be hastened by a joint injury or infection. Osteoarthritis also causes changes in the bones and deterioration of the connective tissues that attach muscle to bone and hold the joint together.

If cartilage in a joint is severely damaged, the joint lining may become inflamed and swollen. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining synovial membrane becomes inflamed and swollen.

The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint. Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape. Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced.

See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. After hip replacement surgeries, Mara Olson feels no pain and is back to the activities she enjoys. That's just the result her surgeon and her two dogs wanted for her. Mara Olson and her dogs, Ellie and Tea, had a good thing going. Every day, they'd walk in the fields behind her home. Then one [ Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Morning stiffness that lasts longer than an hour is good reason to suspect arthritis. Your experience with these symptoms will help your doctor pin down the type and extent of arthritis. Before visiting the doctor, keep track of your symptoms for a few weeks, noting what is swollen and stiff, when, for how long and what helps ease the symptoms.

Be sure to note other types of symptoms, even if they seem unrelated, such as fatigue or rash. If you have a fever along with these symptoms you may need to seek immediate medical care. If the doctor suspects arthritis, they will perform physical tests to check the range of motion in your joints, asking you to move the joint back and forth. The doctor may also check passive range of motion by moving the joint for you.

Any pain during a range of motion test is a possible symptom of arthritis. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and may order lab tests as needed. Getting an accurate diagnosis is an important step to getting timely medical care for your condition. Get involved with the arthritis community. Every gift to the Arthritis Foundation will help people with arthritis across the U. Join us and become a Champion of Yes.

There are many volunteer opportunities available. Take part to be among those changing lives today and changing the future of arthritis. Help millions of people live with less pain and fund groundbreaking research to discover a cure for this devastating disease.

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We can only achieve these goals with your help. Strong, outspoken and engaged volunteers will help us conquer arthritis. By getting involved, you become a leader in our organization and help make a difference in the lives of millions. Become a Volunteer More About Volunteering. By taking part in the Live Yes!