Common symptoms of arthritis, such as pain and stiffness, are usually caused by degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis). There are over a hundred types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” that occurs when your joints are overused. This usually happens with age, but it can also come from joint injuries or obesity, which puts extra strain on your joints. You lose the shock absorber of your body. Cartilage, the slippery material that covers the ends of bones, gradually breaks down. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the immune system attacks certain parts of the body, particularly the joints. This leads to inflammation, which can cause serious joint damage if left untreated. "Symptoms of arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis you have. The most conclusive way to know what type of arthritis you have is to see your doctor. Your doctor can perform a wide variety of tests to determine exactly what type of arthritis you have and where your arthritis is. Symptoms depend on the joint(s) affected You may feel deep, aching pain, difficulty dressing, combing your hair,. grasping objects, bending, squatting, or climbing stairs In general, arthritis will make this task more difficult or uncomfortable. Symptoms may appear gradually or suddenly. They are often more severe than in the case of arthritis. Osteoarthritis You may experience pain and stiffness and swelling in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees, ankles, feet, jaw or neck. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects several joints. There is also a symmetrical scheme. When the knuckles on your left hand are inflamed, the knuckles on your right hand will likely be inflamed as well. After a while, you may notice that more of your joints feel warm or become painful or swollen. ""Diagnosing your arthritis is the first step toward its treatment and management. There are different blood tests that your doctor will describe to you in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Monitoring yourself is also a very important part of the diagnosis. Keeping track of when your joints hurt and the level of pain that occurs will allow your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis, unlike osteoarthritis, which usually develops with age or following injury to a joint, is a problem with your immune system. If you don't diagnose and treat it in time, it could cause damage to your joints. Sometimes rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to understand. Symptoms can come and go, and they are not the same in everyone who has it. The doctor will check your joints for swelling, tenderness, and range of motion. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect multiple joints. Antibody blood tests allow doctors to look for certain proteins that appear in your blood when you have rheumatoid arthritis. ""Treatment for arthritis will depend on the type of arthritis you have. If you have osteoporosis and are overweight, this may be the main factor in treating arthritis..