Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term covering over 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint and other connective tissues. In a broad definition, arthritis means inflammation or swelling of one or more joints.

 

A diagnosis of arthritis is often due to acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, which is often accompanied by pain and structural changes. The specific causes of arthritis are unknown, but may be triggered by infection, crystal deposition, genetics, injury or repetitive use. Specific symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but usually include joint pain and stiffness.

 

For information about a specific type of arthritis, click on one of the most prevalent forms below. The Foundation will continue to update this page with more information and cover as many types of arthritis as possible. We are committed to finding new treatments and cures to help all of the individuals suffering.

Types of Arthritis | Arthritis Types

Most Common Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

 

Affects over 30 million US adults*

 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in the US. OA is often referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis patients are mostly affected in the hands, hips and knees, experiencing pain, aching, stiffness, decreased range of motion and swelling… Read More About Osteoarthritis

Fibromyalgia

 

Estimated to affect as many as 5 million Americans*

 

Fibromyalgia, which is pronounced fi·bro·my·al·gi·a, is a disease that results in pain all over the body, sleeping issues and fatigue. It can lead to often emotional and mental distress. In addition to these symptoms, patients with fibromyalgia are often more sensitive to pain than those without fibromyalgia… Read More About Fibromyalgia

Gout

 

Affects an estimated 8.3 million Americans*

 

Gout is a very common form of arthritis. Gout usually affects one joint at a time and it is often the big toe joint in your foot. Uric acid crystals build up and it is very painful. Gout is most common in men and obese adults. If left untreated, repeated bouts of gout can lead to gouty arthritis… Read More About Gout

Psoriatic Arthritis

 

Affects an estimated 2.25 million Americans**

 

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease; the body’s own immune system becomes overactive and attacks normal tissues in the body. Patients with PsA can experience swelling, stiffness and pain in their joints and surrounding tissues, as well as nail changes and extreme fatigue… Read More About Psoriatic Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans*

 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Patients with RA have an immune system that attacks healthy cells in their body by mistake. RA commonly affects many joints in the hands, wrists, and knees, but can attack any joint in the body… Read More About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lupus

 

Affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans***

 

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks patients’ own tissues, producing widespread inflammation. The cause of lupus is unknown. The most common form of lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) which can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels… Read More About Lupus

Ankylosing Spondylitis

 

Affects an estimated over 1 million Americans****

 

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition that, if left untreated, can result in some of the vertebrae in your spine to fusing together. When your vertebrae fuse, your spine is less flexible. This leads to pain, inflammation, reduced posture, difficulty breathing and a reduced quality of life… Read More About AS

Juvenile Arthritis

 

Affects nearly 300,000 American kids*

 

Arthritis in children is known as juvenile arthritis (JA). These kids have immune systems that, for unknown reasons, attack their self-tissue in and around their joints. The most common type of JA is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis… Read More About Juvenile Arthritis

*From census data reported by the Centers For Disease Control www.CDC.gov

**Calculated based on National Psoriasis Foundation’s (NPF) statistic that 30% of Psoriasis patients develop Psoriatic Arthritis

***Estimate from the Lupus Foundation of America

****Estimate from Johns Hopkins prevalence estimate that .2-.5% of the US population is affected

Other Types of Arthritis

  • Adult-onset Still’s disease
  • Back Pain
  • Behçet’s Disease
  • Bursitis
  • Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD)
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Chondromalacia Patella
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
  • Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS)
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Developmental-Dysplasia of Hip
  • Ehlers-Danlos
  • Familial Mediterranean Fever
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Fifth Disease
  • Giant Cell Arteritis
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Infectious Arthritis
  • Inflammatory Arthritis
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JD)
  • Juvenile Scleroderma
  • Kawasaki Disease
  • Lupus in Children & Teens
  • Lyme Disease
  • Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
  • Myositis (inc. Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pagets
  • Palindromic Rheumatism
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases
  • Pediatric SLE
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Pseudogout
  • Raynaud’s Phenomenon
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
  • Reiter’s Sydrome
  • Rheumatic Fever
  • Rheumatism
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjögren’s Disease
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Spondyloarthritis
  • Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Children & Teens
  • Systemic Sclerosis
  • Temporal Arteritis
  • Tendinitis
  • Vasculitis
  • Wegener’s Granulomatosis