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There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis, with many different possible causes. In a 2006 CDC survey of 30,000 U.S. adults, 20% reported having been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The survey also showed that arthritis was more common in overweight people. Eight percent reported some sort of limitation in movement because of arthritis.
In general, arthritis usually involves pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The following guide is about the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. People with this type lose cartilage, the tissue that protects the joints.
The steps below will supplement the information from your doctor and help you manage this challenging condition.
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- I. The Basics
- Step 1: What is osteoarthritis?
- Step 2: Symptoms
- Step 3: Causes
- Step 4: How osteoarthritis is diagnosed
- II. Treating Osteoarthritis
- Step 5: Overview of arthritis treatment
- Step 6: Heat and cold therapy
- Step 7: Pain medication
- Step 8: Other options
- Step 9: Unproven remedies
- III. Managing Osteoarthritis
- Step 10: Weight control and exercise
- Step 11: Living with osteoarthritis
 | Learn More Drug treatment - Cox-2 inhibitors Drug treatment - injectible corticosteroids |
 | Helpful Handouts |
References
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de Vries-Bouwstra JK. Biologics in early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2005 Nov;31(4):754-756.
Gislason GH, et al. Risk of death or reinfarction associated with the use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2006 June 27;113:2906-2913.
Gorlsine RT. The use of NSAIDs and nutritional supplements in athletes with osteoarthritis: prevalence, benefits, and consequences. Clin Sports Med. 2005 Jan;24(1):71-82.
Harris: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.W.B.Saunders;2005.
Hochman JS and Shah NR. What Price Pain Relief? Circulation. 2006 Jun 27;113:2868-2870.
Quinn MA. Potential for altering rheumatoid arthritis outcome. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2005 Nov;31(4):763-772.
Rindfleisch JA. Diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep 15;72(6):1027-1047.
Savage C. New therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2006 Feb;31(1):57-74.
Sokka T. Conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in early arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2005 Nov;31(4);729-744.
Vital EM. Advances in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep;72(6):1002, 1004.
Wu CW. New developments in osteoarthritis. Clin Geriatr Med. 2005 Aug;21(3):589-601.
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Review Date:
12/12/2010 Reviewed By: Andrew W. Piasecki, MD, Camden Bone and Joint, LLC, Orthopaedic Surgery/Sports Medicine, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Previously reviewed by Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. (10/6/2008) |
