10 Arthritis Questions to Ask Your Doctor Topic Guide

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Arthritis causes include injury, abnormal metabolism (such as gout), inheritance (such as in osteoarthritis), infections (such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease), and an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and systemic lupus erythematosus). Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited joint function. Treatment may include pain medications, pain-relieving creams, and dietary supplements.

Rheumatoid arthritis, often called RA, is a chronic (long-standing) disease that damages and eventually destroys the joints of the body. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), or juvenile arthritis, is not a single disease but a group of diseases. Symptoms and signs include fever and joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Treatment focuses on relieving pain, improving function, and preventing joint damage.

Osteoarthritis is not a single disease but a culmination of problems that leads to skeletal joint failure. Symptoms include aching, stiffness, and bone enlargement. Diet, exercise, pain medication, and sometimes surgery treat osteoarthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a specific autoimmune condition in which a person has both psoriasis and arthritis. Some psoriatic arthritis symptoms and signs include scaly red skin on certain areas of the body, nail changes, eye inflammation, iritis, and inflammation of the muscles and tendons where they connect to the bone. There are a variety of psoriatic arthritis types. The goal of psoriatic arthritis treatment medications and lifestyle changes is to control inflammation.

Infliximab (Remicade) IV infusion is medication that inhibits the effects of a certain agent that causes inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (often called RA) is a chronic (long-standing) disease that damages the joints of the body. Symptoms and signs of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pain, swelling, inflammation, stiffness, warmth, muscle aches, weakness, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and malaise. Treatment may involve physical therapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, heat and cold treatments, joint replacements, and medications.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that causes joint inflammation. Medications for RA include salicylates, NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, DMARDs, biologics, and corticosteroids, among others.