Arthritis in simpler terms means joint inflammation. The term covers 200 conditions that affect the joints and other connective tissue surrounding them. Arthritis causes permanent joint changes. It can often be seen as gnarled finger joints, wobbly hands, but the damage is seen exactly through an X-ray machine. Arthritis is prominent in old age, where the fluids in our bodies dry out due to increased toxins. This leads to inflammation, swelling and stiffness. If not careful, it can lead to joint deformities.
Joint pain can be caused by injuries or diseases that affect the ligaments, the bursa (such as bursitis), or the tendons around the joint. Injuries or diseases (such as the autoimmune diseases systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis) can also affect the ligaments, cartilage and bones of the joint, leading to joint pain. Pain is also a feature of inflammation (arthritis) and infection (eg, Lyme disease) of the joints, and may be a feature of rare joint tumors (eg, pigmented villonodular synovitis) or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Joints are the structural elements that connect our bones and help them move. With around 206 bones in the average human body, that’s a lot of joints! Unfortunately, the joints are subject to so many movements that they can wear out or be suddenly injured, causing joint pain that can range from dull aches and stiffness to stabbing sensations. For example, back pain is common because the back contains so many joints.
