Arthritis is a joint disorder that can affect people of all ages. However the likelihood of contracting arthritis increases with age, with individuals over sixty much more likely to suffer from some form of arthritis. There are actually a number of different types of arthritis, but they all can make it very painful to walk or bend the joints that are affected by it.

While there are a number of different types of Arthritis, the most common type of is Osteoarthritis.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative form of arthritis. It is most often caused by an accident or injury that effects the joints. Often, it is brought about by a loss of cartilage of the joint and as the body tries to repair itself, the immune system can actually cause damage to the joint. Not only is osteoarthritis the most common type of arthritis, but in the United States, it is also the number one cause of chronic disability.

As osteoarthritis progresses, the areas around the joints loose their cartilage, which causes them to rub together. This can be very painful and often results in abnormal bone growths forming.

There are two main types of Osteoarthritis, Primary and Secondary.

Primary Osteoarthritis is related to age, but it is not caused by it. It is caused by a lowered water content of a persons cartilage, which occurs over time. As a result, the areas around the joint are more likely to degenerate. Often as the cartilage id broken down, its byproducts can cause new bone growths, which are called spurs, to be formed. Heredity and family history have also been shown to have a role in the development of Primary Osteoarthritis.

Secondary Osteoarthritis is very similar to primary osteoarthritis, in that it shares the same symptoms and affects the body the same. Secondary Osteoarthritis, however, is caused by a external factor other than the way the body ages. For example, diabetes, injuries, and obesity, can all cause Secondary Osteoarthritis.

One of the major symptoms of all types of arthritis is severe pain and stiffness of the joints, with osteoarthritis being no exception.

The pain of osteoarthritis has been described as a very sharp pain or burning feeling that is often located around a persons tendons or muscles. Often when the joint is moved a cracking sensation is heard and sometimes the individual will experience muscle spasms. Often, very cold weather or very humid weather can make the joint more sensitive and therefore more painful.

While arthritis can affect pretty much any joint in the body, it is most commonly found in the hands, feet, and spine, as well as load bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. It is not uncommon for these joints to appear swollen and very stiff.

In the hands and other smaller joints, very hard bone growths called nodes can also form. Depending on where they form they are called either Heberden's Nodes or Bouchard's nodee. While not very painful, the development of a node can greatly decrease a persons dexterity. When these nodes occur in the feet, it can cause bunions.

Tenderness, inflammation, fluid on the joint, and the locking of the joints are other symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Typically, X-Rays are used to diagnose osteoarthritis, with the doctor specifically looking for a loss of cartilage. An MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, provides a different kind of view of the inside of the body, and is also used to diagnose osteoarthritis.

While preventative X-Rays are used to diagnose osteoarthritis, it is also very often the symptoms, which lead an individual to be tested for this condition.

Since in most cases it is not possible to reverse the damage caused by osteoarthritis, most treatments are centered around dealing with this pain. There are of course a number of pain medicines available, but often these can have side effects, such as dependency and depression. If possible a healthy diet and exercise can be the best way to initially treat osteoarthritis.

Regular low impact exercise, like swimming or walking, can help improve flexibility and also reduce pain. Hot and cold temperatures can also sometimes help to relieve pain of osteoarthritis, with many people using hot pads or cold packs them after exercising.

Diet has also been shown to be important and there are a number of supplements and nutrients that can help to treat osteoarthritis. Their effectiveness varies and is sometimes debated, but Vitamin D, C, and E has been shown to help reduce pain.

For some, acupuncture also helps to relieve pain, but its benefits are debated.

In severe cases surgery is used to treat osteoarthritis, with Hip Replacement Surgery and Knee Replacement Surgery becoming very common. However, doctors also routinely reposition bones, fuse bones together, and remove bone fragments around the joint.