Types of arthritis

Arthritis is not just a single condition but is actually a medical term used to describe more than a hundred rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases which affect the joints of the body.

These all cause pain, inflammation, swelling and stiffness in the joints.

Some of these types of arthritis are more common than others. Some affect men more than women and vice versa. Most affect adults only but there are a few conditions which occur in children only.

We have included the most common types of arthritis in this guide.

These are:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Fibromyalgia
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Cervical spondylitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Reactive arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Traumatic arthritis
• Hallux limitus

If you have any of these types of arthritis then visit the section most appropriate to you. Each of these sections contains a description of the individual condition; the causes, symptoms and the treatment.

Basically, arthritis is a form of inflammation in the joint but there are many different varieties of arthritis.