Many different types of arthritis can potentially develop but the two most common types of this debilitating condition are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

This is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that rarely improves without specialized treatment. This type of degeneration can take place throughout the entire body, most painfully in the shoulders, hips, knees, and lower back.

Osteoarthritis is more common in older individuals; however, symptoms of inflammation in the joints can begin to show decades before arthritis develops.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis produces a similar effect to osteoarthritis, but it is a separate condition. Rather than commonplace degenerative changes, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The result is the painful destructive attempt to destroy the lining of a person’s joints.

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can occur regardless of age and can affect areas of the body that are unrelated to joints, such as nerve tissue, blood vessels, and even the salivary glands.

If you suffer from rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, the experts at Blue Ridge Pain Management can help to ease your pain with various treatment methods. To learn more call 828-350-9310.

Treatments for Arthritis