Johns Hopkins Health Alerts | Arthritis

Timely information on the causes and treatments of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and related rheumatic conditions, including fibromyalgia, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, and bursitis

As we age, one of the most common health problems we’re likely to face is joint pain and stiffness due to arthritis. An estimated one out of every three adults -— about 70 million Americans in all —- has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, or has chronic joint pain symptoms.

If you're a woman, you're particularly at risk for arthritis: According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects about twice as many women as men.

Arthritis is a chronic condition—that is, it persists for a long time, often for a lifetime. At present, there is no cure for arthritis. That may seem discouraging, but fortunately, there’s much reason for optimism. Today, there are medications that can relieve arthritis pain and self-care measures that can help keep your joints pain-free and mobile. And when these pain management strategies fail, joint replacement surgery, such as partial knee replacement or total knee replacement, can be helpful for some people with arthritis.

At Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, the Johns Hopkins arthritis experts from the Arthritis Center, led by Dr. Joan Bathon, review the most up-to-date information on the causes and treatments of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and related rheumatic conditions, including fibromyalgia, gout, and bursitis.

You can find out about drugs and knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery, new arthritis treatment options, complementary therapies, arthritis pain relief, exercise and other self-management strategies. As this site expands, Johns Hopkins arthritis specialists will offer even more cutting-edge information that can greatly enhance the quality of life for arthritis sufferers.

Arthritis Topics:

• Ankylosing Spondylitis

• Arthritis Pain Relief

• Arthritis Prevention

• Fibromyalgia

• Gout

• Hip Replacement Surgery

• Knee Replacement Surgery

• Living With Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Staying Active With Arthritis

Arthritis Glossary

For more information on Arthritis please visit the BOOKSTORE .