You may be asking yourself; do I have arthritis?  And if so, how would I know? If you think you might have arthritis, you should see your healthcare practitioner, but there are some telltale signs that those aches and pains are probably arthritis.

Different types of arthritis present with varying symptoms like swelling, redness, stiffness, pain and reduced mobility of the afflicted area. Here are some common types of arthritis and their accompanying ailments.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

This is the most common form of arthritis with over 27 million Americans suffering with varying degrees of the disease (WebMD). Osteoarthritis is known as the ‘wear and tear’ arthritis as it typically comes on slowly over the years due to deterioration of cartilage in joints.  Hips, knees, back and feet all bear weight, making them more susceptible to osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, where your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation in the affected parts of the body (CDC). 

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that is caused by uric acid building up in your body.  Symptoms can come on suddenly and include pain and swelling of the joints, typically the big toe (Mayo Clinic).  Gout may subside but reoccur days, months or even years later. Risk factors include diet, family history and certain medications, to name a few.

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