Arthritis is a group of conditions that cause pain and damage to the joints of the human body, mostly targeting the cartilage that protects the joints. Nearly one in three adults suffer from the swollen, stiff and painful joints of arthritis, and it is the most common chronic ailment among the elderly. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment of arthritis typically involves a combination of anti-inflammatory medication and devices to relieve stress on the joint (canes, crutches or splints). Regular exercise, weight loss for overweight patients, and cortisone injections may also be helpful.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition that destroys the cartilage between vertebrate. In an attempt to compensate for this, the body creates extra bone tissue to strengthen the area, which are called bone spurs. These bone spurs can cause further damage by pressing against nerves.