Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifferencesCommon TypesLess Common TypesMost PainfulDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Differences
Common Types
Less Common Types
Most Painful
Diagnosis
“Arthritis"is an umbrella term describing over 100 conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues.An estimated 91 million adults in the United States live with arthritis, with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis among the most common types.
This article discusses the differences between arthritis types, the most and least common types, and what to do if you suspect you may have arthritis.
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How Are the Types of Arthritis Different?
Each type of arthritis has unique symptoms, causes, and characteristics, but they all share one thing in common—joint inflammation and pain. The word “arthritis” literally means “joint inflammation.”
While all forms of arthritis affect the joints, they all have distinct differences in how they develop, which joints are affected, and their impact on a person’s overall health.
Affected Body Parts
Autoimmune Characteristics
Some types of arthritis are autoimmune diseases, meaning the body’s immune system mistakes the body’s cells for a foreign invader (e.g., bacteria, virus) and releases inflammatory chemicals to attack those cells.
With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common form ofautoimmune arthritis, the immune system attacks the synovial membrane (the lining of the joints), leading to inflammation. Inflammation causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness and damages the affected joints over time.
Autoimmune arthritis can also cause systemic (bodywide) inflammation that affects other body parts and systems, such as the eyes, internal organs, skin, digestive system, and blood vessels. Common types of autoimmune arthritis include:
Other types of arthritis do not involve the immune system but develop due to other causes, such as genetics or environmental and lifestyle factors. Osteoarthritis, for example, develops due to normal wear and tear from aging or joint injury.
Symptom Development
The development of arthritis symptoms varies, depending on the type of arthritis you have. With some forms of arthritis, symptoms develop gradually and progressively worsen as the disease progresses. Osteoarthritis, for example, is a degenerative condition that develops when the cartilage in joints breaks down slowly over time. As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility.
With other forms of arthritis, such as gout, symptoms can develop suddenly, and joint pain, stiffness, and swelling may be severe and debilitating.
Many types of arthritis are associated with periods when symptoms worsen, called flare-ups. Flare-ups are common with autoimmune andinflammatory forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Stress, infection, diet, weather changes, and other lifestyle and environmental factors can lead to flare-ups.
Common Types of Arthritis
Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting children and adults of all ages.The most common types of arthritis are:
Less Common Types of Arthritis
Certain arthritis types are less common than others, including:
Arthritis Can Affect Children, TooJuvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA) is a general term describing a group of inflammatory andrheumatic diseasesaffecting children under age 16. Approximately 300,000 U.S. children live with JIA.
Arthritis Can Affect Children, Too
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA) is a general term describing a group of inflammatory andrheumatic diseasesaffecting children under age 16. Approximately 300,000 U.S. children live with JIA.
Most Painful Types of Arthritis
All arthritis types can cause pain. Experiences of pain are highly individual; what one person finds extremely painful may not be as severe for another. Several factors influence the severity of arthritis pain, including the severity of joint damage, frequency and duration of flare-ups, number of joints affected, and individual pain sensitivity.
Gout is often called the most painful type of arthritis due to the sudden onset of intense, severe pain. Gout occurs when uric acid (a body waste product) builds up in the synovial fluid surrounding joints. Gout pain usually develops at night, affecting one joint at a time—usually the big toe. It is often described as excruciating or throbbing pain.
Inflammatory and autoimmune forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, are also known for causing intense, sometimes debilitating pain.These types of arthritis are associated withchronic inflammationthat can affect multiple joints and cause problems with other body parts and systems.
Undiagnosed Arthritis: Steps to Getting a Diagnosis
Experiencingjoint pain, swelling, or stiffness can be a sign of arthritis. Whether you experience joint pain that comes and goes or is constant, it’s important to see a healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms. Generally, joint pain or swelling that lasts for three days or longer or pain that feels worse in the morning or after prolonged periods of sitting is a sign of arthritis.
The first step to getting a diagnosis is scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms in detail during the visit, including the location, severity, and duration of pain.
Your provider will also want to know whether you have a family history of arthritis and will perform a physical examination, focusing on the affected joints and assessing their range of motion. They may order blood tests, imaging tests (e.g., X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or joint fluid tests to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Summary
“Arthritis” is a general term that describes over 100 conditions affecting the joints and surrounding connective tissues. Arthritis can affect different joints throughout the body, depending on the type. All forms of arthritis involve joint pain, inflammation, or swelling; some can affect other body parts and systems.
Certain types of arthritis develop gradually over time, while others can cause sudden and severe pain. See a healthcare provider if you have joint pain or swelling to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Jafarzadeh SR, Felson DT.Updated estimated suggest a much higher prevalence of arthritis in United States adults than previous ones.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018;70(2):185-192. doi:10.1002/art.40355Britannica.Arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.About arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.How arthritis hurts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis.AiArthritis diseases.Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.MedlinePlus.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.What triggers an arthritis flare?.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy People 2030.Arthritis workgroup.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Xu Y, Wu Q.Prevalence trend and disparities in rheumatoid arthritis among US adults, 2005-2018.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3289. doi:10.3390/jcm10153289National Kidney Foundation.Quick facts: Gout and chronic kidney disease.National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriasis statistics.Li Z, Khan MK, van der Linden SM, et al.HLA-B27, axial spondyloarthritis and survival.Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(12):1558-1567. doi:10.1136/ard-2023-224434Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Can I have both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Do I have arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Diagnosing arthritis.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Jafarzadeh SR, Felson DT.Updated estimated suggest a much higher prevalence of arthritis in United States adults than previous ones.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018;70(2):185-192. doi:10.1002/art.40355Britannica.Arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.About arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.How arthritis hurts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis.AiArthritis diseases.Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.MedlinePlus.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.What triggers an arthritis flare?.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy People 2030.Arthritis workgroup.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Xu Y, Wu Q.Prevalence trend and disparities in rheumatoid arthritis among US adults, 2005-2018.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3289. doi:10.3390/jcm10153289National Kidney Foundation.Quick facts: Gout and chronic kidney disease.National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriasis statistics.Li Z, Khan MK, van der Linden SM, et al.HLA-B27, axial spondyloarthritis and survival.Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(12):1558-1567. doi:10.1136/ard-2023-224434Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Can I have both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Do I have arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Diagnosing arthritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.Jafarzadeh SR, Felson DT.Updated estimated suggest a much higher prevalence of arthritis in United States adults than previous ones.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018;70(2):185-192. doi:10.1002/art.40355Britannica.Arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.About arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.How arthritis hurts.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Arthritis basics.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.International Foundation for Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis.AiArthritis diseases.Arthritis Foundation.Osteoarthritis.MedlinePlus.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.What triggers an arthritis flare?.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Healthy People 2030.Arthritis workgroup.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Xu Y, Wu Q.Prevalence trend and disparities in rheumatoid arthritis among US adults, 2005-2018.J Clin Med. 2021;10(15):3289. doi:10.3390/jcm10153289National Kidney Foundation.Quick facts: Gout and chronic kidney disease.National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriasis statistics.Li Z, Khan MK, van der Linden SM, et al.HLA-B27, axial spondyloarthritis and survival.Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82(12):1558-1567. doi:10.1136/ard-2023-224434Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile arthritis.Arthritis Foundation.Can I have both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Do I have arthritis?.Arthritis Foundation.Diagnosing arthritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Arthritis basics.
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National Kidney Foundation.Quick facts: Gout and chronic kidney disease.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriasis statistics.
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Arthritis Foundation.Juvenile arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.Can I have both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?.
Arthritis Foundation.Do I have arthritis?.
Arthritis Foundation.Diagnosing arthritis.
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