Arthritis & Bursitis Pain
Don’t Let Pain Rule Your Life
Arthritis means “inflammation of a joint.” In some forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, the inflammation arises because the smooth covering (e.g., articular cartilage) on the ends of bones becomes damaged or worn. Osteoarthritis is commonly found in weight-bearing joints, like the hips or knees. In other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of a disease process that affects the entire body and usually occurs in the smaller joints of the body.
People of all ages, sexes and races can (and do) have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. More than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of arthritis. It is most common among women and occurs more frequently as people get older.
Bursitis, on the other hand, is inflammation of a bursa—a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and muscle, skin, or tendon. There are over 150 bursae in your body, and the type of bursitis depends on the location of the affected bursa. This condition commonly affects the shoulder, outter hip, and knees.
Inflammation of a bursa is caused by repetitive-use injuries, prolonged pressure, lumbar spine diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and, sometimes, infection. It can affect anyone at any age, but is most common in women and the middle-aged.
