Arthritis is a general term for a group of more than 100 diseases. The word “arthritis” means “joint inflammation.” With arthritis, an area in or around a joint becomes inflamed, causing pain, stiffness and, sometimes, difficulty moving. Some types of arthritis also affect other parts of the body, such as the skin and internal organs.

Arthritis is very common. As many as 70 million Americans - or about one in three - have some form of arthritis or joint inflammation. It is a major cause of lost work time and serious disability for many people. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, affects more than 20 million Americans. Arthritis affects people of all ages, but is more common in older adults. Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

There are many ways to treat arthritis including medication, exercise, heat/cold, use of joint protection and surgery. The type of treatment determined for arthritis patients is dependant upon the type of disease and the course of treatment prescribed by a physician. Treatment plans usually include more than one of the above treatments.

The Arthritis/Orthopaedics CARE Fund is local, community-based coordination that supports patients in need of orthotics or other apparatus to enhance the healing process and to support orthopaedic services throughout the FirstHealth community