PainCare - Pain Management in New Hampshire

What is arthritis?

Arthritis (arthron = joint, itis = inflammation) is the general name given to a broad group of conditions that cause inflammation of the joint structures such as the capsule, articular cartilage, meniscus, bone, tendon, and/or ligament. Arthritis is often accompanied by chronic pain and can lead to severe physical disabilities, augmented by the aging process. An estimated 40 million people in America are significantly affected by more than 100 different forms of arthritis, such as generative arthritis, aka osteoarthritis (accounting for the vast majority), rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial arthritis, and gout, just to name a few. Depending upon the type of arthritis, symptoms can be manifested in many ways, ranging from mild to severely debilitating pain, swelling, and/or stiffness.