Types of ArthritisOsteoarthritis
Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune disease and much more debilitating than osteoarthritis. It also is much less common and can strike at any age. RA occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys its own cells and tissues. The body’s response is inflammation of the joints. In severe cases, RA can lead to the destruction of the skeletal system and affect the organs. The cause is unknown. 
When To Seek TreatmentIf you experience pain for more than two weeks, see your primary care physician. Primary care physicians can help most patients with arthritis. When routine treatment fails, your physician may send you to a specialist. All physicians agree on two things: you don’t have to live with the pain, and early diagnosis is key. 
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Jennifer is one of 300,000 children in the U.S. who suffer from JRA. For years, she was on and off steroids, which caused weight gain and fatigue. When she had a “flare,” a symptom of JRA that causes high fevers, vomiting and pain, she’d miss days and days of school. “I always used a computer at school because it was too hard to hold a pencil. When I’d have a flare, I used to get down a lot when all the other kids were out running around playing and I was watching from my bed.” A few years ago, she tried a new biologic agent that is a COX-2 inhibitor called Embrel. “It’s a miracle drug for me,” she said. Now 18, and a graduate of Broadneck High School where she was vice president of her class, Jennifer is attending Virginia Tech this fall. She plans to study chemistry and hopes to go to medical school. She’s also the youngest board member of the Arthritis Foundation. In addition to the medication, which has reduced her pain significantly, Jennifer works regularly with a personal trainer on her range of motion. “If I’m not active for a day, I can feel it. I have to keep exercising so I don’t get stiff,” she said. Jen is realistic about her life. “It’s probably harder for people who develop JRA later in life. I get pretty excited about the small things and I don’t take anything for granted. Lately, I’ve been able to make a fist, at least with one hand. That was really exciting for me. I’ve never been able to do that before.” But there’s more. Jen’s favorite hobby of late is jet-skiing. “I have to watch myself. Sometimes I push myself and stay out too long and I pay later, but RA is not going to keep me from having a good time.” |
 
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Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting primarily middle-aged and older people. It can range from very mild to very severe and usually affects the weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, feet and back. The joint is surrounded by the synovial sac, which is filled with a lubricating fluid for the joint, called synovial fluid. The cartilage becomes brittle and can break off. This causes an increase in inflammatory enzymes resulting in inflammation and swelling. “Time coupled with even minor injuries, too much weight or malalignment can result in the wear and tear of joints,” says orthopedic surgeon Marshall Steele, Jr., M.D., director of AAMC’s Center Joint Replacement.
At 2, Jennifer Kibler tripped at a local amusement park. Her ankle stayed swollen for almost three months. That was the first indication something was wrong. “When my parents were told it was Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA), they were thrilled because it wasn’t cancer. Little did they know what we were all in for,” she said.
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