Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a typical example of inflammatory arthritis but there are many other forms including gout, reactive arthritis, arthritis associated with colitis or psoriasis and some rare disorders that can affect many parts of the body (connective tissue diseases). People of all ages can develop rheumatoid arthritis but it is most common between the ages of 30 and 50. It affects 3 times more women than men.

The inflammation happens in the joint lining and as a result the joint becomes warm, swollen and red. Extra synovial fluid is produced and the cartilage may become thinner. The stretching of the capsule and the inflammation can cause a lot of pain.