There are over 100 forms of arthritis and some common causes are wear and tear of cartilage ( OA -osteoarthritis), abnormal metabolism (gout and pseudogout), infections (Lyme disease) and overactive immune system ( RA - rheumatoid arthritis). Symptoms will include pain and limited function of affected joints. In diagnosis, inflamed joints with swollen, redness and warmth are usually associated with RA ( rheumatoid arthritis ). These indications are also used to differentiate it from OA ( osteo-arthritis).Deformity of joints usually on fingers can result, in severe cases of both instances.

Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis is co-related to age but is not the cause of it, contrary to popular belief. Young individuals who are affected may not show visible symptoms mainly because the pace of repair and regeneration are maintained but slows when subject advance in age. When a person gets older, water content in the cartilage of the joints are decreased due to reduction of proteoglycan content. Articular cartilage degradation occurs and damaged subchondral bones initiate repair by new bone growth, forming "spurs" or osteophytes on the rims of the joint.It is thought to be a natural process to compromise for weight distribution on the joint and coupled with inflammation can be painful and debilitating.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing OA are:
* Deficiency in Vitamin C - which is important in development of normal cartilage
* Deficiency in Vitamin D - low bone density as in osteoporosis
* Deficiency in selenium - attributed to higher risk and severity of OA
* Obesity - excess weight burdens the joints

Treatment for mild cases of osteoarthritis, paracetamol (an analgelsic and antipyretic), aspirins,acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to ease the ache and pain.For more severe pain, paracetamol is used in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid analgesics.Precaution should be taken against over-dosage as paracetamol toxicity can cause acute liver failure.It is the same with NSAIDs as they have contra-indications which relate to gastrointestinal effects,renal effects and cardio vascular effects. NSAIDs formulated for topical use ( has little or no side-effects ) works just as well as oral NASIDs. Creams that contains capsaicin ( a heat causing compound) are also effective when applied with sufficient frequency.

Food supplements like glucosamine (a compound of normal cartilage) in combination with chondroitin are widely used for rebuilding damaged cartilage, however the benefits are controversial. There is no strong evidence to support the capability.The most promising articular cartilage repair technique has to be stem cell transplantation. In this process, adult stem cells are isolated and transplanted into damage tissue. Until recently, the use of cultured mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate cartilage has been successful in regenerating articular and meniscus cartilage in human knees.The report is published in The American Journal of

Case Reports.
Alternatively, you can get an expert opinion on arthritis from Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a board-certified rheumatologist with more than 33 years of experience with arthritis training including a grueling residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan and an equally taxing fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. More details here.