It literally means joint inflammation.

But the word arthritis does not even begin to describe the agonizing disease that affects the lives of millions each and every year. The word arthritis defines a group of over 100 varying arthritic or rheumatic conditions, all with a variety of signs and symptoms, as well as different treatment courses.

These varying rheumatic diseases impacting the connective tissues, the muscles and the joints attack the body and in some cases can ravage the body with pain, limitations and deformities. With arthritis, the joints and surrounding tissues such as tendons and muscles become inflamed which can cause pain. You may also see redness or swelling at the joints as the body reacts and inflammation sets.

Some of the more serious forms of arthritis are autoimmune related diseases in which the body literally attacks itself because the autoimmune systems seemingly short circuits and goes a bit haywire!

Many forms of arthritis are chronic diseases impacting the lives of those they affect throughout their lifetime. Currently there is no known cure for arthritis and this is where research is currently focused. Researchers are currently focused on getting to the bottom of the root cause of arthritis and if they can truly identify the cause then we can only hope a cure is not far behind.

However, even though arthritis is a chronic disease that you must face each and every day, it does not mean that you must simply accept the pain and agony which its symptoms can bring.

Fortunately, for most diagnosed with arthritis, there are times in which the symptoms flare and are more painful while other times the symptoms are quieter and recede. These periods of quiet are the ones for which patients with arthritis long to reside and it is during these periods of quiet that most folks feel better.

Just because you suffer from arthritis it does not mean that you must give up your active lifestyle or the things that you hold dear.

While it is rather probable that you will have to make lifestyle adjustments, such as built up handles on toothbrushes or pens or even your car keys, having arthritis certainly does not mean that you must hole up in your bed curled in a fetal position grieving for all the things you feel you have lost.

Yes, acknowledging the lifestyle changes to which you must adjust is important but it is equally as important to learn how to make the changes necessary and then to get on with the glorious gift of life!

Living with arthritis is definitely a challenge that can challenge even the most stoic. But you certainly can learn to make adaptations to your life as you learn to live with a diagnosis of arthritis.

When you partner with your physician to develop the most aggressive and holistic treatment plan available and one that has been designed just for you, then you have the best opportunity to effectively manage your arthritis.

After all, isn't managing your arthritis worth your attention?