NSW Young Adults with Arthritis Support Group

Providing Support and Information for 18 - 45 year olds with Arthritis and their Partners

Types of Arthritis

      Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chrionic pain in Australia. It affects around 16.5% of the popluation and nearly 11% of the workforce. In fact, despite the common belief that arthritis is a disease of the elderly, almost 60% of all people in Australia with arthritis are of working age. Arthritis also affects more women than men at a ratio of around 3:2.
      In general, each type of arthritis is either degenerative (eg: Osteoarthritis) or inflammatory (eg: Rheumatoid Arthritis). To date, there are over 100 different recognised types of arthritis but 90% of all cases can be attributed to 5 main types. These are Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Fibromyalgia, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus) and Gout. In Australia, there is also an increasing incidence of Ross River Virus. One category of Arthritis that is still largely unappreciated and unacknowledged is Juvenile Arthritis.
      While many types of arthritis may have common symptoms and treatments, each type does have at least one unique characteristic. It is important that you are properly diagnosed as the type of arthritis you have will determine which treatments are suitable (and available) for you as well as the likely prognosis and disease progression. That said, we are all individuals and even if two people have the exact same form of arthritis, the impact of their arthritis on them and the progression of their disease is likely to be different. Also, we all have different reactions to each treatment - both positive and negative. As such, it is important that you discuss your own diagnosis and treatment decisions with your doctors.
      In this section, we have concentrated on providing general descriptions of the 5 main types of arthritis mentioned above as well as other types that commonly affect young adults.

For information on other types of Arthritis not listed here, CLICK HERE to visit the American Arthritis Foundation's Disease Centre.

Disclaimer
The information provided on this site should not replace the advice and guidance of your own health-care providers. All material is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is the opinion of the authors. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your treatment.