Questions and Answers

Fibromyalgia affects muscles and their attachments to bone. It results in widespread pain and tender points, which are certain places on the body that are more sensitive to pain. It also may result in fatigue, disturbed sleep, stiffness, and sometimes psychological distress. Fibromyalgia affects mostly women. It is common and often misdiagnosed. Treatments include exercise, […] Read More

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It affects many of us as we grow older. It is sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it involves the breakdown of cartilage and bones. This causes pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis usually affects fingers and weight-bearing joints including knees, feet, hips, and back. It affects both men and […] Read More

Arthritis most often affects areas in or around joints. Joints are parts of the body where bones meet, such as your knee. The ends of the bones are covered by cartilage, a spongy material that acts as a shock absorber to keep bones from rubbing together. The joint is enclosed in a capsule called the […] Read More

There is no evidence that cracking one’s knuckles can cause arthritis directly. However, repeated injury of a joint or repeatedly causing it to swell can injure the cartilage and potentially lead to degenerative joint disease. Turn your nervous energy into a less harmful habit that occupies your hands, such as doodling. Most importantly, get to […] Read More

Joints can make different noises, some are serious and some are not. Some people learn how to “pop their knuckles.” By pushing or pulling a joint in a certain way, an air bubble can suddenly appear in the joint with a “pop.” Once the bubble is there, the joint cannot be popped again until the […] Read More

Numbness is often a symptom of nerve involvement. For instance, numbness in the arm may be related to nerve irritation in the neck. In such a situation, turning or bending the head to the involved side may increase the symptoms. For example, a pinched nerve on the right side of the neck may cause numbness […] Read More

Rheumatoid arthritis, known as RA, is the other most common type. The end result is the same—stiff, achy joints—but rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system attacks its own joints, causing their lining to swell and hurt. RA is almost 3 times more likely to strike women than men, and it tends […] Read More

Watch for these potential signs and symptoms of arthritis: Pain, swelling, or stiffness in one or more joints. Joints that are red or warm to the touch. Joint tenderness or stiffness. Difficulty moving a joint or doing daily activities. Joint symptoms that cause you concern. Read More

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. The joints of the body are the site of much of the action in arthritis. Many types of arthritis show signs of joint inflammation: swelling, stiffness, tenderness, redness, or warmth. Pain and stiffness in and around one or more joints are common symptoms for most types of arthritis. […] Read More

Pain from arthritis can be ongoing or can come and go. It may occur when you’re moving, or after you have been still for some time. You may feel pain in one spot or in many parts of your body. Your joints may feel stiff and be hard to move. You may find that it’s […] Read More