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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2024 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved Health A-Z Arthritis Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Diagnosis Living With Support & Coping Joint Pain Rheumatoid Arthritis More Gout Ankylosing Spondylitis Osteoarthritis More Arthritis Types & Related Conditions Psoriatic Arthritis Medically reviewed by Marissa Sansone, MD Updated on June 30, 2023 Arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of more than 100 inflammatory conditions that affect the joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types, but there are many other forms. Diagnosing arthritis can involve blood tests, X-rays, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), along with tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Treatment is different depending on the cause, but the goal is always to relieve pain and inflammation while maintaining function. Understanding Arthritis Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs of Arthritis Common Causes of Inflammation and How to Reduce It 10 Ways to Stop Arthritis From Getting You Down Acute Arthritis: What Sudden Joint Pain Could Mean for You Key Terms Autoimmune Disease Cartilage Synovial Membrane Uric Acid Crystals Autoimmune Disease In autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies healthy tissues or substances in your body as dangerous infectious agents like viruses or bacteria. It then creates antibodies that attack and attempt to destroy that tissue or substance, leading to damage, inflammation, and pain. More than 100 autoimmune diseases have been identified. An Overview of Autoimmune Diseases Cartilage Cartilage is a flexible but tough tissue that’s found in your joints, ears, nose, and airways. In joints, cartilage is basically a cushion and shock absorber, providing a smooth, low-friction surface for bones to glide over when you move. When it’s worn away or damaged, such as in arthritis, the result is pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion in the joint. What to Know About Cartilage Synovial Membrane Also called the synovial lining or synovium, this is a thin connective tissue that contains synovial fluid. The synovium is inside your joints, providing padding between bones, muscles, and connective tissues. As you move, this membrane can change its shape and be compressed without being damaged. This is essential for proper movement of your joints. Anatomy of Synovium Uric Acid Crystals Also called urate crystals, these are spiky crystalline structures that form inside joints when uric acid levels become abnormally high, as they do in gout. Uric acid crystals lead to considerable pain and often extreme inflammation. In later stages of gout, they may form clusters called tophi.   Types Is Arthritis an Autoimmune Disease? Types of Rheumatoid Arthritis Different Types of Arthritis and Pain Characteristics The Different Types of Hand and Finger Arthritis Osteoarthritis vs. Arthritis: What’s the Difference? Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis: How They Differ Living With Arthritis Can You Keep Your Job or Career When You Have Arthritis? Exercises for Psoriatic Arthritis: Benefits and Tips to Get Started What Is Arthritis? Ergonomic Tools Make Gardening Easier for People With Arthritis Frequently Asked Questions What causes arthritis? Arthritis has four main causes. Degenerative (osteoarthritis): Age, overuse, or injury destroy the cartilage cushioning the joint. Inflammatory (RA, psoriatic arthritis): Autoimmunity causes damage and inflammation. Metabolic (gout): Uric acid build up causes symptoms. Infectious (acute arthritis): Bacteria or a virus infect the joint or joint fluid. Learn More Arthritis Causes and Risk Factors What is rheumatoid arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease in which the immune system misfires and tries to destroy the lining of your joints (the synovium). In some cases, it has systemic effects and may target the eyes, heart, lungs, or other tissues. RA is a progressive disease that can lead to pain, loss of mobility, and joint deformity. Learn More Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated disease involving joint pain and skin lesions. A misfiring immune system damages skin cells called keratinocytes and the resulting inflammation can spread to the joints, nails, eyes, brain, and kidneys. Sausage-like swelling in the fingers and toes, nail deformity, and persistent fatigue are also common symptoms. Learn More Psoriatic Arthritis Overview What does arthritis feel like? While symptoms vary from one type to another, most forms of arthritis share a group of symptoms, especially in the early stages. These include: Joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation Limited range of motion in affected joints Redness and warmth around sore joints Nodules and nodes Systemic symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and malaise Learn More Symptoms of Arthritis How can I prevent arthritis? You may be able to lower your risk of developing some types of arthritis through lifestyle modifications, such as: Losing weight Getting regular, moderate exercise Protecting your joints during contact or high-impact sports Not smoking or using tobacco Eating an anti-inflammatory diet Learn More Lowering Your Risk of Arthritis How is arthritis diagnosed? If your doctor suspects arthritis, they’ll likely examine your painful joints; order blood tests to check for inflammation, autoimmunity, or other potential markers; and send you for imaging studies, such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), that can reveal damage to your joints and bones. They may also take steps to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. Learn More Diagnosing Arthritis Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis? No, you can not give yourself arthritis by cracking your knuckles, no matter what your mother may have told you. The cracking sound you hear is just dissolved gasses quickly being released from the capsule that cushions your joint. That release is necessary for the capsule to expand properly when under pressure. Even so, too much cracking can damage the connective tissues surrounding the joint. Learn More Knuckle Cracking and Arthritis Can Weather Changes Really Make Arthritis Symptoms Worse? 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