Arthritis is a disorder in the joints that appear as inflammations. A joint is a part of your body wherein two bones meet, with a cartilage in place to cushion the movement of the two bones. As one of the symptoms of arthritis, joint pain is one of the most notable because it is one of the first that you will encounter.

Why joint pain? As the cartilage that cushions the bones of a joint breaks down, there is inflammation. And as the breakdown of cartilage worsens, there is more inflammation. Inflammation on its own is painful but because there is constant movement of the joints, there is further pain experienced.

There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis that have already been discovered and there are more left to be named. There are different causes of arthritis and so there are different symptoms of arthritis. Many of the discovered kinds of arthritis are rheumatic diseases so the symptoms also affect different organs in the body, most of which have nothing to do with the joints, the part of the body arthritis is most commonly associated with.

Symptoms of arthritis then may depend on the kind of arthritis a person has, although generally there should be fever, fatigue, swelling of lymph nodes, and weight loss. Inflammation in the joints when one has arthritis is highlighted by swelling, warmth, redness, and joint stiffness. Sometimes tenderness may also be reported on the affected joint.

While symptoms of arthritis may be present, you can only really truly be treated for it when you have been properly diagnosed to have the condition. And for this, you have to go and see your doctor. Your doctor will go check your joints for deformity and inflammation and examine the rest of your body for signs of diseases or inflammation.

Blood and joint fluid tests may also be ordered, alongside x-rays to see the condition of your bones more properly. Whatever the doctor diagnoses will depend on symptom patterns, test results, and the distribution of inflammation. Sometimes your doctor may even require several visits before a diagnosis can finally be made. A doctor specially trained for dealing with arthritis and similar diseases is known as a rheumatologist.

For the most part, arthritis is really not serious but can be a real pain. Literally. As such, it is important that proper diagnosis is arrived at when you start showing symptoms of arthritis in order for the best kind of treatment to be prescribed to you.

Treatment for arthritis will vary and whatever is prescribed to you will depend on the kind of condition you have. There are a number of treatment options available anyway so there should be one that will address your needs perfectly. Should a single course of treatment not work, combinations of treatments will be formulated for you.

Different people have different needs so it is possible that one kind of treatment might not work for you but it will do wonders for another. Treatment options include physical therapy, cold-pack applications, splinting, anti-inflammatory medications, and surgical procedures.