What are the different types of arthritis

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related disease. The most common types are osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Gout. In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage inside the joint wears away. This makes the movement of affected joints difficult and painful. The intensity of osteoarthritis pain may vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. In Rheumatoid arthritis, the joints and other organs are attacked by the body s immune system. Normally the immune system protects the human body from invaders like viruses, and bacteria. In rheumatoid arthritis, it becomes overactive and attacks healthy tissues. In people with autoimmune diseases like RA, persistent inflammation breaks down the joint and damages it permanently. A gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis but it does not cause body-wide inflammation like RA. In Gout, uric acid crystals are the roots of the problem. Excess uric acid can form crystals in joints. This results in painful joint inflammation. Gout usually strikes the large joint of the big toe, but can also affect other joints.