What is "arthritis"?

What is "arthritis"?

Marc Darrow (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Joint Rehabilitation Sports Medical Center, Inc. ) gives expert video advice on: What are some specific types of chronic pain?; What is "somatic pain"?; How is somatic pain treated? and more...

Arthritis is a word that comes from a couple of words. One is "arthro," meaning "joint", and the other is "itis," meaning "inflammation." Arthritis, meaning "inflammation of a joint," refers to the destruction of the joint, which can be from an erosive type of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and things of that nature. Or, it can be like osteoarthritis, which is just a breakdown of the joint. Osteoarthritis can be the cartilage being worn out, or it can be from an injury that affects the cartilage or the joint and creates instability in that joint.