Arthritis is a chronic condition that affects your joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis, but many people struggle with the symptoms of two specific types — rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes your body to mistakenly attack the healthy lining of the joints. This results in inflammation and irritation that can become painful and debilitating.
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones deteriorates, causing the bones that form a joint to rub together. This friction can cause pain and stiffness that makes it difficult to move the affected joint.
For advanced arthritis that causes chronic pain, your provider may suggest joint injections. This treatment delivers anti-inflammatory medications and a local anesthetic into the joint to reduce inflammation and disrupt the pain signals.
