Arthritis is a chronic condition: it affects people on an ongoing, constant or recurring basis over months, years, even a lifetime.
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis is a term used to describe a group of over 100 diseases characterized by inflammation in the joints or other areas of the body.
Inflammation is a medical term that describes redness and swelling which causes pain and, when in the joints, can also cause stiffness. Left unchecked, inflammation can lead to significant and often irreparable damage to the affected areas, resulting in loss of function and disability.
Arthritis (arthro = joint, itis = inflammation) can involve almost any part of the body, most often affecting the hip, knee, spine or other weight-bearing joints, but also found in the fingers and other non-weight-bearing joints. Some forms of arthritis can also affect other parts of the body.
LIVING WITH ARTHRITIS?
Arthritis symptoms can range from mild to severe. Most people with arthritis experience chronic pain, fatigue, restricted mobility, lowered mood and other symptoms that can combine to erode their quality of life.
Many forms of arthritis can lead to episodic disability, leaving people unable to work for periods of time due to their disease.
For millions of Canadians, arthritis can threaten their ability to enjoy freedom of movement, productive work, restful sleep, and an existence free of unnecessary pain.
