Arthritis Types

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis. If you have been diagnosed with one of these, your doctor has probably offered you one or more different types of drug therapies.

Drug therapies can be used safely and effectively to treat many kinds of arthritis. But maybe you are wondering if there is something else you can do to help stave off the effects and symptoms of arthritis. Consider complementary therapy as part of your arsenal in your battle against arthritis.

If you are interested in complementary therapy—what it is and what it can do for you—here are some tips on the most popular forms of therapy and how you can incorporate complementary therapy into your life. Complementary therapy, as the name implies, is meant to complement more conventional form of therapies. Complementary therapy can refer to a whole host of practices and therapies that can augment more traditional approaches such as drug therapies.

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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis shares many common symptoms with other forms of arthritis. But exactly what is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis from other forms of arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is unique because it is classified as an autoimmune disease. This means that your own immune system is actually responsible for attacking and damaging its own cells and tissues. Instead of protecting its own cells and tissues, your immune system turns on itself.

Simply put, this happens when an individual's immune system produces unique chemicals and cells that are released into the blood stream. These cells then begin to attack body tissues. When your tissues are being attacked, your body responds by producing inflammation and abnormal growth in the synovium. The synovium is the special membrane that lines each joint.

You begin to feel pain in your joints, a common symptom of arthritis.