Most of us think of arthritis as just a part of getting older. The more years we have, the more likely our bodies are going to be to show signs of wear and tear, right$1 But arthritis is not limited to just those of a certain age. There are several different types of arthritis that you could have: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are some of the most common. To help you decide what arthritis you might have, here is some basic information on these conditions. Translated from Greek, the word 'arthritis' means joint pain. When you feel that your joints are painful and they swell or become inflamed, you might be experiencing arthritis symptoms. A slight fever is another common symptom as well as burning and stiffness in the joint areas upon rising. Sometimes, you may find that your arthritis symptoms will subside over the day, while in more severe cases, you might need arthritis medications in order to relieve your pain. The causes of arthritis are many, ranging from degenerating bones and joints to autoimmune disease that attack the joints and cause them to be painful. In some cases, it's simply a product of age and plenty of wear and tear on your joints from activities in your life. Rheumatoid arthritis is a kind of arthritis that is caused by an autoimmune disorder. This creates a situation in which the body begins to attack itself, causing inflamed joints that are stiff and painful. Patients can have a slight fever when attacks flare up and they may have various arthritis symptoms every now and then. Treated with various prescription arthritis medications, this kind of arthritis can often lead to permanent joint damage and even disability. But newer autoimmune treatments are being developed every day to help slow the progression. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that we tend to think about. Caused by degenerating joints, this is often a condition of age and even the overuse of muscles during activity. For example, those that have been athletes in their lifetime can often find these same joints to be painful in their older years. Dealing with arthritis pain can be a constant battle for those that suffer. In terms of rheumatoid arthritis, you may have to take medications and undergo intravenous therapy in order to regulate the 'attacking' nature of this disease in addition to physical therapy to help loosen up the stiffer joints as well as help to strengthen the muscles that surround the bones. For osteoarthritis, you can also take prescription medications for arthritis pain, though this can sometimes cause other health effects. Preventing arthritis is not always possible when you're an active person. By strengthening your muscles before activities to read your body, you can slow the progression of arthritis, though this does not always mean that you will be symptom free. Sometimes genetics play a role in the severity of your arthritis, while at other times, you might just have occasional pain. In the end, arthritis is something that can usually be managed with arthritis medication – so don't worry if you start to feel a little stiff when you wake up.