According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over a hundred different rheumatic diseases that cause pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissue. We often use the word "arthritis" to refer to such diseases. All told, an estimated 40 million Americans are affected with some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease. Below are some of the most common forms.

Ankylosing spondylitis – a chronic disease that primarily affects the spine and back.

Fibromyalgia – a soft tissue rheumatism in which there is a great deal of pain in the muscles and bone attachments.

Gout – a form of arthritis that most often attacks small joints such as the big toe in sudden severe episodes.

Juvenile arthritis – a general term for any of the dozens of different types of arthritis when they occur in children.

Lupus – a chronic rheumatic disease in which inflammation affects joints, muscles and other parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, skin, joints, kidneys, blood and nervous system.

Osteoarthritis – a disease in which the cartilage that normally covers our bones starts to degenerate, resulting in joint pain and loss of movement.

Rheumatoid arthritis – an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system causes joint linings to become inflamed, leading to pain and loss of movement.

Scleroderma – a rheumatic disease that can cause inflammation and pain in the muscles and joints, as well as a connective tissue disease that can cause thickening, hardening or tightening of the skin, blood vessels and internal organs.

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Treatments
Among treatment options, weight control is among the most important for anyone with arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Excess weight puts added pressure on your weight-bearing joints. A study by the Arthritis Foundation found that overweight, middle-aged and older women can actually lower their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by losing weight.

The Arthritis Foundation also recommends proper exercise for arthritis treatment. Exercises can develop range of motion, using gentle stretching, for example, to improve joint mobility. Strengthening exercises for muscles can also help stabilize joints. We offer a number of specific classes, such as water exercise or chair exercises, designed for people with arthritis.

OSF Saint Francis Arthritis Services offers both land and pool classes designed to meet the educational, emotional and physical needs of men and women with arthritis. The purpose of OSF Saint Francis Arthritis Services is to provide an opportunity for people with arthritis to participate in a recreational group activity, which may improve their sense of well being. Each program is a series of gentle, non-demanding exercises including all major muscle groups that move joints through their full range of movement.

Other therapies that are used to treat flare-ups of swelling and pain include:

Heat and cold - The decision to use either heat or cold for arthritis pain depends on the type of arthritis and should be discussed with your doctor or physical therapist.

Joint Protection - Using a splint or a brace to allow joints to rest and protect them from injury can be helpful. Your physician or physical therapist can make recommendations.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - A small TENS device that directs mild electric pulses to nerve endings that lie beneath the skin in the painful area may relieve some arthritis pain.

Arthroscopy - may be used to help diagnose and treat some forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Medications for arthritis
The drugs used for treating arthritis and rheumatic diseases fall into several different categories. Among the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and ketoprofen. Many arthritis drugs are available over-the-counter; however long-term use of these products should never be undertaken without a doctor's advice. Other drugs that can be used to treat arthritis are COX-2 inhibitors, Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) and Corticosteroids.

In addition, topical creams can be helpful. Many contain salicylates to reduce inflammation and pain. Other topical treatments may produce feelings of warmth or coolness on the skin to help provide relief. In addition, capsaicin (the substance found in hot peppers) is being used in some topical creams to provide pain relief. As with any medicine, always talk with your doctor before using, make sure you read and follow all package directions carefully, and keep all such medications out of children's reach.

When taking medication, it's important that you never mix different types of drugs. Even medications such as cold remedies may contain ingredients that can cause problems if taken in combination with other medications, so always read labels and talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.