Arthritis
Pain Definitions
Following are the definitions for terms commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.
Analgesic: Pain relief medication
Arthralgia: Pain in the joints
Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints. There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis.
Autoimmune: A process by which a person's immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Bacteria: Microscopic, one-celled organisms
Cartilage: Firm, whitish substance at the ends of bones. It acts as the body's "shock absorbers."
Collagen: Substance making up the body's connective tissues. It gives cartilage its "bounce."
Corticosteroid: Powerful steroid medication that reduces inflammation
Glucosamine: An amino sugar occurring in vertebrate tissues including that of marine creatures, from which it's harvested
Glucosamine sulfate: A form of glucosamine that has been shown to reduce arthritis pain and rebuild damaged joints
Gout: A painful inflammation primarily of the big toe, characterized by an excess of uric acid in the blood that leads to crystalline deposits in the small joints.
Ligament: A band of strong connective tissue that connects bones and holds organs in place
Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis in which cartilage wears out and joints become stiff and painful
Prostaglandins: Hormone-like substances that play a part in inflammation
Proteoglycans: Mortar-like substances made from protein and sugar that are the building blocks of cartilage
Rheumatoid arthritis: A major form of the disease in which the body's immune system attacks joints, causing hot, painful swelling and deformity
Analgesic: Pain relief medication
Arthralgia: Pain in the joints
Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints. There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis.
Autoimmune: A process by which a person's immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease.
Bacteria: Microscopic, one-celled organisms
Cartilage: Firm, whitish substance at the ends of bones. It acts as the body's "shock absorbers."
Collagen: Substance making up the body's connective tissues. It gives cartilage its "bounce."
Corticosteroid: Powerful steroid medication that reduces inflammation
Glucosamine: An amino sugar occurring in vertebrate tissues including that of marine creatures, from which it's harvested
Glucosamine sulfate: A form of glucosamine that has been shown to reduce arthritis pain and rebuild damaged joints
Gout: A painful inflammation primarily of the big toe, characterized by an excess of uric acid in the blood that leads to crystalline deposits in the small joints.
Ligament: A band of strong connective tissue that connects bones and holds organs in place
Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis in which cartilage wears out and joints become stiff and painful
Prostaglandins: Hormone-like substances that play a part in inflammation
Proteoglycans: Mortar-like substances made from protein and sugar that are the building blocks of cartilage
Rheumatoid arthritis: A major form of the disease in which the body's immune system attacks joints, causing hot, painful swelling and deformity