Arthritis Basics

 

When To See Your Doctor

You may have arthritis if you have pain, stiffness or swelling in a joint (or many joints) that makes it hard for you to move. A joint is where two bones meet in your body. See your doctor if this lasts for more than two weeks.

• Do I have Arthritis? (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• ¿Tengo Artritis? (Attention: Non-MDH link) (Spanish) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

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General Information

• Risk Factors for Arthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link)
• Help Your Arthritis Treatment Work (Attention: Non-MDH link) U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Ayude al Tratamiento Efectivo de su Artritis (Attention: Non-MDH link) (Spanish) U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Patient Information: Fact Sheets, Assistance Programs, Clinical Trials and Registries, Publications (Attention: Non-MDH link) American College of Rheumatology.
• Questions and Answers about Arthritis Pain (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• Questions and Answers about Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

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Osteoarthritis

• Handout on Health: Osteoarthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link)
  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• What is Osteoarthritis? (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Osteoarthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link) The Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Edition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Handout on Health: Rheumatoid Arthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Juvenile Arthritis

• What is Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis? (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Arthritis in Children, Teens and Young Adults (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Foundation.
• School Success (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Foundation.

Fibromyalgia

• Questions and Answers about Fibromyalgia (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• What is Fibromyalgia? (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.

Gout

• Questions and Answers About Gout (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• Gout and Your Feet (Attention: Non-MDH link) The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
• What is Gout? (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.

Lupus

• What is Lupus?(Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Handout on Health: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• The Many Shades of Lupus: Information for Multicultural Communities (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
• Lupus/Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Foundation.
• Lupus (Attention: Non-MDH link) Medline Health Information, National Library of Medicine.

Lyme Arthritis

• Minnesota Department of Health Lyme Disease Information
• Lyme Disease Basics (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic

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Medications

• Drug Guide, (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Foundation.
• Arthritis - Medications (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

• Complementary and Alternative Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Complementary and Alternative Osteoarthritis Arthritis Treatments (Attention: Non-MDH link) Mayo Clinic.
• Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Alternative Therapies (Attention: Non-MDH link) by Judith Horstman.

Physical Activity and Exercise

• Exercise and Arthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link) University of Washington, Orthopaedics' & Sports Medicine.
• Exercise Success Stories (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Today - Arthritis Foundation.

Equipment

• Informed Consumer Guide for People with Arthritis (Attention: Non-MDH link) National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U. S. Department of Education.
• System of Technology to Achieve Results (STAR) Program (Attention: Non-MDH link) This Minnesota program helps an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

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Self-Management

• Setting Goals to Improve Your Life (Attention: Non-MDH link) Arthritis Foundation.
• Managing Arthritis Pain (Attention: Non-MDH link) University of Washington, Orthopedics' & Sports Medicine.
• The Arthritis Self-Help Program Arthritis Foundation (PDF 2 pages / 48 KB)
• The Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program (PDF 2 pages / 47 KB)
• The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (PDF 2 pages / 46 KB)

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