Types of Arthritis:
There are over 100 types of arthritis. the three most common types are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) occurs due to the degeneration or wearing out of the normal articular cartilage (bearing surface) of joints. It happens with aging (Primary OA), or after another injury, deformity or disease has affected the hip joint(Secondary OA). Further changes occur in the joint causing deformity and immobility. Osteoarthritic joints can be replaced surgically with excellent results

People with fibromyalgia suffer debilitating fatigue and widespread pain that lasts for years and years. Fibromyalgia is the most common arthritis-related disease after osteoarthritis. 90 percent of those suffering from fibromyalgia being women over the age of 40.

Fibromyalgia is a common, but misunderstood disease. On average, a person with fibromyalgia goes four to five years before receiving a correct diagnosis. In the past, physicians were not as well educated on the symptoms and often misdiagnosed the disease. Also, many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to other types of arthritis.  There isn?t a specific laboratory test for fibromyalgia and often it is diagnosed based on a good history and by ruling out other diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)  is an inflammatory disease which principally affects joints, but also has general systematic effects. It can occur in varying degrees of severity, sometimes only involving one joint (mono-articular), or a few joints (pauci-articular) and so not cause much disability. The most severe form affects almost all joints, from the spine to the fingers and toes, and the major weight bearing joints, and causes crippling deformity and disability. This disease requires considerable medical and orthopaedic care.

Other serious forms of arthritis include Gout, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and forms of inflammatory disease of joints associated with collagen disorders, such as psoriasis, inflamatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosis.

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory musculo-skeletal condition affecting the older population, causing considerable disability, and requiring aggressive medical treatment. 

Osteonecrosis is a condition that leads to bone collapse, and so joint deformity and secondary ostearthritis.

Osteoporosis: This condition is one in which bones become weaker and thinner due to loss of mass of bone. It occurs as we age, but may occasionally be due to drugs such as cortisone. Osteporosis is commoner in older females (who are post-menopausal). The reduced strength of bones means that these patients are vulnerable to fractures, often occurring with minor trauma. The common sites for osteoporotic fractures are in the vertebrae of the spine, and in the hip region (the Neck of the Femur bone.) Management requires diagnosis of the condition by special bone density X-Ray tests (Bone Densitometry), and a regime of excercise and medications, prescribed by a specialist with knowledge of the appropriate drugs for this condition. Some fractures will require operation and internal fixation with metal plates, rods or screws; this surgery is done by orthopaedic surgeons. Anyone who has suffered an osteoporotic bone fracture should also be referred to a metabolic bone specialist for assessmnet, and to consider medical treatment of osteoporosis.