Short answers, pulled from the story.
Arthritis is a general medical term describing a disorder where the protective cartilage is lost, resulting in bone grinding on bone during joint movement. This mechanical failure transforms the body's movement from fluid to painful, often leading to bone-on-bone contact that can be felt in the hips, knees, shoulders, and fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder in which the body's own immune system starts to attack body tissues specifically the cartilage at the end of bones known as articular cartilage. This autoimmune attack is not only directed at the joint but to many other parts of the body, leading to severe progressive deformity in a matter of years if not adequately treated.
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excessive uric acid production, resulting in urate crystals depositing in joints, particularly in extremities such as the toes. There is also an uncommon form of gout that is known as pseudogout, which is caused by the formation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in the joint, and unlike gout, no targeted treatments are currently available.
The first known traces of human arthritis date back as far as 4500 BC, making it one of the oldest known ailments of prehistoric peoples. Evidence of arthritis has been found throughout history, from Ötzi, a mummy found along the border of modern Italy and Austria, to the Egyptian mummies.
A CDC survey based on data from 2013 to 2015 showed 54.4 million adults had self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 23.7 million had arthritis-attributable activity limitation. Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, and more than 20 million individuals with arthritis in the United States have severe limitations in function on a daily basis.
Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis and include physical therapy, exercise and diet, orthopedic bracing, and oral and topical medications. Joint replacement surgery known as arthroplasty can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years depending on the patient, and common joints that are replaced due to arthritis include the shoulder, hip, and knee.