and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect multiple joints and sometimes other organs. The distinction matters because treatment approaches can differ substantially. This is one reason persistent joint symptoms should be properly diagnosed rather than treated generically as “arthritis pain.”
Is Arthritis Just a Normal Part of Getting Older?
No. The risk of certain forms of arthritis does rise with age, but arthritis is not something everyone inevitably develops. The CDC specifically notes that although osteoarthritis is common among older adults, it is not simply
