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What is Arthritis

Arthritis is a name for a group of over 100 conditions affecting the joints. It can affect many different parts of the joint and nearly every joint in the body.

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What is arthritis?

While arthritis is very common – affecting more than 3.9 million adults and children in Australia – it’s not well understood.

There are over 100 forms of arthritis. Each type of arthritis affects you and your joints in different ways. Some forms of arthritis can also involve other parts of the body, such as the eyes. The most common forms of arthritis are:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
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Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of chronic medical conditions often causing pain and stiffness. There are over 100 types of arthritis. Each type of arthritis can affect you and all parts of your body differently.

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Living with Arthritis

Although arthritis can be difficult to live with, there are simple measures that can help a person with arthritis manage their symptoms and live a full life.

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Online resources

Video, eLearning and more! Use our collection of videos, eLearning, webinars and info sheets to better understand and manage arthritis.

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Multicultural fact sheets

A number of fact sheets have been translated into several languages and are available through the Arthritis Australia website.

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Arthritis Matters Magazine

Published for you seasonally. Download the latest Arthritis Matters Magazine as a PDF, or check out the back-catalogue below.

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Annual Reports

Annual Reports are the best place for organisational updates, financial information and major reporting. You’ll find all official Annual Reports back to 2015-16 below.

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Other organisations

Here are several organisations with whom we collaborate to make a meaningful impact within the arthritis community in South Australia.

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Is rheumatism different to arthritis?

Rheumatism is just a more general word that was used in the past. It described any pain in your bones, muscles and joints.

We know more about problems with bones, muscles and joints, so we use words like back pain, tendonitis and arthritis to describe these conditions now. Talk to your doctor if you have pain and stiffness that:

  • Starts for no clear reason
  • Lasts for more than a few days
  • Comes on with swelling, redness and warmth of your joints
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Is my sore joint arthritis?

There are many different reasons why your joints may be sore. Not all pain in muscles and joints is caused by arthritis.

It could be from an injury or using your joints and muscles in an unusual way (for example, playing a new sport or lifting heavy boxes).

Talk to your doctor if you have pain and stiffness that:

  • starts for no clear reason
  • lasts for more than a few days
  • comes on with swelling, redness and warmth of your joints

Read more on the info sheet: What is Arthritis?

pdf 215.99kB

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