Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a misconception to think of or refer to rheumatoid arthritis simply as “arthritis”. This is a mistake commonly made by laypersons who when asked if they suffer from any condition, they answer by saying “I suffer from arthritis” without specifying which type of arthritis. English literature also tends to reflect the same mistake, and we often come across narrative references to walking sticks implying the fictional character has “arthritis”. English literature also tends to synonymously associate arthritis with old age. However, this is not always the case. The first thing to note about rheumatoid arthritis is that there are different types of arthritis and not all are strictly associated with old age. Certain types of arthritis can occur in younger patients, even in children.