Some Less Common Arthritis Types

There are more than one hundred different arthritis types, which are split into 3 main classifications. These are inflammatory arthritis, for example rheumatoid arthritis, non-inflammatory arthritis, for example osteoarthritis, and connective tissue/ autoimmune disease, for example lupus. Arthritis is a term generally used to describe inflammation within a joint, whilst rheumatism is a more general term used to describe aches and pains in or around the joint area. The 3 most common and well known types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. However, there are many rarer and less known types of the disease; we’ll explore some of these in this article.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis affecting the joints of the spine. After an inflammation attack, the body produces calcium which is laid down over the point where the ligaments attach to the vertebrae in the spine, causing a loss of flexibility. Eventually ankylosis can result, which is a fusing of the bones in the spine. Symptoms include sciatica type pain in the buttocks or thighs and stiffness.

A further beneficial idea related to this topic area. Reactive Arthritis (also known as Reiter’s Syndrome or Reiter’s Arthritis); this is an autoimmune type of arthritis that develops following an infection in another part of the body. It commonly develops in the knees and the back, and responds well to treatment. Symptoms include increased frequency of urination or pain on urinating, pain and swelling in affected joints, conjunctivitis type symptoms and small hard nodules which develop on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. Some people also experience recurrent mouth ulcers.


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Psoriatic arthritis; this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which often develops in people with the skin condition psoriasis. There are 5 forms of psoriatic arthritis, some of which can be severe if not diagnosed and treated. Symptoms include swelling, throbbing, redness and stiffness in the affected joints, particularly first thing in the morning or after a period of rest, a reduced range of movement in the affected joints and swelling to the fingers or toes.

Pseudo gout; this is another inflammatory type of arthritis, and, like gout, is caused by the formation of crystals in the joints. Nevertheless, unlike gout where crystals are formed by uric acid, they’re formed from a type of salt known as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD). This build up of crystals causes swelling and pain in the knees, ankles, wrists and other joints. Symptoms include joint pain and swelling and a build up of fluid in the joint. The symptoms of pseudo gout can mimic the symptoms of gout and rheumatoid arthritis, making it difficult to diagnose at times.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JIA); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which affects children under the age of sixteen. There are 3 main types of JIA; Oligoarticular (or pauciarticular) JIA, which is the most common form and which affects only a few of the joints, Polyarticular JIA, which affects more of the joints including the digits, and Systemic JIA (Stills disease), the rarer form of the condition, which is a more general illness of which joint pain is one symptom. Symptoms of JIA include stiff, swollen, reddened and painful joints which may feel hot to the touch. This can be accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or rash.

Fibromyaligia; this is a connective tissue/ autoimmune type of arthritis and is found in the muscles and soft tissues overlying the joints. The cause of fibromyalgia is not yet fully known, but it’s thought to be due to a defective neurotransmitter function in the brain. Fibromyalgia can affect the whole body, and symptoms range from exhaustion, chronic fatigue, muscular pain and spasm, muscle twitching and a disturbed sleep pattern. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments available that can relieve some of the symptoms.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which most commonly affects people over the age of 65. It causes inflammation of the larger muscles in the body such as the muscles around the shoulders, neck, upper arms and hips. Although the cause of PMR is still unknown, it generally responds well to treatment. Symptoms include stiffness, aching or pain in the large muscles around the neck, shoulders and upper arms, which is often worse in the mornings or after sitting for long periods. Inflammation and swelling can also occur in the soft tissues around the joints.

If you suspect you may have one of these arthritis types, you should visit your doctor so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment prescribed.

Is arthritis making your life a misery? Would you love to be able to relieve the pain and discomfort of this debilitating condition? Drop by our blog Arthritis Remedy for tips and resources on how to deal with the symptoms of arthritis. Also visit to read reviews of some of the most effective arthritis treatments available.

User deba27 writes: What is arhiritis? A group of diseases affecting joints or their component tissues. Several types of arthritis are recognized, and these can be divided into groups by their clinical course and pathologic appearance. There are 4 basic types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis, degenerative joint disease, nonarticular rheumatism, and miscellaneous arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by inflammation of tissues associated with joints.
 Connective tissue diseases, crystal deposition diseases, infectious arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies are examples of inflammatory arthritis. Connective tissue diseases are a group of acute and chronic diseases characterized by involvement of joints, connective tissue, serosal membranes, and small blood vessels. These diseases are divided into acquired disorders (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, vasculitis) and rare hereditary diseases (for example, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common variety of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs in younger and middle-aged persons and is characterized by noninfectious inflammation of the synovium (joint-lining membrane) frequently associated with extraarticular manifestations other than in the joints. The etiology is unknown, but genetic, immunologic, infectious, and psychologic disturbances have all been suggested. The systemic disease follows a variable but slowly progressive course, marked by spontaneous flares and remissions.
 There are 3 groups of crystal deposition disease classified according to type of crystal involvement: gout (monosodium urate), pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate), and calcific tendonitis (hydroxyapatite). Infectious arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease caused by the invasion of the synovial joint by living microorganisms such as gonorrheal, streptococcal, and staphylococcal bacteria. Such arthritis usually results from a generalized infection but may appear following local spread or after trauma.
The spondyloarthropathies are types of inflammatory arthritis characterized by involvement of the axial (central) skeleton (for example, the spine rather than the limbs). Ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome are examples of the spondyloarthropathies. See also Connective tissue disease; Gonorrhea; Gout; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Uric acid. Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a ubiquitous joint disease characterized pathologically by deterioration of cartilage lining the joints and new bone formation beneath the cartilage. The disease is very common in older persons and is thought to be inherent in the aging process. Degenerative joint disease is marked by a progressive stiffness, loss of function, and destruction of the larger, weight-bearing joints of the body. With advancing age, the continued slow damage causes increasing disability. See also Aging. Nonarticular rheumatism is a group of diseases, also called soft-tissue rheumatisms, that includes tendonitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, and fibrositis. The etiology is unclear, but the disorder may relate to psychobiologic or sleep disturbances or muscular and soft-tissue abnormalities.

See also Bursitis; Rheumatism. Systemic diseases of other or unknown etiology may produce arthritis or joint destruction. There are neurologic, blood, and endocrine examples of these unusual rheumatic diseases. Disability can often result from arthritis but can be curtailed by general health maintenance, rest, and rehabilitation. Occupational and physical therapies can be helpful. Diagnosis of the particular type of arthritis is extremely important in choosing drug therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and immunosuppressive drugs are also frequently used. Osteoarthritis is treated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Cortisone compounds are also used to treat arthritis, but the dosage and duration of treatment must be carefully monitored because of significant side effects. Surgical treatment includes arthroscopic surgery and joint replacement. See also Autoimmunity.