We recently attended the Commitment To A Cure Arthritis Breakfast in Dallas hosted by the Texas Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Their public health, public policy, and research goals are aimed at finding a cure for the 46 million individuals suffering from arthritis. In keeping with our goal to educate our readers, we would like to share some fundamentals about arthritis we learned by attending this breakfast.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
- OA is a chronic condition characterized by breakdown of the joint’s cartilage
- OA is the most common form of arthritis affecting nearly 21 million Americans
- OA may affect any joint, but occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck, small joints of the fingers, and the base of the thumb and big toe
- $10 million of OA research is funded by the Arthritis Foundation
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- RA is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints
- RA can start in any joint, but most commonly begins in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands, and wrists
- RA affects more than 2.1 million Americans, including children
- $17 million of RA research is funded by the Arthritis Foundation
Juvenile Arthritis (JA)
- JA affects nearly 300,000 children
- More children suffer from JA than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis combined
- Diagnosis is made when there has been persistent arthritis in one or more joints for at least six weeks and after other possible illnesses have been ruled out
- $5 million of JA research is funded by the Arthritis Foundation
We are happy to pass along the above information and were grateful to the Arthritis Foundation’s materials Arthritis 101: The Fundamentals.
A number of our Social Security Disability clients suffer from arthritis. Individuals suffering from this disorder experience joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from severe arthritis and considering a Social Security Disability claim, we advise you to speak with an attorney. We handle cases throughout the state of Texas, but we are always happy to give you a referral if we are unable to assist you.
