ARTHRITIS: inflammation of joints due to infections, metabolic, or constitutional causes. RHEUMATISM: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: a usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints -- also called atrophic arthritis. OSTEOARTHRITIS: arthritis of middle age characterized by degenerative and sometimes hypertrophic changes in the bone and cartilage of one or more joints and a progressive wearing down of apposing joint surfaces with consequent distortion of joint position usually without bony stiffening -- also called degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis.
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