SKELETAL SYSTEM DISORDERS

Arthritis is not just a word doctors use when they talk about painful, stiff joints. In fact, there are many kinds of arthritis, each with different symptoms and treatments. Most types of arthritis are chronic. That means they can go on for a long period of time. Arthritis can attack joints in almost any part of the body. Some forms of arthritis cause changes you can see and feel swelling, warmth, and redness² in your joints. In some the pain and swelling last only a short time, but are very bad. Other types cause less troublesome symptoms, but still slowly damage your joints. Older people most often have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.

Osteoporosis is a disease marked by reduced bone strength leading to an in­creased risk of fractures³. Osteoporosis is the major underlying cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and the elderly. Fractures occur most often in bones of the hip, spine, and wrist, but any bone can be affected. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because it usually progresses without any symptoms until a fracture occurs or one or more vertebrae collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may first be felt or seen when a person develops severe back pain, loss of height, or spine malformations⁴ such as a stooped or hunched posture. Bones affected by osteoporosis may become so fragile that fractures occur spontaneously or as the result of minor bumps, falls, or normal stresses and strains such as bending, lifting, or even coughing.

Scoliosis causes a sideways curve⁵ of your backbone, or spine. These curves are often S- or C-shaped. Scoliosis is most common in late childhood and the early teens, when children grow fast. Girls are more likely to have it than boys. It can run in families. Symptoms include leaning to one side and having uneven shoulders and hips. Sometimes the curve is temporary. People with mild scoliosis might only need checkups to see if the curve is getting worse. Others might need to wear a brace or have surgery.

Osteomyelitis is the medical term for an infection in a bone. Infections can reach a bone by travelling through your bloodstream or spreading from nearby tissue. Infections can also begin in the bone itself if trauma exposes your bone to germs. Bone infections commonly affect the long bones of your body, such as your leg bones and upper arm bone, as well as your spine and pelvis. Osteomyelitis often occurs in children as an acute condition. In adults, osteomyelitis may occur as either the acute and chronic form. Once considered incurable, osteomyelitis can be success­fully treated today. Still, osteomyelitis is a serious condition, requiring aggressive treatment to prevent spread of your infection and to save the affected bone.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 1582