Myth #1: Arthritis is just aches and pains.
One common myth is that arthritis is just another name for the aches and pains people get as they grow older. While it is true that arthritis becomes more common as people as people age, arthritis may begin at any age, including childhood. Conversely, some elderly people never develop arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis may be quite serious and may affect the body's internal organs as well as the joints.
Myth #2: Arthritis isn't really a serious health problem.
Taken collectively, the various types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases are the most common chronic health condition in the population, affecting about one in every three adult Americans and nearly 300,000 children. These conditions become even more common among older people. Even in people under 65, arthritis is a major cause of work disability. For example, fewer than 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients younger than 65 who are working at the onset of the disease are still working 10 years later. In addition, the impact of arthritis on society is substantial
Myth #3: Not much can be done to alleviate the pain and disability of arthritis.
Unfortunately, there are no cures for most chronic rheumatic diseases. You may think that little can be done to help your arthritis, but this is not true. Some improvement in the pain and loss of function is possible in almost everyone with arthritis. Furthermore, the disease process that may lead to joint destructions can be controlled effectively in most people - particularly those with rheumatoid arthritis. More can be done today to ease the pain of arthritis and to slow joint destruction than ever before.
