Arthritis refers to a general term that is used to describe stiffness, pain, and inflammation of any joint. There are several types of arthritis, which include psoriatic arthritis, gout arthritis, septic arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing, spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The most common of all the types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which is mostly referred to as simply arthritis.
Osteoarthritis can be explained as a degenerative disorder whereby the cartilage acting as a cushion between the joints wears off. This occurs as a result of bones rubbing on themselves, leading to the aforementioned symptoms.
In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, it is an autoimmune disease, that is, there is an attack on your body by itself. This happens when the immune system sees the lining around the joint (synovium) as a threat, and thus releases antibodies against them, which eventually leads to the accumulation of fluids around the joint.