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Glossary of Arthritis

Glossary for Arthritis - 6

Muscle: Tissues that expand or contract. There are three types of muscle. Striated or skeletal muscles are the most common type and enable movement of the bones and joints. Smooth muscle is involuntary muscle. Two examples are that line the blood vessels and breathing passages. Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart and never rests.

Musculoskeletal: A term that applies to both the muscular and skeletal systems.

Myositis: Inflammation of a muscle, usually a strained muscle, which causes weakness and sometimes pain and tenderness.

Naproxen: The generic name of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used in arthritis. They are more expensive than aspirin. While the NSAIDs are not more effective than aspirin, they may have fewer side effects. Nonsteroidal is important here since it indicates that these drugs are not steroids.

Osteoarthritis: Another term for degenerative arthritis, a disease, that is more likely to occur as one grows older and involves progressive deterioration of cartilage and bone in the joints.

Osteomyelitis: Bacterial infection of bone.

Osteoporosis: A term that refers to the thinning of bone. As the structure of the bone weakens, it becomes very brittle. Over long term use, steroids can lead to osteoporosis.

Osteotomy: The surgical procedure of cutting a bone to correct a deformity, thereby reducing pain and further deformity.

Oxyphenbutazone: The generic term for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis.

Phenylbutazone: The generic name for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis.

Probenecid: The generic name for a drug used in the treatment of gout that lowers the level of uric acid in the blood by increasing its elimination by the kidneys. Aspirin prevents probenecid from working and therefore should not be used at the same time.

Prosthesis: An artificial body part. In arthritis, joint prostheses are sometimes used.

Psoriatic Arthritis: About one of 20 cases of psoriasis, a skin disease, is complicated by a form of arthritis. Treatment for psoriatic arthritis is similar to that for rheumatoid arthritis.