Ankylosing spondylitis
Anklyosing sponylitis primarily affects the spine, but it may also cause arthritis in the hips, shoulders, and knees. The tendons and ligaments around the bones and joints in the spine become inflamed. Symptoms include pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back. Ankylosing spondylitis tends to develop during late adolescence or early adulthood.
Bursitis
Bursitis involves inflammation of the bursae, which are small, fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction between bones and other moving structures in joints. The inflammation may result from arthritis in the joint, or from injury or infection of the bursae. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, and limited movement of the involved joint.
Fibromyalgia
This chronic syndrome is associated with pain and stiffness throughout the tissues that support and move the bones and joints. Pain and localized tender points occur in the muscles and tendons, particularly those of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. Other common symptoms include widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.
Gout
Gout results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue near joints and/or in the joint space. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected joint, often the big toe.
Psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis)
Psoriasis is a common scaling skin disorder that can cause psoriatic arthritis.
Scleroderma
Also known as systemic sclerosis, scleroderma means hard skin. It refers to several diseases that almost always affect the skin, blood vessels, and joints. A more serious form also affects internal organs such as the lungs and kidneys. In scleroderma patients, there is an excessive production of collagen (a fiber-like protein) in the involved areas of skin or internal organs.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Also known as lupus, SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system harms the body's cells and tissues. This can result in inflammation and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, or brain.
Tendinitis (tendonitis)
This condition refers to inflammation of tendons (tough cords of tissue that connect muscle to bone) caused by overuse, injury, or arthritis-producing conditions. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, and restricted movement of nearby joints.