Research on Arthritis.

About arthritis research

How has arthritis research progressed over the past few decades?

Research over the past fifty years has brought about major advances in finding causes as well as better ways to treat arthritis. The pace of improvements have quickened in recent years. New findings have helped reduce deaths, correct deformities, restore movement, and reduce pain.

More than 200 years ago, a gout attack kept the English statesman William Pitt from stopping the passage of a tax on tea by Parliament. The tax led to the Boston Tea Party and the independence of the American colonies. In the past 40 years, researchers have found ways to control the arthritis caused by gout so that no one today need miss an important day from work.

More than 50 years ago, crutches or canes were the only way to get around once rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis destroyed a hip or knee joint. In the past 30 years, research has created artificial joints--spare parts for people with arthritis. Replacing worn-out joints with artificial ones has given back freedom of movement to thousands of people who thought they had lost it forever.

More than 10 years ago, a mysterious new form of arthritis began disabling children and adults along the Connecticut shoreline. In seven years, researchers identified the cause of Lyme disease as an infection spread by ticks and found an effective treatment with antibiotics.

Today, progress is so fast in some areas of arthritis research that the media often report a new finding even before the medical journal with the study reaches your doctor's office. Often this rapid transfer of research information includes very early results that need further study before your doctor can apply them.