5 Myths About Arthritis- Creaky joints are a pain, but some facts” about them are pretty twisted.

Arthritis isn't the only culprit when it comes to achy joints. Infection, injury, bursitis (swelling of the fluid-filled pads that cushion the joints), and tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons that attach muscle to bone) are all reasons they might hurt, says Kirsten Ambrose, M.S., associate director of the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance at the University of North Carolina Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Joint pain is also a symptom of autoimmune diseases like lupus and Hashimoto's disease. So how can you tell if it's osteoarthritis? Get it checked. To diagnose arthritis, doctors typically rely on a patient's history (family background, injuries, and symptoms); a physical exam (looking for bony enlargements or swelling); or imaging like an X-ray or an MRI, Ambrose says. Blood test can show markers of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. If it is osteoarthritis, over-the-counter pain medication, physical therapy, and general movement can ease symptoms.

- By Kate Rockwood

MYTH:
If your joints hurt, it's arthritis.

MYTHBUSTER

Arthritis isn't the only culprit when it comes to achy joints. Infection, injury, bursitis (swelling of the fluid-filled pads that cushion the joints), and tendinitis (inflammation of the tendons that attach muscle to bone) are all reasons they might hurt, says Kirsten Ambrose, M.S., associate director of the Osteoarthritis Action Alliance at the University of North Carolina Thurston Arthritis Research Center. Joint pain is also a symptom of autoimmune diseases like lupus and Hashimoto's disease. So how can you tell if it's osteoarthritis? Get it checked. To diagnose arthritis, doctors typically rely on a patient's history (family background, injuries, and symptoms); a physical exam (looking for bony enlargements or swelling); or imaging like an X-ray or an MRI, Ambrose says. Blood test can show markers of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. If it is osteoarthritis, over-the-counter pain medication, physical therapy, and general movement can ease symptoms.

2 MYTH:
Exercise will wear down your joints even more.

MYTHBUSTER