| The financial implications to health services and | | | | time nursing care. |
| health insurance companies are serious. There are | | | | The spine is made up of block like bones called |
| also costs for employers who lose money due to | | | | vertebrae that sit one on top of the other, |
| absenteeism, either from lost production or by | | | | cushioned by cartilage in between the bones. |
| hiring replacements. Every year, arthritis costs the | | | | Normally the spine runs straight down the center |
| American economy some billion in medical care | | | | of the back. The spine of an elderly woman has a |
| and indirect costs such as absenteeism. It also, | | | | prominent lateral curve, in addition to signs of |
| obviously, affects the ability of parents or | | | | advanced osteoarthritis. |
| grandparents to enjoy fully children's early years. | | | | Scoliosis may occur through one leg being shorter |
| Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in | | | | than the other, or when pain in the back or legs |
| the Western World. The disease limits everyday | | | | causes a person to overcompensate by leaning to |
| activities, such as getting in and out of bed, | | | | one side. In addition to a thinning of the cartilage |
| dressing, climbing stairs and even walking. Arthritis | | | | between the bones, osteoarthritis is characterized |
| may lead to reduced mobility, loss of | | | | by the formation of bony projections, or |
| employment, breakdown of social and marital | | | | entophytes, which may appear almost to form a |
| relationships, chronic pain, fatigue and depression. | | | | bridge between adjacent vertebrae. These are |
| Severely disabled sufferers from arthritis may | | | | visible to the left of the five lowest vertebrae in |
| need support from visiting careers, which can | | | | the x-ray. |
| clean or help with shopping, or they may need full | | | | |