Osteo Arthritis (OA) & Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): A Brief Description
Posted on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 @ 01:41 PM
The word arthritis comes from the root word for joint “arthro” and “itis” meaning inflammation, combining to mean joint inflammation. Arthritis is a complex disorder that comprises more than 100 distinct conditions and can affect people at any age. Two of the most common forms are Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
What is the Difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
OA and RA have different causes and effects on the body, yet they often share a common symptom – persistent joint pain. The joint pain of arthritis can appear as knee or hip pain, hand pain, as well as joint pain in other areas of the body. Symptoms including stiffness and/or swelling in a joint for more than 2 weeks may indicate you have arthritis.
OA is caused by the breakdown and loss of the cartilage that covers and cushions the joints. Primary OA is related to aging – the simple wear and tear we all experience over time. OA can affect multiple joints including the hands, feet, spine and large weight bearing joints. Primary OA also may have a hereditary or genetic component – it your mother and father both have OA; there is an increased likelihood you will develop it also.
OA that is caused by a specific injury or condition is called Secondary OA. A previous injury to a joint, severe obesity or diabetes can be contributing factors to developing arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a distinctly different disease. RA is an autoimmune disease that causes ongoing inflammation of the joints. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly “attacks” the body’s tissues believing there is something wrong with them. RA not only affects the joints, it can also inflame the tissues around the joints as well as other organs in the body. For this reason, RA is called a systemic disease meaning it can affect multiple body systems.
Joint damage from RA can be much more extensive than just cartilage damage. In some cases, the cartilage, bone and ligaments can be destroyed leaving severely deformed joints. RA most commonly affects the hands and feet first. As the disease progresses, the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and even jaw and neck can become involved. Unlike OA, the symptoms of RA are more likely to affect the same joints on both sides of the body.
How Do I Know Which One I Have?
The most common symptoms of OA include steady or intermittent pain in a joint, stiffness after periods of inactivity, especially sleeping or sitting, swelling or tenderness in a joint or joints and crunching sounds or sensations when moving a joint.
Symptoms of RA differ from person to person but generally include: Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling. Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time. Other symptoms include pain and stiffness in the morning that lasts for more than one hour, fatigue, occasional fever and a general sense of not feeling well.
Your health care provider can help determine what form of arthritis you have an how best to treat it. Remember that there are over 100 forms of arthritis and a proper diagnosis is the key to the right treatment.
Author: Julie Belkin