Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis – What’s the Difference?
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and occurs when the cartilage in your joint wears down. The cartilage in your joint is a protective structure that helps the joint to move smoothly. As this wears down with osteoarthritis it can lead to “bone on bone” friction within the joint. In addition to a breakdown of the cartilage, osteoarthritis can affect the bones themselves and cause damage to the connective tissue that supports the joint and connects muscle to bone. There can be inflammation involved with this as well. Osteoarthritis is a normal part of the aging process and is very likely to occur in at least one of the joints in your body at some point in your lifetime.
Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in your body and can affect more than just your joints. Autoimmune means that your body is mistakenly attacking the tissues in your body. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joint, leading to inflammation which over time causes the bone to erode and the joint to become deformed. In addition to affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, salivary glands, nerve tissue, bone marrow and blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis can come in “flares” meaning that there can be periods of time where your body basically goes into remission with no symptoms and then later returns.
In summary, the main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is what causes the joint symptoms/deformities. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear to the joint whereas rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your body attacks its own tissues leading to joint damage.
So how do you know which type of arthritis you have? You should be examined by your physician to get a specific diagnosis. While osteoarthritis typically occurs later in life from wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age as it is an autoimmune disease. It is important to note however that osteoarthritis in some instances can occur in younger years as well so age alone cannot determine which type of arthritis you have. As far as diagnostics, osteoarthritis cannot be detected by a blood test; however, with rheumatoid arthritis there may be specific markers found in the blood that can help to diagnose the rheumatoid. Another determining factor can be how quickly onset of disease occurs. Meaning, osteoarthritis typically has a slow progression/worsening over time, whereas rheumatoid arthritis can have a more sudden onset of severe pain and joint damage. Another difference between the two is that osteoarthritis is likely to be localized to a specific joint whereas rheumatoid is a systemic disease and may affect the entire body and will likely be symmetrical, meaning that both hands could be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis may also be accompanied by other symptoms including fever, achiness all over and fatigue.
What can you do to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis besides taking medication? Unfortunately neither type of arthritis can be reversed; however, exercise and activity modification have been proven effective for reducing/managing symptoms of both types of arthritis. It is important to keep the muscles surrounding a joint both strong and flexible to decrease any added stress that may be put on the joint if the muscles are unable to do their part in supporting the joint with strength or are adding additional compression to the joint because they are too tight. Activity modification may involve changing the way you do some of your daily tasks and/or using assistive devices to reduce load on your joints. Your Physical Therapy team can teach you modifications and exercises that are individualized to your specific needs.
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