Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis
What is the difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Do your joints hurt? Especially first thing in the morning?
If they do, have you wondered if you have arthritis?
If you have, have you been unsure about whether it is rheumatoid or osteoarthritis?
What is the difference anyway?
Pain is pain after all, so how does it matter why it is hurting?
Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, while causing joint pain, have very different origins and manifestations.
Rheumatoid is an autoimmune disease where the body is mistakenly attacking its own tissue, particularly the joints. It manifests in multiple joints, often in a symmetrical fashion.
Both joints in the hands getting affected. Fatigue and fever typically comes alongside.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints, caused by the breakdown of the cartilage around the joins. It manifests in the joint that has witnessed wear and tear. Knee, spine or hands. Pain is common, and it gets worse with use.
The treatment differs significantly, therefore understanding the underlying cause is important.
In Rheumatoid, your goal is to slow down or stop the autoimmune condition. The doctor administers pain killers depending on severity.
But your primary course of action would be to take disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or steroids. A doctor might administer pain killers or agents that block the immune function responsible for the flare up.
In osteoarthritis, while age is blamed, more likely, the cause is a weak scaffolding. Your body exerts pressure (weight) on itself every time you sit, stand, or move.
The body distributes the pressure across your muscle, tendons and joints. Naturally, if any part of this scaffolding is weak, something else has to bear the burden. Here, if your muscles are weak, your joints end up taking the pressure.
Over the years, the pressure causes wear and tear, made worse by a poor diet that is nutritionally deficient.
No, I am not saying it is your fault. Merely saying that it is possible to slow down the progression of a very painful condition.
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