Gout Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
The terms gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are often used interchangeably. After all, both types of arthritis cause painful swelling of the joints and can stiffen them, making natural movement difficult. Despite some similarities in symptoms when it comes to gout vs. rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologists can typically the two illnesses apart. In reality, the causes and treatments for each condition are entirely different.
Treatment for these types of disorders should begin as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of flare-ups. Not only that, but both illnesses are progressive, meaning that if they are not treated appropriately, they will worsen with time. In the long run, both conditions have the potential to cause irreversible damage.
Let’s take a deeper look at the symptoms of gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Even better, we will discuss healthy habits and foods to help reduce gout and RA symptoms.
Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gout
Because they are both forms of inflammatory arthritis, RA and gout share some of the same symptoms. Both can cause pain, inflammation and redness, swollen joints, and visible nodules . RA and gout can also cause stiffness in the affected joints, limiting the joints range of motion over time. These similarities may appear to make the two conditions indiscernible, but the location and onset of pain can help set them apart.
Risk Factors For Gout
Obesity, excessive weight gain, especially in youth, moderate to heavy alcohol intake, high blood pressure, diabetes, and abnormal kidney function are among the risk factors for developing gout. Certain drugs and diseases can also cause elevated levels of uric acid. Also, there is an increased prevalence of abnormally low thyroid hormone levels in patients with gout.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gout Comorbidities
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, infections, mental health conditions, and malignancies such as leukemia or multiple myeloma.
Gout, on the other hand, has been associated with kidney stones and kidney disease , diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Many of gout comorbidities are due to the fact that they share similar risk factors. For example, in both sleep apnea and gout, obesity is a common risk factor, the same can be said for diabetes.
Comparison Of Gout And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Symptoms
Both gout and rheumatoid arthritis can be accompanied by fever, joint pain, swelling, and chills since both of them are involved in the autoimmune responses. However, it is uncommon for gout to go with stiffness, not like rheumatoid arthritis that typically comes with stiffness during the morning. Redness, tenderness, and warmth of the affected area are present in both of the types of arthritis. The signs of gout typically vanish, while the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis will not. Actually, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms become worst over the course of time.
Cause
Gout is mainly due to the uric acid crystallization in the joints. The uric acid crystal will then be attacked by the immune system thus causing pain and inflammation. Quite the reverse, rheumatoid arthritis is due to the own attacking of the immune system on the joints.
Pattern of Attack
Gout assaults only the synovial joints while rheumatoid arthritis may attack any type of joints in the body. Typically, gout starts by attacking the big toe and the attack will spread towards the joints on the upper body after a long period of time From time to time, it will not at all spread.
On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis may affect the symmetrical joints. This just means that if it distresses the right wrist, the other wrist will also be affected.
Diagnosis
Duration of Attack
Sign of Attack
Complication
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Can You Have Gout And Ra
Rheumatoid arthritis and gout coexistence is completely possible, mainly because of their differences in causes. Gout is caused by high uric acid levels, primarily due to dietary factors. Therefore, if you have rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disease and eat a high-uric acid diet, that can cause the formation of gout within rheumatoid arthritis.
Furthermore, the same diet that can contribute to gout can also lead to obesity, adding excess weight onto the joints that are already feeling the pain from RA. This added stress can worsen rheumatoid arthritis symptoms along with gout symptoms. Overall, its important to eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight if you are living with gout and RA.
Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Mistaken For Gout
Doctors do not usually have much difficulty telling gout and rheumatoid arthritis apart. This is because attacks of gout are usually clear-cut with dramatic, intense joint pain. This is in contrast to RA where the pain tends to be more insidious in onset.
Besides the symptoms, the patients age and gender also provide clues. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone but is much more common in women during their reproductive years. Gout tends to occur in two age groups: late 20s/early 30s and 70s and 80s, and is more common in men than women.
High uric acid levels in the blood of a patient with symptoms of gout are considered diagnostic of gout. There is no specific blood test for rheumatoid arthritis RA. Doctors check for the presence of certain antibodies like antinuclear antibodies, anti-CCP antibodies, and rheumatoid factor that can point towards a diagnosis of RA. They also check for anemia which is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Imaging tests like x-rays can help physicians make the diagnosis of RA vs gout. Tophi, a deposit of monosodium urate crystals in the joints, can sometimes be seen on the x-rays. However, the patients symptoms, physical examination, and blood uric acid levels are sufficient to make a diagnosis of gout.
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How Can I Manage My Gout And Improve My Quality Of Life
Gout affects many aspects of daily living, including work and leisure activities. Fortunately, there are many low-cost self-management strategies that are proven to improve the quality of life of people with gout.
For gout in particular:
- Eat a healthy diet. Avoid foods that may trigger a gout flare, including foods high in purines , and limit alcohol intake .
CDCs Arthritis Program recommends five self-management strategies for managing arthritis and its symptoms. These can help with gout as well.
Signs And Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gout
Common signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness experienced for at least six weeks
- Morning stiffness lasting for at least 30 minutes or more
- More than one joint affected by swelling, stiffness, or pain
- Symptoms experienced in small joints, such as in the hands or feet
- Same joints on either side of the body affected
- Dryness and pain in the eyes along with sensitivity to light
- Dryness and gum irritation in the mouth
- Small lumps under the skin
- Shortness of breath and scarring of the lungs
- Inflammation of blood vessels
Common signs and symptoms of gout are:
- Intense joint pain, especially in the large toe
- Lingering discomfort even after the intense pain has subsided
- Inflammation and redness of the affected joint
- Limited range of motion
If a fever develops or the joint feels hot to touch, see your doctor right away. Gout can be successfully managed as long as your doctor is aware of your condition.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Gout
Gout flares start suddenly and can last days or weeks. These flares are followed by long periods of remissionweeks, months, or yearswithout symptoms before another flare begins. Gout usually occurs in only one joint at a time. It is often found in the big toe. Along with the big toe, joints that are commonly affected are the lesser toe joints, the ankle, and the knee.
Symptoms in the affected joint may include:
- Pain, usually intense
Do Ra And Gout Have The Same Cause
Rheumatoid arthritis and gout both are types of arthritis, but the underlying causes are completely different. RA is an autoimmune condition. It happens when your bodyâs immune system attacks the tissue that lines your joints. This attack causes painful swelling, inflammation, and joint deformity. Since RA is an immune system disease , it can affect other parts of the body, too, including the skin, eyes, and heart.
Gout affects people with too much uric acid in their blood. Your body creates this type of acid when it breaks down certain foods, including meat. Your kidneys normally get rid of it when you pee. But when thereâs too much of it in your system, the uric acid can form crystals. These needle shaped crystals build up in joints and surrounding tissue where they can cause pain and inflammation.
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What Medications Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
Early treatment with certain drugs can improve your long-term outcome. Combinations of drugs may be more effective than, and appear to be as safe as, single-drug therapy.
There are many medications to decrease joint pain, swelling and inflammation, and to prevent or slow down the disease. Medications that treat rheumatoid arthritis include:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Biologics tend to work rapidly within two to six weeks. Your provider may prescribe them alone or in combination with a DMARD like methotrexate.
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis To Flare Up
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more sinister forms of arthritis. Not only can the damage to your joints lead to swelling, stiffness and pain, there’s no way to undo it aka, it’s permanent.
With rheumatoid arthritis, there’s likely always some low level of inflammation affecting your joints, but it can also flare up in response to stress or, believe or not, the weather specifically, rain.
“When you’re stressed, either mentally or physically, your body is less equipped to handle the inflammation caused by your condition,” explains Dr. Alam. “Since it leads to swelling and stiffness, more inflammation means more intense pain.”
As for why a change in weather might trigger a flare up of rheumatoid arthritis, it’s all about joints under pressure.
“Changes in weather, such as rain, are often accompanied by changes in air pressure, and this change is thought to affect the pressure within your joints making any underlying swelling feel more painful,” explains Dr. Alam.
While you can’t control the weather, you can take steps to reduce your stress levels. And when a flare up hits, you can use a cold compress to reduce the inflammation that’s causing some of your pain.
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The Role Of Blood Tests
With no definitive blood test available for RA, doctors instead look for certain antibodies in the blood that would suggest its presence, such as antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. Your rheumatologist will also order a complete blood count to see if you have anemia, which is common among those with RA.
RA is more difficult to identify than gout because measuring the amount of uric acid in the blood is considered a definitive test for gout, Dr. Portnoff says. However, levels of uric acid are actually lower during a gout flare, so your doctor will want to repeat the test when symptoms subside.
Could It Be Gout Or Rheumatoid Arthritis
Date: 12/16/2021 | Topics : About Gout,
Gout and rheumatoid arthritis are forms of arthritis with similar symptoms and comparable patterns of flares and remission.1,2 They can seem so similar, in fact, they are sometimes mistaken for one another until a doctor provides the official diagnosis.3,4,5 In spite of their similarities, however, gout and RA are distinctly different conditions.1,2 Have you ever had pain, swelling and/or stiffness in a joint and wondered, Could it be gout or rheumatoid arthritis? If you have, read on to find out more about gout and RA, what causes these diseases and why it is so important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and management advice.1,2
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The Sharp Pain During A Gout Flare Can Usually Help Distinguish The Two
At first glance, it might seem like gout and rheumatoid arthritis arent so different. Both cause pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints that can limit your range of motion. However, the cause differs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the bodys own immune system attacks the joints, whereas the pain of gout is due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. But despite some similarities in symptoms, rheumatologists usually dont have much trouble telling the two conditions apart.
Cases of gout are often clear-cut because the flash of pain patients experience during a flare is so dramatic, says Kelly A. Portnoff, MD, a rheumatologist at The Portland Clinic in Portland, Oregon. It feels like a hot poker in their joint. Whereas if you have RA, the pain kind of creeps up on you.
A patients age also provides clues. While rheumatoid arthritis can affect almost anyone, it most often first appears in women in their reproductive years. Gout tends to arise in one of two life stages: the late twenties/early thirties and the seventies and eighties.
When gout strikes earlier, its often due to lifestyle factors that promote high levels of uric acid, such as meat-heavy diet and excessive alcohol intake, Dr. Portnoff says. When gout appears later in life, its more likely the result of kidney damage or health conditions that increase the risk of gout, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Gout Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis What Is The Difference
2 minute read
Gout and rheumatoid arthritis are common bone and joint diseases mostly found in Thai population and worldwide. Since both types of orthopedic problems affect the joints and causing pain and inflammation, gout and rheumatoid arthritis can be generally confused with each another. Knowing the differences of these diseases helps to get accurate diagnosis and receive appropriate treatments in time.
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Common Symptoms Of Gout
Pain that migrates: Gout usually affects the big toe, but it can also occur in the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. The symptoms are rarely symmetrical, and the location varies from flare to flare. For example, an attack in the left big toe might be followed by an attack in the right toe, and the next gout attack might strike one of the knees or wrists.
Fever: People with RA do sometimes experience a fever, but its much more commonly seen in those with gout, says Dr. Portnoff: The burden of inflammation in a gout flare and the bodys robust response to it can be so great that it causes a fever.
Tophi: Over time, people with chronic gout can develop tiny, hard lumps in the affected joints. These lumps, called tophi, are concentrations of uric acid crystals. They can also form in the kidneys and lead to kidney stones.
What Does The Future Hold For Gout
Active research is ongoing in a variety of fields related to gout and hyperuricemia. Scientists have found that high animal protein slightly increased the risk for gout. New drugs are being developed that may be more versatile and safe in treating the elevated uric acid levels in patients with chronic gout.
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What Are The Four Stages Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Stage 1: In early stage rheumatoid arthritis, the tissue around your joint is inflamed. You may have some pain and stiffness. If your provider ordered X-rays, they wouldnt see destructive changes in your bones.
- Stage 2: The inflammation has begun to damage the cartilage in your joints. You might notice stiffness and a decreased range of motion.
- Stage 3: The inflammation is so severe that it damages your bones. Youll have more pain, stiffness and even less range of motion than in stage 2, and you may start to see physical changes.
- Stage 4: In this stage, the inflammation stops but your joints keep getting worse. Youll have severe pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility.
Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis tends to impact the smaller joints first before spreading to larger areas like the wrists, elbows, shoulders, or hips. And, symptoms can also occur in places that arent joints such as the skin, eyes, internal organs, and nerve tissue. The most common signs of RA include:
- Tender, warm, swollen joints
- Joint stiffness thats usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
- Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
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Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause Gout
The rheumatoid arthritis is actually a kind of an autoimmune disease. There are various studies that suggest rheumatoid arthritis and gout can be in connection with each other. In fact, one study states that it is possibly true that the flares or attacks that rheumatoid arthritis might actually be flares of gout as well. Always bear in mind that the awareness that gout exists in a certain patient with RA may lead to a much better management of gout to those patients.