While Both Are Types Of Arthritis There Are Notable Differences
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is recognized as the most disabling type of arthritis. While they both fall under the “arthritis” umbrella and share certain similarities, these diseases have significant differences.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage that cushions your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks your body’s own tissues in the joints.
Periodontitis And Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Same Inflammatory Mediators
1Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 287a, 00161 Rome, Italy
Abstract
The strict link between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis has been widely demonstrated by several studies. PD is significantly more frequent in RA patients in comparison with healthy subjects: this prevalence is higher in individuals at the earliest stages of disease and in seropositive patients. This is probably related to the role of P. gingivalis in inducing citrullination and leading to the development of the new antigens. Despite the many studies conducted on this topic, there is very little data available concerning the possibility to use the same biomarkers to evaluate both RA and PD patients. The aim of the review is to summarize this issue. Starting from genetic factors, data from literature demonstrated the association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and PD susceptibility, similar to RA patients moreover, SE-positive patients showed simultaneously structural damage to the wrist and periodontal sites. Contrasting results are available concerning other genetic polymorphisms. Moreover, the possible role of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF and IL6 and autoantibodies, specifically anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, has been examined, suggesting the need to perform further studies to better define this issue.
1. Introduction
What Are The Diagnostic Criteria For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Diagnostic criteria are a set of signs, symptoms and test results your provider looks for before telling you that youve got rheumatoid arthritis. Theyre based on years of research and clinical practice. Some people with RA dont have all the criteria. Generally, though, the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Inflammatory arthritis in two or more large joints .
- Inflammatory arthritis in smaller joints.
- Positive biomarker tests like rheumatoid factor or CCP antibodies.
- Elevated levels of CRP or an elevated sed rate.
- Your symptoms have lasted more than six weeks.
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Other Precautions To Take If Youre Immunocompromised
Both the flu and COVID-19 can coincide with pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that may cause mild to severe illness. Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines can help prevent infection by some of the bacteria and viruses that can cause pneumonia, per the CDC.
Your provider may also recommend the pneumococcal vaccine if youre 65 years or older or if youre age 19 through 64 with certain medical conditions or risk factors, according to the CDC. If you receive PCV15, it should be followed by a dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine .
CDC data showed that in the United States during 2018, 1.5 million people were diagnosed with pneumonia in an emergency department and approximately 44,000 people died from it.
But like COVID-19 and the flu, pneumonia is preventable largely by getting vaccinated, but also by other healthy living practices. Overall, you can avoid respiratory infections this winter by washing your hands regularly, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces that are touched a lot, limiting contact with cigarette smoke or quitting smoking, and managing medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.
Also speak to your doctor about preventive medication like Evusheld, which can be taken before exposure to COVID-19 and may provide an extra layer of protection for those who didnt mount a full immune response to the vaccine.
Treatment Of Osteoarthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment options are typically aimed at modulating the immune system to calm inflammation, reduce autoimmune attacks on the joints, and ease symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Aleve , and Aspirin may be used to relieve mild to moderate pain and inflammation in both forms of arthritis. However, the mainstays of RA treatment are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs. DMARDS are designed to modulate the immune system to control the processes that cause inflammation and joint damage. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to repair or replace joints. Read more about rheumatoid arthritis treatments.
With osteoarthritis, symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter and prescribed treatments, including NSAIDs. Heating and icing joints can provide pain relief. Cortisone or hyaluronic acid injections may improve symptoms too. Surgery may be recommended in some cases. DMARDs would not help in cases of osteoarthritis, since OA is not an autoimmune disease.
Condition Guide
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When To Get Medical Advice
See a GP if you think you have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, so they can try to identify the underlying cause.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis quickly is important, because early treatment can prevent it getting worse and reduce the risk of joint damage.
Find out more about diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis: Whats The Connection
PMR is known for causing acute musculoskeletal inflammation in the elderly, whereas RA causes joint pain that can affect anyone of any age, but is often diagnosed in middle age.While both conditions cause pain and stiffness, PMR mostly affects the shoulders. RA is known for affecting joints throughout the body, although it seems to wreak the most havoc to the smaller joints of the hands and feet.
About 30% of people with PMR develop symptoms similar to those that are commonly seen in people with RA. This may include joint swelling and pain and degenerative changes in their joints.
In people who have mild joint inflammation with RA, a PMR misdiagnosis may occur. In fact, up to 20% of people who are diagnosed with PMR are eventually diagnosed with RA.
Proper nutrition, activity, rest and medicinal treatment are important for the management of both PMR and RA. When symptoms are managed, a person can typically return to daily activity and enjoy a quality life.
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Diagnosing Osteoarthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is generally diagnosed through a combination of a physical examination, blood tests, and imaging scans. The evaluation is usually undertaken by a rheumatologist.
Osteoarthritis is also diagnosed with a physical examination and may be followed up with imaging scans, such as an X-Ray. While there is currently no blood test that can identify whether you have osteoarthritis, a joint fluid analysis may be undertaken to rule out other causes for joint pain, such as gout.
When Should I See My Doctor
If you notice symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, or you are concerned that you may have rheumatoid arthritis, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who is a doctor that specialises in joints. It is important to act quickly. The sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to experience permanent joint damage and deformity.
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Most Common Joints Affected
OA can affect any joint, but it tends to happen in joints youâve injured or use over and over. Think knees, hips, back, neck, thumbs, and big toes.
RA can also cause joint problems throughout your body. The disease is especially common in the small joints of your hands and feet. It also strikes shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. Unlike OA, RA tends to leave your back alone.
How Is Ra Treated
RA can be effectively treated and managed with medication and self-management strategies. Treatment for RA usually includes the use of medications that slow disease and prevent joint deformity, called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs biological response modifiers are medications that are an effective second-line treatment. In addition to medications, people can manage their RA with self-management strategies proven to reduce pain and disability, allowing them to pursue the activities important to them. People with RA can relieve pain and improve joint function by learning to use five simple and effective arthritis management strategies.
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How Do Ra And Psa Affect You
When you have RA, your immune system attacks the lining of the tissues around your joints. They swell up and become painful. Over time, they can become damaged and deformed.
With PsA, your immune system attacks and damages not just your joints, but your skin, as well. It causes your body to make too many skin cells, which leads to psoriasis, a skin condition that often affects people with PsA.
Osteoarthritis Vs Arthritis: Whats The Difference
The terms “osteoarthritis” and “arthritis” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same things. Arthritis refers to over 100 joint conditions that cause inflammation of one or more joints, while osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis. Arthritis will affect tissues around the joints and other connective tissues throughout the body.
Osteoarthritis is sometimes called degenerative arthritis, or wear-and-tear arthritis, because it occurs with use over time, as people age. It causes the breakdown of cartilagethe firm, whitish, flexible connective tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet to form a joint.
OA affects 32.5 million adults in the United States. It is the most common form of arthritis, followed by rheumatoid arthritis a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause severe joint damage and affect the organs and connective tissues throughout the body, as well. OA is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
This article will cover osteoarthritis symptoms, causes, treatment, and more.
seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images
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Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis
There is no cure for RA. But it is important to help keep your joints working well by reducing pain and inflammation. Work on a treatment plan with your healthcare provider that includes medicine and physical therapy. Work on lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life. Lifestyle changes include:
- Activity and rest. To reduce stress on your joints, switch between activity and rest. This can help protect your joints and lessen your symptoms.
- Using assistive devices. Canes, crutches, and walkers can help to keep stress off certain joints and to improve balance.
- Using adaptive equipment. Reachers and grabbers let you extend your reach and reduce straining. Dressing aids help you get dressed more easily.
- Managing the use of medicines. Medicines for this condition have some risks. Work with your healthcare provider to create a plan to reduce this risk.
- Seeking support. Find a support group that can help you deal with the effects of RA.
What Is The Difference Between Arthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint or joints resulting in pain and/or disability, joint swelling, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes synovial inflammation.
With regard to the difference between arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, the symptoms in arthritis differ depending on the form of arthritis. However, there is a spectrum of symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. More details are below.
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Which Is More Painful
Arthritis pain varies in intensity among people who have it.
People with either OA or RA may have pain thats mild to severe, and difficulty moving affected joints.
While people with OA may have morning stiffness that lasts fewer than 30 minutes, it lasts longer for people with RA.
RA may also cause other uncomfortable symptoms such as fever and fatigue.
Symptoms Of Ra And Psa
Both RA and PsA cause joint swelling, stiffness, and pain. Although both conditions affect joints in the fingers and toes, they do it in slightly different ways. And each one can cause other symptoms, too.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
- Often starts in the smaller joints, like the ones in your fingers and toes over time, it may affect other joints, too, like your wrists, knees, hips, and ankles.
- Usually shows up on the same joints on both sides of your body that means it’s symmetric.
- Often makes joints feel stiffer in the morning
- Can lead to fatigue, low-grade fever, and weight loss
Psoriatic arthritis:
- Can affect joints in the back and pelvis in addition to the ones in fingers and toes
- Often affects only one side of your body that means it’s asymmetric.
- Sometimes causes foot pain, especially on the sole of your foot or the back of your heel
- May make your fingers swell up like sausages
- May make your nails pit and flake
- Tends to affect entheses, areas where tendons or ligaments attach to bones
With both conditions, you’ll probably have times when your symptoms get worse. These are called flares. In between these flares are times without symptoms called remissions.
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Pearls And Other Issues
Rheumatoid spondylitis in elective surgery:
- Any patient with RA should have flexion/extension films prior to having elective surgery
- RA spondylitis most commonly affects the occipitoatlantoaxial joint
- Ranawat grade IIIB patients have high associated morbidity when it comes to performing surgical intervention — thus the literature is very controversial with respect to the use of surgery in this unique subset of RA spondylitis patients
What Happens In A Joint Affected By Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system can cause inflammation inside a joint or a number of joints. Inflammation is normally an important part of how your immune system works. It allows the body to send extra fluid and blood to a part of the body under attack from an infection. For example, if you have a cut that gets infected, the skin around it can become swollen and a different colour.
However, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, this inflammation in the joint is unnecessary and causes problems.
When the inflammation goes down, the capsule around the synovium remains stretched and cant hold the joint in its proper position. This can cause the joint to become unstable and move into unusual positions.
The following can play a part in why someone has rheumatoid arthritis:
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Who Should Diagnose And Treat Ra
A doctor or a team of doctors who specialize in care of RA patients should diagnose and treat RA. This is especially important because the signs and symptoms of RA are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other inflammatory joint diseases. Doctors who specialize in arthritis are called rheumatologists, and they can make the correct diagnosis. To find a provider near you, visit the database of rheumatologistsexternal icon on the American College of Rheumatology website.
Other Types Of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common arthritis type, but it is not the only type. Other common types of arthritis are RA, psoriatic arthritis , and gout:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: RA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy body tissuesmainly the synovial linings of joints. RA can also affect the organs, including the skin, heart, lungs, and kidneys. The cause of RA and other autoimmune diseases is unknown, but these conditions tend to run in families and are linked to specific gene mutations.
- Psoriatic arthritis: PsA is also an autoimmune disease. With PsA, the immune system attacks the skin, joints, and enthesesareas where tendons and ligaments meet bones. PsA often occurs in people with the autoimmune skin condition psoriasis, but it is possible to have PsA and never have psoriasis.
- Gout: Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis resulting from the buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint. The toe or other foot areas are often affected, but gout can occur in other joints, including the ankles, elbows, and fingers.
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Summary Arthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis can be defined as inflammation of the joint or joints resulting in pain and disability, joint swelling, and stiffness whereas rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes synovial inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is, therefore, a subgroup of arthritis. Therefore, the symptoms in arthritis differ depending on the form of arthritis and in rheumatoid arthritis, there is a spectrum of symptoms.
Reference:
1.Parveen Kumar. Kumar and Clarks Clinical Medicine. Edited by Michael L Clark, 8th ed.
Image Courtesy:
2.6942317880 by david__jones via Flickr
Are Rheumatism And Osteoarthritis The Same Thing
As stated above, rheumatism is not an individual diagnosis as opposed to osteoarthritis. However, it is not surprising that many people find it difficult to distinguish between the different terms and diseases. A long time ago, before we knew much about the different diseases and what caused them, essentially all joint problems were known as rheumatism. Progress in medical research has made it clear that there are several different diseases with different causes. These diseases also have different symptoms, even if they are similar.
Osteoarthritis is one of the diseases which used to be called rheumatism in a general way, but today it has a separate diagnosis. However, osteoarthritis is often included in the group of rheumatic diseases, although this controversial. Read more about osteoarthritis. If the term rheumatism is used to refer to the disease rheumatoid arthritis, that is not the same thing as osteoarthritis either. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune inflammation of the joints. There is more information about the similarities and differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis here.
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