Zemin Rheumatoid Arthritis LLC

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)

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RA VS OA

2016/11/10 10:22:12Author: admin

RA VS. OA

How do rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis differ?

Although they have similar names and some common symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) have very different cause, paths of progression and treatment. Below are the basic differences between RA and OA.

 

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Osteoarthritis

  TYPE OF DISEASE

 

Autoimmune disease

 

 Known as the “wear and tear” type of arthritis and is associated with factors   such as aging, injury or obesity

  SYMPTOMS

 

Joint pain, swelling and stiffness; decreased range of motion; fever,     fatigue and loss of energy can also   occur

Joint stiffness, pain and decreased range of motion

 

  LOCATION OF SYMPTOMS

 

Often causes swelling in pairs of  joints especially smaller ones (both   hands, both ankles, etc.)

 Usually affects weight-bearing joints  (e.g, back, hip, knee) as well as the  neck, small finger joints and big toe

  TIME OF DAY

 

Generally worse in the morning or after long rest and lack of activity

Tends to get worse with activity throughout the day

 

  AGE OF ONSET

Usually occurs between 30 and 50 years of age, though can occur at any age

Most commonly affects middle-aged and older people

 

PREVALENCE

Approximately 1.3 million people have RA in the United States

An estimated 27 million people have osteoarthritis in the United States