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Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis? There are a lot of details to know. Read all of them below now.
If you are struggling with joint pain and stiffness, you might be battling with Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis. They are both amongst the most forms of Arthritis but stem from different causes and require different treatments.
Rheumatoid causes much more inflammation as compared to Osteoarthritis. While RA and OA share some symptoms, RA can affect multiple joints and develops symmetrically on both sides of the body. OA generally affects a few joints and usually develops on one side.
Causes of OA and RA
All our joints contain protective tissues that prevent the scraping of bones against each other. Arthritis damages the protective tissues but the causes of joint damage are different for both RA and OA.
RA is an autoimmune disease in which your immune cells mistakenly attack the healthy tissue joints. Your body releases an enzyme that destroys the linings of the joints and leads to pain, stiffness, and swelling. Furthermore, other symptoms also develop throughout the body.
For OA, the protective cartilage gradually wears down which causes the bones to rub together. Due to repetitive movements, the wear and tear can accelerate further which leads to bone spurs and causes the joints to become stiff and painful. The risks of developing both OA and RA increase with age.
Symptoms of QA and RA
Once to decide to see the doctor for joint pain, it is important to offer as much detail as possible so he/she can make the correct diagnosis. Generally, RA attacks smaller joints and OA affects the most commonly used joints and weight-bearing ones.
Most Common Signs and Symptoms of RA
- Morning Stiffness that lasts an hour or more.
- Fatigue.
- Low fevers.
- Low appetite.
- Lumps that grow under the skin (these aren’t common).
Most Common Signs and Symptoms of OA
- Pain and stiffness.
- Swollen joints.
- Cracking, and Grinding noises when you move the joint.
- Joints don’t work the way that they should.
Diagnosis of QA and RA
The doctor will begin the diagnosis with a physical examination, take your medical history, and recommend various diagnostic tests. Diagnoses of these conditions can be quite challenging as they often overlap especially in the early stages of the disease.
Blood tests for RA can be extremely helpful to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. The tests take into account different biomarkers such as cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatoid factor. The doctor will also check levels of C-reactive protein antibody protein that is an indicator of inflammation. In addition to the blood tests, the doctor might order X-rays, MRI scans, ultrasound scans to determine the extent and location of damage from the disease.
Treatment for OA and RA
Well both RA and OA are chronic conditions that do not go away completely. There isn’t any cure as of yet. However, these conditions can be managed with the right treatment which will help improve the overall quality of life. It will slow down the progression of the disease.
The treatment may involve nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that minimize inflammation. It helps alleviate pain, stiffness and significantly improve the range of motion. In some cases, the doctor might inject a steroid into the affected joints that instantly reduces inflammation.
For treating RA, the American College of Rheumatology recommends using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), alongside NSAIDs, steroids, and biologic medications. DMARDs suppress the immune system and minimize the damage to tissues in the joints.
In some cases, the treatment plans for both RA and OA involve physical therapy as it makes the joints more flexible and improves mobility significantly.
Consuming a healthy diet and sticking to an appropriate exercise plan helps. Maintaining a healthy weight helps prevent excessive pressure on joints. It is also advised to quit smoking and drinking as it improves your overall health.
Drugs for RA
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They are extremely beneficial to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories that help regulate your immune system.
- Disease-modifying drugs slow the course of the disease; DMARDs and biological drugs
- Acetaminophen works well to educes pain but has no impact on inflammation
- Compounding Medication for RA.
Drugs for OA
- Rub-on creams and gels that help minimize pain.
- NSAIDs aka Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Pain-relieving drugs like acetaminophen are also prescribed to patients.
- Cymbalta is actually antidepressant drug duloxetine but can ease chronic pain.
- Joint injections for immediate relief.
- Compounding Medication for OA.
Compounding Treatment for Arthritis
Sometimes, anti-inflammatory oral medications lead to gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. The abdominal side effects and the limited benefit of oral remedies justify the use of topical medications instead and call for compounding. Custom-made compounding medication is unique to you and offers promising results, minus all the side effects. Some of the top benefits of compounding include:
- Most patients experience a rapid relief in arthritis symptoms.
- It allows targeted medication to the pain site.
- Prescription-strength relief targeted to the pain site.
- A great alternative to opioids and other medications that can lead to dependence.
- Compounding can offer non-habit forming drugs.
- Unlike conventional meds, compounding medications do not have systemic side effects.
- You don’t have to tolerate the odor or unpleasant smell of drugs with compounding.
- Say goodbye to the side effects of conventional arthritis medication such as drowsiness or stomach upset.
- Patients can enjoy customized dosing and formulations as per their unique needs.
Outlook
Now you know the differences between Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis. Both are chronic conditions that lead to pain and stiffness in the joints. Without proper treatment, the conditions can worsen over time and can have a bad impact on a person’s day-to-day living.
Similar problems can stem from both of these conditions but it is important to keep in mind that both have different causes and treatments. OA generally affects fewer joints and symptoms will generally be limited to the joints. On the other hand, it is very difficult to predict the progression of RA and can lead to widespread symptoms.
The outlook for people with RA has improved over the years due to advances in research. If detected early, doctors can prevent or at least slow down the projection of the disease with appropriate treatment.