What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis

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The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness , is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health , plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise , pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. I want to get healthier. These tests look for different biomarkers in the blood, such as cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatoid factor.

A doctor may also check levels of the C-reactive protein antibody, a marker that indicates inflammation. RA and OA are chronic conditions, which means that they do not go away. There is currently no cure, but treatments can help a person manage their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and slow the progression of the condition. Treatment may involve using medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs to reduce inflammation.

This can help alleviate pain and stiffness and improve the range of motion. Doctors may also recommend steroid-based medications to reduce inflammation. For example, they may inject steroids directly into the affected joints when it is important to reduce inflammation immediately. DMARDs aim to suppress the immune system and reduce its damage to tissues in the joints.

The treatment plans for RA and OA also often involve physical therapy. This helps improve mobility and keep the joints flexible. Having a healthy diet and sticking to an appropriate exercise plan can also help. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent excess pressure on the joints. Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke are also a good idea, particularly for people with RA.

Which foods are good for people with arthritis? RA and OA are chronic conditions that cause pain and stiffness in the joints. Both can worsen over time without appropriate treatment.

The two conditions can cause similar symptoms, but they have different causes and treatments. OA usually affects fewer joints, and its symptoms are generally limited to the joints.

The progression of RA is more difficult to predict, and it can cause more widespread symptoms. The outlook for people with RA has greatly improved due to advances in research and therapies. Doctors can usually prevent or slow the progression of the disease with effective treatment.

In rheumatoid arthritis RA , a person's immune system attacks their joints, causing them to become inflamed. Early signs include fatigue, fever, and…. Brain fog is a less well-known symptom of rheumatoid arthritis RA.

People with RA may have difficulty concentrating, or they may have memory…. Swelling around a joint is a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. It often appears around the hands and feet and is caused by inflammation or a….

Learn about eight hand exercises for arthritis, and what equipment is necessary, here. This article also covers causes of arthritis and other…. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Topic Overview Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis.

Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis Characteristic Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis Age at which the condition starts It may begin any time in life. It usually begins later in life. Speed of onset Relatively rapid, over weeks to months Slow, over years Joint symptoms Joints are painful, swollen, and stiff.

Joints ache and may be tender but have little or no swelling. Pattern of joints that are affected It often affects small and large joints on both sides of the body symmetrical , such as both hands, both wrists or elbows, or the balls of both feet. Duration of morning stiffness Morning stiffness usually lasts longer than 1 hour.

Presence of symptoms affecting the whole body systemic Frequent fatigue and a general feeling of being ill are present.

Whole-body symptoms are not present. Related Information Rheumatoid Arthritis Osteoarthritis.