Arthritis is a general term used to describe joint inflammation. However, there are different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which have distinct causes and treatments. This article delves deeper into these differences.
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Two Distinct Conditions
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the degeneration of cartilage and the breakdown of bone at joint surfaces. This leads to an increase in synovial fluid within the joint, causing swelling, stiffness, and pain. Osteoarthritis typically develops after the age of 50 and is very common among older adults.
RA (rheumatoid arthritis) is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints but can also impact the eyes, heart, lungs, and nerves. It generally affects individuals between the ages of 30 and 60 but can develop at any age, including in childhood.
RA occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the membrane lining the joints without any apparent cause. This triggers inflammation and damages both the cartilage and underlying bone. Known as “pannus”, the inflamed synovial membrane thickens over time. A typical consequence is the progressive deformation of the bones in the hands and feet.
The Causes of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is the result of natural aging and external factors, including injuries, repetitive strain on the joints, family history, and genetics. Over time, cartilage cells gradually transform into bone, leading to painful friction between joints. Osteoarthritis symptoms develop slowly and worsen gradually over several years.
For RA, no specific cause has been identified despite extensive research into genetic and ethnic factors. Since RA affects individuals from diverse backgrounds, pinpointing a single cause remains challenging.
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis symptoms primarily include joint stiffness and pain, which are limited to the affected joints. Additionally, the pain tends to worsen at night, and morning stiffness usually lasts less than 30 minutes. Osteoarthritis-related pain may intensify after physical activity or pressure on the joints, and sensations of grinding or cracking may occur when the affected joints are in motion. If swelling is present, it is generally mild.
Osteoarthritis typically affects major joints such as the knee, hip, or shoulder. Asymmetrical osteoarthritis is common, but it can also cause pain in the spine and hamstrings.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
In the case of RA, joint-related symptoms include morning stiffness lasting more than an hour, symmetrical joint pain, joint deformities, and restricted movement.
RA is a systemic disease that typically affects three or more joints on both sides of the body in a symmetrical pattern. It most commonly affects small joints but can also impact the knees, feet, and ankles. Over time, affected joints may lose their range of motion and become deformed.
Additionally, people with RA often feel generally unwell and fatigued in addition to experiencing joint pain. Non-joint-related symptoms are also common and may include fever, chest pain when breathing, dry eyes and mouth, fatigue, malaise, nodules under the skin in severe cases, numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the hands and feet, and sleep disturbances.
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How Are These Two Conditions Diagnosed?
Osteoarthritis is diagnosed using imaging tests, such as X-rays and MRIs, which help detect joint damage and cartilage deterioration. To diagnose RA, blood tests are conducted to confirm the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. A physical examination is also performed to assess tenderness, redness, swelling, and the range of motion of affected joints.
RA can be challenging to diagnose because it may start with subtle symptoms, such as joint pain or morning stiffness, which resemble those of other conditions like osteoarthritis. In the early stages, no definitive test exists to confirm an RA diagnosis.
What Are the Treatment Options?
The goal of treating both RA and osteoarthritis is to relieve pain, manage symptoms, and prevent further joint damage. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, there are also effective natural alternatives available, including dietary supplements that help reduce pain and swelling.
For Osteoarthritis
Taking specially formulated dietary supplements can help relieve inflammatory pain on one hand and strengthen damaged cartilage on the other. This is particularly true for supplements containing anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin, which can be naturally optimized to enhance its effects, along with collagen to help "rebuild" the joints.
Heat therapy, rest, weight loss, and massage also contribute to pain management. More broadly, adopting a more active lifestyle combined with an anti-inflammatory diet and weight management can help alleviate osteoarthritis and make it manageable without being disabling.
In more severe cases, and as a last resort, osteoarthritis is sometimes treated with steroid injections directly into the joints to relieve pain and restore function. Physical therapy can also play a crucial role in maintaining mobility and reducing discomfort.
For Rheumatoid Arthritis
The progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unpredictable, and numerous complications can arise from this autoimmune disease. Since RA varies from patient to patient, there is no universal prognosis.
However, many new treatments have been developed over the past 30 years. These aim to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, prevent joint damage, and slow disease progression. As a result, individuals with RA today enjoy a significantly better quality of life than those diagnosed two decades ago.
It is possible to reduce inflammatory pain with natural solutions such as curcumin, which should be highly optimized for better absorption. Its benefits are scientifically proven. Additionally, an increasing number of studies highlight the negative impact of chronic stress on the onset and progression of this disease. Therefore, managing stress through natural solutions (magnesium, probiotics, and Ashwagandha) may help counteract RA.
In advanced cases, medications may be prescribed to halt the progression and prevent joint destruction.
References :
- Susanne Grässel, Dominique Muschter - Recent advances in the treatment of osteoarthritis - F1000Res - 2020 ; 9 : F1000 Faculty Rev-325
- Jennifer Freeman - RA vs. OA: Which is Worse – Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis ? - Aug 25, 2020
- Jasvinder A. Singh ,Kenneth G. Saag,S, Louis Bridges Jr, Elie A. Akl, Raveendhara R. Bannuru, Matthew C. Sullivan, Elizaveta Vaysbrot, Christine McNaughton, Mikala Osani... 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis - Arthritis Care & Research - Nov 06 2015 - 1.105
- Azad Mohammed, Taraf Alshamarri, Temilayo Adeyeye, Victoria Lazariu, Louise-Anne McNutt, and David O. Carpenter - A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data - Prev Med Rep - 2020 Dec ; 20 : 101242.