Rheumatoid Arthritis: 13 Things You Should Know

Most people with arthritis have osteoarthritis, which commonly occurs with age.

But there's another type called rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a serious autoimmune disease. The two are often confused -- which can be endlessly frustrating for those with RA.

"Everybody says that arthritis is one word," says Christopher Evans, DSc, Ph.D., the Maurice Mueller Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "But the conditions are quite different."

Here are 13 ways to tell the two apart.

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While osteoarthritis is typically a disease of older people -- often thought to be the result of years of wear and tear -- RA can come on quickly at any age, even in children. The average onset of RA is between 30 and 50 years old; osteoarthritis strikes most people later in life. (It's called juvenile RA when it occurs before age 16.) "Unless you've been banged up on a sports field or in a car crash, it's very unusual to see someone with osteoarthritis at a young age," says Evans. More From Health.com: 10 Ways to Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain 6 Dietary Changes That May Help Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain 20 Gifts for Adults or Children With Arthritis

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While osteoarthritis is typically a disease of older people -- often thought to be the result of years of wear and tear -- RA can come on quickly at any age, even in children.

The average onset of RA is between 30 and 50 years old; osteoarthritis strikes most people later in life. (It's called juvenile RA when it occurs before age 16.)

"Unless you've been banged up on a sports field or in a car crash, it's very unusual to see someone with osteoarthritis at a young age," says Evans.

More From Health.com:
10 Ways to Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
6 Dietary Changes That May Help Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
20 Gifts for Adults or Children With Arthritis

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Comments

[Mariele]

12:42 AM on 02/08/2011

What I find interesting is that with the proliferation of autoimmune diseases - RA, diabetes, celiac, lupus, crohn's, thyroid - each one is considered a separate "specialty". If they are all sourced to the body's immune system - why aren't they looked at as one systemic issue?

[pasquin]

03:51 PM on 01/16/2011

As a person with RA, I think the simple differences between OA and RA that are highlighted here is a good starting point for people to use when trying to explain to their friends or family members what RA is. Since a lot of people don't know that rheumatoid has to do with blood, they just hang onto the arthritis part and never really get that there are reasons for the fatigue, depression and other sort of hidden reactions to RA. I've unintentionally hurt peoples' feelings by leaving places early, not committing to things ahead of time, choosing sleep over social gatherings and employing other RA coping skills not so easily accepted by people who don't know the difference between the 2 types. Thanks for this.

[Chuck Bluestein]

01:50 PM on 01/08/2011

Some people believe that an over active immune system might be due to bacteria, fungus, or viruses that the doctors cannot detect. This article says above "Genetics, hormones, smoking, and other environmental exposures, such as viral or bacterial infections, may play a role in setting the immune system on its rampage, notes Dr. Danielides."

As far as help for both types of arthritis, there is the super vitamin that is really a hormone-- vitamin D. James Dowd M.D. wrote a book called The Vitamin D Cure. From article: "Dr James Dowd, who works at the Arthritis Institute of Michigan, has been prescribing vitamin D to people suffering from chronic disorders such as arthritis, back pain and headaches and the result, he claims, is a huge improvement in their symptoms."

About his patients: "Many of them are obese and have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases."

In another article it says http://bit.ly/eco-c "Previous research has indicated an association between vitamin D deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other autoimmune disorders. A recent report from Tufts Medical Center noted that 'vitamin D has been shown to modulate the immune system, and its deficiency has been linked to the development of several autoimmune disorders' and that disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis has been associated 'to some extent to vitamin D deficiency.' "

[Sharon Hanson]

08:51 AM on 01/08/2011

Personally I don't think we'll ever get the truth from conventional medicine. They want to sell drugs and hip replacements. I have a sudden onset of arthritus and I'm not saying which one because I think they are mostly from exposures to heavy metals.

Look up the disease Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis and see documented cases of what heavy metals do to us.

[Buhe]

11:23 PM on 01/07/2011

I think I heard somewhere that Omega 3-6-9 can sometimes help with this problem.

My left hip joint used to ache pretty much until I started taking this, though I am talking about myself here.

[Cyrus Trance]

11:31 PM on 01/07/2011

I think I heard somewhere that Omega 3-6-9 can sometimes help with this problem

Yes.

[drvittoriarepetto]

09:47 PM on 01/07/2011

I have research on association between low Vitamin D and RA; get tested for #VitaminD

[Todd Caldecott]

09:35 PM on 01/07/2011

In the ancient system of healing from India called Ayurveda, rheumatoid arthritis is linked to digestive health. The term for it is 'ama vata', which refers to a state of toxicity that initiates the production of autoantibodies, resulting in joint inflammation. It is a difficult condition to treat, but not impossible, and in the early stage, is very responsive to natural therapies:

http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/healing/conditions/232-rheumatoid-arthritis

[nfatt1]

07:52 PM on 01/07/2011

Raisins and gin are definitely not a treatment, they are a party.

[Javida]

03:56 PM on 01/07/2011

The most any of us have going for ourselves when it comes to health at ANY age is to think "prevention or reversibility." Those two words result in an entirely different mindset and approach to dealing w/ the condition, no matter what it is.

If you think it "runs in the family," you're more inclined to simply accept it as inevitable. The same goes for assuming it's just tied in to "growing older/growing old." Those are defeatist mindsets.

Most research shows that most disease conditions are lifestyle in origin and maintenance. Also, a lot of healthy living is about attitude, i.e., a can-do attitude, as well as regular activity versus being a couch potato. So be optimistic and take a look at how lifestyle factors are involved in any health problem.

It may seem to "run in the family," i.e., in the genes, because family's often share the same lifestyles, especially when it comes to food and nutrition. And as far as "getting old" is concerned, that's a catch all phrase for medical science being clueless about to successfully eradicate the condition given the current state of medical science. In the past, Alzheimer's was thought a normal condition of aging, but we now know it's a disease and not at all "normal."

Wake up and enjoy your life to the fullest. Don't let the limited thinking of others dupe you.

[David4FreePress]

05:30 PM on 01/07/2011

There seem to be a number of benign phrases like that, which really just mean that modern science doesn't know how to treat it. There are solutions for arthritis of both types in energy healing, which do not have any negative side effects. Even the positive mental attitude of hope can improve healing ability.

[Javida]

11:16 PM on 01/07/2011

Sugar is a major culprit in many conditions, such as arthritis and obesity, especially in combination w/ white flour, as is the case w/ pastries. Reducing or cutting out refined sugar can greatly improve many health problems. Reducing or eliminating caeffine may help as well. And, most definitely, attitude/belief plays a major role in our health. Much research points out this very fact, for example, the placebo effect.

[Dr. Cara Barker]

07:25 PM on 01/07/2011

Just fanned you, Javida, for your wise and useful contribution. In my practice, and life, I've seen people gather whatever evidence they need to support staying asleep. Yours is a real contribution which needs 'hearing' in an ever-widening circle, my friend. Keep on speaking up. Know that you are making a difference. Bravo and bravo, again.

Cara

[Javida]

11:38 PM on 01/07/2011

Thank you. Speak up, I do, as often as possible. I appreciate your "rally" to carry on. I find it a real challenge to push others to make the attitude-lifestyle-health connection, try as I may. I like the way you characterize it, i.e., they "gather... evidence... to support staying asleep." You are perfectly spot-on.

Just today, a website stated that Boomers are entering "old age." Hard to believe it was a psychology-oriented website (psychcentral). Of course I responded and hope they'll heed the nudge to implement the new thinking into their communication.

Thanks again for your comments. Good to know someone's in my corner. :) I've fanned you as well.

[Attilatheblond]

03:12 PM on 01/07/2011

One thing that bugs me about a lot of doctors: Why do they assume you have one or the other? Certainly seems possible to have both, if you live long enough for the wear and tear to kick in.

[Cyrus Trance]

08:14 PM on 01/07/2011

1.They look different on xray.

2. There are blood tests for RA.

3. They effect different joints.

4. RA is bilateral and symmetrical.

5. RA can effect the internal organs too.

[Sharon Hanson]

08:58 AM on 01/08/2011

And they are quite possibly caused by heavy metal toxicity. Look up Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis to see the contractures these people get. Remember you don't need to be renally impaired to get this disease or have the skin condition. I know I have it and I'm losing mobility each and every day.

It's caused by a heavy metal used in gadolinium based contrasting agents used for MRIs and MRAs. Gadolinium is a heavy metal and it is toxic. I wish more people would understand the importance of this disease. I think the people on Huff are at least open to it.

[hatedoll]

02:51 PM on 01/07/2011

My husband is 27, and he was diagnosed with aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritus. Good article.

[Sharon Hanson]

08:59 AM on 01/08/2011

Did your husband have MRIs with contrast?

[gleitz05]

02:44 PM on 01/07/2011

So what do you do when you have both types of arthritis?

[David4FreePress]

05:39 PM on 01/07/2011

see my other posts here.

[Last chance]

01:42 PM on 01/07/2011

The fluoride that is added to municiple water is also causing an increase in artritis...it cumulatively predisposes the body toward calcification of the joint capsule.

[gleitz05]

02:41 PM on 01/07/2011

What type of arthritis are you referring to?

[Cyrus Trance]

08:29 PM on 01/07/2011

"predispose­s the body toward calcificat­ion of the joint capsule."

Calcification of the joint capsule is not typical of OA or RA.

[Last chance]

09:52 PM on 01/07/2011

the calcification blocks the synovial fluid from being replaced...go look it up.

[landskroon]

01:11 PM on 01/07/2011

And, there is a medicin, not curing !! but keeping it within bareble proportions. They call it "Psorinovo" it is an Dimethylfumaraat, enteric coated + slow release. Your pharmacist can make it. It helped friends from two different types of Rheumatism, one friend from Psoriasis vulgaris (60% coverage) a friend with Arthitis Psoriaticum. They are now testing it for Diabetics and Multiple Sclerosis. Try Google for info plus scientific reports .

[FabulousAt52]

12:56 PM on 01/07/2011

Both types of arthritis run through my family. It is often confusing. But this is a very good comparison; easy to understand, clear and concise.