Early diagnosis and treatment may result in the most successful management of RA, so its important to recognize the symptoms
Early diagnosis and treatment may result in the most successful management of RA. That's why it's important
to recognize the symptoms. If you or your primary care physician suspect you have
RA, it's important to
talk to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis,
as soon as possible.
If you’re not already seeing a rheumatologist, the American College of Rheumatology
(ACR) can help you
find a rheumatologist in your area.
Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis? Know the difference
Though they have similar names and some symptoms in common, osteoarthritis
(OA) and rheumatoid arthritis have very different causes, paths of progression,
and treatments. That's why it's so important to see a rheumatologist for an accurate diagnosis. The following chart outlines the basic differences
between these two diseases.
|
|
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 (i.e., 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 US |
An estimated 21 million people have osteoarthritis in the US |
If you have any questions about Abbott Laboratories' RA.com website that have not
been answered .
The health information contained herein is intended for use by United States residents
only and is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace
a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must
be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each
patient.