RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, OSTEOARTHRITIS, OSTEOPOROSIS

What’s the difference?

This article is the first in a series of articles that will address and aim to simplify the confusing world of understanding and living with arthritis.

If you don’t know the difference or get confused between these three, rest assured you are not the only one! All three can be very painful. So let’s have a look at each one and explain it concisely.

Let’s start with Rheumatoid Arthritis. With this condition pain is caused in the joints due to an inflammatory response; however, it is not just the joints that can be affected by this auto-immune disorder, but also the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. RA is commonly observed in the joints of the hands, knees and feet. Generally, it will also be observed on both the right and left side and not just on one side. Joints can present as being enlarged (swollen) and may cause deviation (movement) of the bones attached to the affected joints out of their normal alignment (position), as demonstrated by this picture from PhysioPedia. Joints affected by RA are stiff and normal movement is restricted.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a degenerative joint disease and is caused by wear and tear of the cartilage in joints. OA affects joints that carry weight and/or are being used a lot which means it isn’t necessarily observed symmetrically (on both sides) in the body. It can affect any joint really, but normally it is observed in the hands, knees, hips as well as the spine. Joints may sometimes be swollen and stiff.

Now, Osteoporosis (meaning “porous bone”), is a bone disease affecting the bone density which means that the bones become weak and brittle. Bones are fragile and break even under mild stress (minor fall or accident). Many people actually are not aware that they have osteoporosis until they fracture (break) a bone. Fractures most often occur in the wrists, hips and spine. Due to a lack of ‘outwardly visible’ symptoms it is mostly only recognised at a later stage. Symptoms of advanced osteoporosis may include loss of height, stooped posture (leaning forward), back and neck pain and then fractures as already mentioned.

For more detailed and comprehensive information on either one of the diseases you can visit http://www.versusarthritis.org .

Remember your hands matter. Take good care of them!

Chanel McCabe