Differences in osteo and rheumatoid arthritis

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Differences in osteo and rheumatoid arthritis

By DR. YONG H. TSAI

MANAGING PAIN

Last update: February 14, 2005

As most people know, there is a difference between osteo and rheumatoid

arthritis.

More than 16 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis. That

means, that by the time we reach 60, half of us will have some degree of

this condition.

Often referred to as a degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, in

general, is the result of wear and tear on a joint due to aging, obesity,

overuse or injury.

Cartilage, which is smooth and moist, becomes thin and rough, wearing itself

down to the point of causing the bones to rub together, thus causing severe

pain and reducing joint movement.

Most commonly, osteoarthritis affects the fingers, knees, hips, neck and

lower back. If you have osteoarthritis, you may experience brief morning

stiffness, pain with movement, bony growths on finger and knee joints, as

well as joint " cracking " upon movement.

Although cartilage breakdown may cause a little inflammation, osteoarthritis

typically is not associated with inflammation.

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis differs from osteoarthritis in that

it is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease.

Although rheumatoid arthritis emerges most commonly between the ages of 30

to 50, it can strike at any age, young and old alike. About one to three

percent of the population is affected with rheumatoid arthritis; however,

more women are affected than men. When the immune system of a person with

rheumatoid arthritis goes astray, it mistakes joint tissue for a foreign

invader, attacks the joint tissue and causes inflammation.

When the inflammatory process advances, enzymes and other chemical mediators

can damage cartilage, bone and ligament, causing the joints to become

deformed and impairing function. This is why rheumatoid arthritis is

sometimes called " the crippling arthritis. "

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you might feel stiffness in the morning

that lasts more than one hour, along with pain and swelling in your joints.

Most commonly, the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, neck and jaw

are affected in a symmetrical (equal) fashion, but rheumatoid arthritis also

can affect any part of your body. One thing we know is that the " rheumatoid

factor, " an antibody, is present in about 80 percent of rheumatoid arthritis

patients.

Even though there is no single factor known to cause rheumatoid arthritis,

several factors -- genetics, diet, hormones, and infection -- have been

found to interact in a very complicated way to produce such a condition.

Treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is quite different.

Osteoarthritis often focuses on pain control. But because rheumatoid

arthritis is a crippling disease, early detection and diagnosis is key to

ensuring that you receive proper treatment to slow down or even prevent

deformity.

Residents are invited to attend a free lecture to discuss more of the

differences between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis from 6 to 7 p.m.

Feb. 21 at Florida Hospital-Ormond in classroom A and B -- take ER entrance,

up to the second floor.

Dr. Yong H. Tsai is board-certified in rheumatology, allergy and clinical

immunology and has been practicing in this area for several years. Send

questions to Dr. Tsai in care of The News-Journal to accent.@....

You can also check the Web site: www.arthritis-allergy.com

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Lifestyle/Health/03Accen

tHEAL021405.htm