What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis?
Arthritis, derived from Greek for “disease of the joints,” is the chronic or acute inflammation of joints, which is often accompanied by structural damage and pain. In contrast, rheumatism is an informal term used to describe joint diseases or syndromes. Medical literature does not generally use the term rheumatism.
What is the most painful type of arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis can be one of the most painful types of arthritis; it affects joints as well as other surrounding tissues, including organs. This inflammatory, autoimmune disease attacks healthy cells by mistake, causing painful swelling in the joints, like hands, wrists and knees.
What is the main cause of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means it’s caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. However, it’s not yet known what triggers this. Your immune system normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping to fight infection.
What is the difference between Ra and inflammatory arthritis?
Arthritis can be defined as inflammation of the joint or joints resulting in pain and disability, joint swelling, and stiffness whereas rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes synovial inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is, therefore, a subgroup of arthritis.
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and Ra?
Osteoarthritis is far more common—and generally less debilitating—than rheumatoid arthritis. Whereas RA typically affects the cervical spine, OA may affect all regions of the spine—cervical, thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (low back). Unlike RA, osteoarthritis is not really a disease.
What is the life expectancy of someone with Ra?
Researchers have not been able to pinpoint an exact life expectancy for people with RA. But in general, people with RA can expect a shortened lifespan of an average of 10 years.
What is the best treatment for RA?
Treatment options for RA include: over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen ( Advil , Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) prescription corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain. disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs , to slow the progression of the disease.
