Arthritis can be a debilitating pain that causes you to miss out on the important things in life. and keeps you from participating in activities that you once enjoyed. As you and your doctor start discussing your diagnosis and treatment options you might notice that there are different types of arthritis and treatments. Two types of arthritis you may hear about are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Let’s look closer at the similarities and differences between osteoarthritis vs rheumatoid arthritis.
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What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is caused when the protective cartilage that provides cushion in your joints breaks down over time. When this happens, the joints can get painful, swollen, and hard to move. Any joint can have this form of arthritis, but the most common are the hands, knees, hips, lower back, and neck. Osteoarthritis can happen at any age but is most common in those over 50 and older and more commonly seen in women.
There are several side effects that you may experience with osteoarthritis including:
- Pain or aching in joints when active
- Joint stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Swelling
- Muscle weakness around joint
- Joint instability (knees giving out)
- Clicking or cracking noises when joint is moved
Osteoarthritis Treatment
While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are several treatment options to help the patient ease the pain. Here are a few that might be recommended if you have osteoarthritis:
Medications – medicines come in several different forms:
- Analgesics – pain relievers like acetaminophen
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – pain relievers like aspirin, however, these should be taken in moderation for pain relief.
- Analgesics – pain relievers like acetaminophen
- Counterirritants – these cause the nerve endings to be irritated so the focus is taken away from the pain
- Corticosteroids – prescription anti-inflammatory medication with cortisol in it
- Platelet-rich plasma – given through fluoroscopic, ultrasound-guided injections by a doctor
Non-medication treatment
- Exercise – movement is an important part of a treatment plan for osteoarthritis
- Weight loss – extra weight can put pressure on the joints that are already being affected by arthritis, losing weight can help ease that pressure
- Surgery – can improve the function or replace the joints damaged by arthritis
- Regenexx PRP – platelet-rich plasma can be used to treat arthritis, especially in more active individuals
- Integrative Wellness – a blend of nutritional assessments, diet and supplements, muscle treatment, and mind/body balance
- Regenexx Stem Cell Therapy – stem cells are injected into the damaged tissue to help the healing process
So, what is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory type of arthritis. It can cause joint pain, swelling, and damage. RA happens when an individual’s immune system is not working properly and attacking the lining of the joints. It most often occurs in the hands, knees, or ankles, but it has also been shown to effect other parts of the body such as the eyes, heart, and lungs. RA usually develops in middle age for a person and is more common in women. You are also more likely to develop RA if you have a family member with it.
Similar to osteoarthritis, there are several side effects that you may experience with RA:
- Tender, warm, swollen joints
- Joint stiffness
- Fatigue, fever, loss of appetite
- Joints on both sides are affected
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Like with osteoarthritis, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there are several treatment options to help the patient ease the pain. Here are a few that might be recommended if you have rheumatoid arthritis:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – pain relievers like aspirin
- Steroids – prednisone and other steroids help reduce inflammation and slow further damage
- Conventional DMARDs – these medicines slow the progression of RA and save the joint and surrounding tissue from further damage
- Biological agents – these are the new class of DMARDs including Humira
- Therapy – physical or occupational therapy can teach you exercises that will help keep your joints flexible and give you suggestions on how to do daily tasks in ways that will be less painful
- Surgery – repairing the damaged joints
- Regenexx PRP – platelet-rich plasma can be used to treat arthritis, especially in more active individuals
- Regenexx Stem Cell Therapy – stem cells are injected into the damaged tissue to help the healing process
While osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both forms of arthritis and can cause the patient pain, there are several key differences between the two. Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of the protective cartilage, while RA is caused by one’s immune system not working properly and attacking their own body. Knowing the differences can help you better understand your diagnosis and treatment options.
Here at Cutting Edge Integrative Pain Centers, we offer a variety of treatment plans to help you manage the pain from your arthritis or other chronic pain condition. Contact us today to see how we can help you manage your pain.
