Two of the most common kinds of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While you may suspect you have arthritis due to your joint pain, it helps know which form you may have. Keep in mind that the only way you’ll know for certain which type you have is through blood testing and imaging.
No matter which variety you have, at Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, we offer treatments to assist with your pain, slow its effects on your range of motion, and optimize your function and flexion. However, with RA, you’ll still need allopathic medical treatment.
Pain
Pain is common with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis pain comes during flare-ups, while osteoarthritis pain is usually constant and worsens when you move. You might notice osteoarthritis may act up after you move extensively. The same can happen when you have RA, but you can go for prolonged periods without any pain or other symptoms.
Stiffness
Stiffness may occur with either RA or osteoarthritis. With both osteoarthritis and RA, the stiffness is most prevalent when you first wake up and after you sit for an extended length of time.
Swelling
When you look at your joints from RA or osteoarthritis, you may see visible swelling. If you have RA, inside and around your joint may swell, but with osteoarthritis, the swelling tends to stem from the soft tissue surrounding the joint. Therefore, the swelling is usually around the joint.
Loss of Range of Motion
Osteoarthritis and RA will decrease your range of motion in a joint.
Typically, the reduced range of motion tends to affect the smaller joints, including your hands, knees, or wrists with RA. It could also impact your jaw joint.
With osteoarthritis, this particular form is notorious for affecting the following joints:
- Knees
- Hips
- Feet
- Neck
- Spine
However, it can affect any joint.
Grating, Popping, Snapping
A grating, popping, or snapping noise or sensation when you move the joint is synonymous with osteoarthritis as opposed to RA. This noise can occur when the cartilage is worn out, and the bones in a joint are left to rub against one another.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough red blood cells, which can ultimately make you feel more tired than normal and even cause you to get out of breath more easily.
People with RA are more likely to have anemia, including iron deficiency or chronic inflammation anemia. When you have chronic inflammation, it may cause your bone marrow to produce fewer red blood cells. Anemia from RA can also occur when the inflammation from RA causes changes in the production of erythropoietin — a hormone responsible for red blood cell production.
If you take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for either RA or osteoarthritis, you could develop anemia. What happens is these medications can trigger a bleeding ulcer or gastritis. The recurring blood loss can lead to anemia.
Low-Grade Fever
RA arthritis happens when your body’s immune system attacks the synovial lining of your joint. When you have this condition, your body’s immune system believes the synovial lining of your joints is an invader.
The substances that are responsible for causing inflammation with RA can also contribute to a fever.
Joint Deformity
Although you could develop a joint deformity from osteoarthritis, RA is known to cause joint deformities when it’s not well controlled.
Organ Problems
In severe cases, RA can affect your lungs, heart, eyes, and skin. This happens when your
immune system begins attacking them. Since osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear to a joint, this isn’t possible.
Both osteoarthritis and RA can cause joint pain, stiffness, and a decrease in your range of motion. However, certain symptoms are only found in patients who have RA, while the popping noise commonly associated with arthritis only arises when you have osteoarthritis.
Book an appointment with Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, if you have symptoms of arthritis. We can help you find relief and are available by dialing 205-519-4024 or using our contact form.
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