Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is one type of arthritis that primarily affects the hands, wrists, finger joints, shoulders, knee, and feet. It is an autoimmune disorder, which means that the body attacks its own tissues, leading to inflammation, scarring, and joint damage. It can also attack the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels
Symptoms
Symptoms include stiffness, pain, swelling, limited range of motion or unable to perform certain tasks, fatigue, redness or warmth over the joint, mild flu-like symptoms, aching muscles, and loss of appetite. The pain of this condition is chronic rather than the acute pain of a broken bone.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the other type of arthritis and is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Spinal pain and compression fractures can occur when OA affects the spine
Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis from an autoimmune disease, OA does not affect other organs inside the body or the skin.
Symptoms
OA can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. In some cases, it causes reduced function, flexibility, range of motions, and disability. Some people are no longer able to do daily tasks or work.
See your pain management doctors for your osteoarthritis.