Is it O.A. or R.A.?

Question

My Neurologist told me three years ago I have osteoarthritis. Well, I hurt a lot more now than I use to. I blew L5 and my spine is very weak. I also found out I have osteoporosis. I am only 27 yrs old. I'm worried I may have R.A. When my knee hurts both hurts. My hands and feet do the same thing. Most of the time my hands or my feet will hurt most of the day. I'm not just stiff right when I get up. Sometimes it takes up to 2 hours for me to be able to move good. Sometimes I go all day without being able to bend over. Does anyone have R.A. or O. A.?

Not just one knee hurts both at the same time. Hands do the same and feet. Sometimes I can't even get my pants buttoned or my shoes tied because my hands hurt so bad. Sometimes even my splints don't help. I have to wrap my feet when they hurt. My shoulders will pop out of place if I lay on my side. I have noticed a low grade fever. My temp is usually 99.0-99.8, (before prego) Never anymore than that. My Neurologist has not done much for me. I want to go to a RA doc. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and has made me feel worse but all the same symtoms I have been having for about a year. My fingers have gotten nodules on them. (though very small) They will be very sore tomorrow from all this typing. They are starting to now. Anyway, I think I may have R.A. I was just wondering if anyone else may think so too.

A bone density proved Osteoporosis.

Another thing. If I get sick and have to take antibiotics I feel so much better. I think it takes all my inflammation until I have to stop taking them. Ibuprofen helps, too.

Answer 1

R.A. is Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 2 million adults in the United States. While doctors are not sure exactly what causes RA, they do know that it is an autoimmune disease caused when the body's own immune system attacks healthy cells.

What are the symptoms of RA?

Symptoms of RA differ from person to person but can generally include:

* Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling. Both sides of the body are usually affected at the same time. This is also called a "symmetrical pattern" of inflammation. For example, if one knee is affected, the other one is also. This is in contrast to osteoarthritis, where it is possible for only one knee to be affected
* Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning or after a long rest
* Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand (although joints of the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet can be affected as well)
* Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not feeling well (called malaise)
* Symptoms that last for an extended period of time
* Symptoms in other parts of the body, not just in the joints

RA causes inflammation of the joint lining, which can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function. It also can cause inflammation of your tear glands, salivary glands, the lining of your heart and lungs, and the lungs themselves.

As RA progresses, about 25% of people with the disease develop small lumps of tissue under the skin, called rheumatoid nodules. These rheumatoid nodules usually aren't painful. The nodules may form under the skin of the elbow, hands, the back of the scalp, over the knee, or on the feet and heels. They can be as small as a pea to as large as a walnut.

Although RA is often a chronic disease, the severity and duration of the symptoms may come and go unpredictably. For people with a severe case of RA, the disease is generally active, lasts for many years, and leads to serious joint damage and disability. Periods of increased disease activity, or worsening of symptoms, are called flare-ups or flares. Periods of remission are when the symptoms fade or disappear.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above, it is important to find out from a doctor if you have RA. Early diagnosis may reduce the pain, joint damage, and disability that occur in some RA patients.

What causes RA?

RA is an autoimmune disease. This means the body's natural immune system does not operate as it should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of inflammation and joint damage.

The exact cause of RA is not yet known, although scientists do know that many factors may contribute to the development of RA. Genetic, or hereditary, factors play a role. Scientists have shown certain genes that play a role in the immune system may be involved in determining whether or not you develop RA. However, some people with RA do not have these particular genes, and other people who do have the genes never develop the disease.

Environmental factors may also contribute to the cause of the disease. Researchers have found that RA can be triggered by an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium, in people who have an inherited tendency for the disease. However, RA is not contagious; you can't "catch it" from anyone.


O.A. is Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects about 21 million adults in the United States. While doctors are not sure exactly what causes OA, they do know that risk factors include age (65 or older), female gender, joint injury or overuse, obesity, irregular joint alignment, hereditary gene defects and certain diseases. Doctors also know how OA affects the body.

What are the symptoms of OA?

The most common symptoms of OA include:

* Steady or intermittent pain in a joint
* Stiffness after periods of inactivity, such as sleeping or sitting
* Swelling or tenderness in 1 or more joints
* Crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone (called crepitus) when the joint is used

OA usually comes on slowly. Early in the disease, joints may ache after physical work or exercise. If you are experiencing symptoms, such as joint pain and stiffness, see a doctor to find out if you have OA. Early diagnosis is important so you can begin treatment that can help to relieve pain, improve mobility, and minimize disability.

Where do symptoms of OA typically appear?

Although OA can occur in any joint, most often it occurs in the following areas:

* Fingers. OA of the fingers is often hereditary, meaning it runs in families. Fingers may ache or be stiff and numb. The base of the thumb joint is commonly affected. Fingers can become enlarged and gnarled. Small, bony knobs (called Heberden's nodes) may also appear on the end joints of the fingers. Similar knobs (called Bouchard's nodes) can appear on the middle joints of the fingers. More women than men have OA of their fingers. Women become especially susceptible to OA after menopause
* Knees. Because knees are primary weight-bearing joints, they are very commonly affected by OA. They may be stiff, swollen, and painful, making it hard to walk, climb, and get in and out of chairs and bathtubs. If OA of the knee is not treated, it can lead to disability
* Hip. OA in the hip can cause pain, stiffness, and severe disability. In addition to your hip, you may feel the pain in your groin, inner thigh, or knees. This can lead to difficulty moving, bending, and walking
* Spine. OA of the spine can cause stiffness and pain in the neck or in the lower back, as well as weakness or numbness in your arms or legs

What causes OA?

Although the exact cause of OA is not known, some scientists believe that joint damage begins in response to physical stress (such as an injury or repetitive movement).

Also known as "wear and tear," this stress can erode the cartilage that normally encases the ends of the bones in a joint. Cartilage serves to cushion the bones and to help the joint move smoothly and easily.

As cartilage breaks down, the ends of the bones thicken and the joint may lose its normal shape. With further cartilage breakdown, the ends of the bones may begin to rub together, causing pain. In addition, damaged joint tissue can cause the release of certain substances called prostaglandins, which can also contribute to the pain and swelling characteristic of the disease.

Answer 2

you shold NOT have OA by age of 27.
it could be RA or what is called Sero-Negative arthritis (agroup of diseases including ankylosing spondylitis & others).
Backache does not go well with RA but rather with the Sero-Negative group.(RA is considered sero-positive).
The most important thing is that you have stiffness in the morning which means that you have inflamattory arthritis ( OA is not an inflammatory arthritis so its completely out of question).
My single advice is to see a Rheumatologist, if the blod test are still negatve( & could be so for first few years) then ask him to do a ( Bone Scan) that will shows & prove the joints affected.
Good luck & e mail me if you have more questions.
Typically RA get better during pregnancy but will get worse after delivery.
I think you must definitely see a rheumatologist as this could be any form of arthritis (RA or lupus or seronegative & a whole bunch of stuff).Differentiating these types of arthritis is really a hard job & requires a lot of tests for auto-immune dseases.
Antibiotics shsould have NOTHING to do with joint iflammation unless the arhritis is due to Lyme Disease or Whipple's disease.

Answer 3

It's a bit hard to tell given the limited information we have. Osteoarthritis does tend to affect the weight bearing joints more often - hips, knees, ankles ... and is less common in hands, but it does in fact occur in hands and wrists too.

Rheumatoid arthritis classically occurs in the small joints of the hands but can affect any joint. It is an autoimmune disease and can attack other organs apart from the joints.

Given the fact that you are so young, there are other types of arthritis that should be considered - Still's disease (juvenile rheumatoid) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

See the wiki pages for these and in particular, you should see a rheumatologist!

Answer 4

Their are a few variations within the 2, and RA the general practitioner can run a titer to your blood paintings to look you probably have this. RA is an automobile-immune sickness, so it may be helped via going to a Rheumatologist. general practitioner too can order a bone density experiment to look you probably have OA. I do not comprehend why you cannot discover the time to visit a general practitioner. When I used to be anguish from the ache of RA that used to be the very first thing on my record of precedence's. There is aid in the market and also you most effective have one existence to reside. It's as much as you the way you desire to head by way of it, however I would not desire to head by way of it with this so much undiagnosed ache. Good success and God Bless

Answer 5

you could have both
OA is osteoarthritis
RA is rheumatoid arthritis
there is also a degenerative arthritis
my Dad had all of them, and he was in pretty bad shape for a long time
Osteoporosis is bone loss
have you had a bone density test done to check the severity of the bone loss?
you are really young to have all of this going on
good luck to you

Answer 6

Sorry to hear about your problem, you are so young. I have o.a. but since starting on strength training over the last 4 years, it's improved great ly and my back and knees hardly give problems anymore. The latest I hear is "olive leaf extract can cure o.a." Discuss with your dr. and get his opinion. If you can I'd be glad if you can give me some info you may have got from him as well.