Does anyone know the difference between rhumatoid arthritis and plain arthritis? Are they the same ?

Answer 1

There is no such thing as just plain old arthritis. The particular symptoms involved make different arthritic conditions distinguishable from one another. Here they are:

Osteoarthritis: Stiffness and pain on joint motion. Most often comes on gradually, over a period of years. Inflammation is not usually present at first, but in the later stages, inflammation, enlargement of the joint, and muscle contractures may occur. Joint mobility may be accompanied by a grating sensation.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Joint stiffness upon awakening that lasts an hour or longer, swelling in specific finger or wrist joints, swelling in the soft tissue around the joints, swelling on both sides of the joint. Swelling can occur with or without pain, and can worsen progressively or remain the same for years before progressing.

Spondyloarthropathies: A group of disorders that tend to affect the spine, causing pain, stiffness, inflammation, and changes in posture.

Gout: Sudden onset of extreme pain and swelling of a large joint (usually a big toe, but occasionally other joints).

Systemic lupus erythematosus: Fever, weakness, upper body and facial pain, joint pain.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Joint stiffness, often in the knee, wrist, and hand. Can also involve kidneys, heart, lungs, and nervous system.

Infectious arthritis: Body aches, chills, and fever, convulsion, dissiness, low blood pressure, pneumonia, shock, redness, swelling, tenderness, and throbbing pain in the affected joint. Pain someties spreads to other joints and worsens with movement.

Kawasaki syndrome: Fever, joint pain, red rash on palms and soles, heart complications.

I hope this explains the arthritis for you.

Answer 2

RA is a systemic disease that can effect many parts of the body. Most of the typical sysptoms are mirrored on both sides of the body, tho can float from one joint to another.

The body becomes oversensitive to the synovial fluid in the joints and begins to attack it, thus sending white blood cells to the joints to eat up the extra fluid, the body then makes more fluid and the war wages... this causes lots of swelloing in the joints as the excess fluid builds up. The swelling causes deterioration of the joint leading to pain. This can happen in any of the joints of the body, including the jaw, spine, ankles, hips....

RA can affect your voice and eyesight among other things. You have greater fatigue than normal and meds can have bad side effects to he point of needing blood tests done monthly to watch for rising liver enzymes.

As for normal arthritis, most people call it that, it is often osteoarthritis... the normal aging wear and tear of joints as one ages, or if there was injury to the specific joint. Much different that RA.

Yes there are many other forms of arthritis and other autoimmune diseases such as Graves disease, Crohns disease, lupus, ABS, fibromyalgia, and hundreds more!

if you would like a friendly informative message board site for more info, try 4ratalk.com

hope this helps.

Answer 3

RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) is an autoimmune disease. Basically meaning, for no reason, your body decides to attack itself for whatever reason. Regular arthritis is just from the aging process. RA can affect young people also, not just the elderly. You usually see an Endocrinologist for RA.

Answer 4

RHEUMATOID.