Is it Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis, one of the most common types of arthritis, is an inflammatory condition that primarily involves the tissue that covers the joints. This disease progresses over time, and eventually other organs are affected as well. Rheumatoid arthritis is three times more common in females versus males and is prevalent in approximately 1% of the U.S. population. It is important to realize that there are different forms of arthritis other than rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is another common form of arthritis experienced by the elderly. Often people are confused as to what type of arthritis they suffer from, but osteoarthritis, a “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis that occurs with age, should not be confused with rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis more often affects the larger weight-bearing joints, such as the
