Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis Symptoms

There are over one hundred different types of arthritis but the most common are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.   These two kinds of arthritis have something in common, they are slow developing types of arthritis.  The symptoms for these two types of the disease usually go undetected, overlooked or blamed for something else.  For those reasons, these arthritic conditions are often diagnosed in the late stages of the disease making it more difficult to manage or cure.  The sufferers quality of life is often effected due to the pain, immobility and mental state in which the disease’s affect can produce.

This is why it is so important that you are aware of the symptoms of these kinds of arthritis.  With knowledge is power, the power to prevent and possibly cure the arthritic disease before it has a negative effect on your life.

Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the joints in the hands but can affect any joint in the body.  The symptoms for this disease are often felt in the morning when you first arise.  You may feel stiffness or pain in one or more joints, but as the day progresses these symptoms subside.  You are often left with the thought that you slept wrong or something trivial as that.  But this is not the only symptom there is for rheumatoid arthritis.

You may experience inflammation or swelling of the joint and there may even be some redness around the joint accompanied by a warmth to the touch.  Another symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is that you may notice the joint is stiff or it is discomforting to extend the joint often causing pain in the joint.

In the later stages of this disease you may notice the joints are deformed or bumpy.  This is when most people decide to talk with a healthcare professional about their condition.  It doesn’t mean you can’t treat and cure the disease in this stage, it’s just it may become a tedious task, allowing the disease to affect the quality of your life.

Osteoarthritis is more common in men and women over age 50.  This type of arthritis affects the cartilage of the joint causing it to degenerate.  The cartilage is the cushion that prevents the two bones of the joint from rubbing together.  When this cushion becomes damaged the bones can be exposed rubbing together causing severe pain in the joint for the sufferer.

The symptoms for osteoarthritis are common to any type of arthritis.  There may be inflammation, restricted range of motion, and pain in the joint or surrounding area.  This type of arthritis disease has many causes, most of which there are treatments to help prevent and cure the disease.

When the symptoms are first noticed you should speak with a healthcare professional, this way you have a prime opportunity to prevent and even cure not only these two types of arthritis but other types as well.

Early detection is the best defense when it comes to preventing the symptoms of arthritis.  Be sure to speak with a healthcare professional if you experience any of these symptoms.  It may turn out that the symptoms are related to something but you will not know unless you discuss them.  Take the upper hand in preventing your chances of being afflicted with arthritis.