Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are the most common types arthritis. But they involve completely different disease processes. OA causes or is often refered to as "wear and tear arthritis". RA is an autoimmune disease. In RA, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment can mean the difference between manageable discomfort and permanent disability.
OA
RA
Joints involved
Knees and hips
Hands and feet
Neck and lower back
Often begins in small joints: Hands and wrists
Feet and knees;
May affect larger joints over time
Pattern of joint involvement
Random
May initially affect joints on just one side of the body, but usually affects the same joints on opposite sides of the body
If hand joints are involved
Affects middle knuckles and knuckles at the end of the fingers
Affects the wrists, large knuckles and middle knuckles
Morning stiffness
Brief: up to 30 minutes, worsens throughout the day with use
Prolonged: 45+ minutes; improves throughout the day
Dr.
Zashin frequently sees patients seeking a second
opinion in North Texas, and from around the
United States for conditions such as Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Lupus, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia,
Osteoporosis and
Sjogren's Syndrome.
DALLAS OFFICE - 8230 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 818, LB 11 -
Dallas, Texas 75231 (214) 363-2812
PLANO OFFICE - 6020 West Parker Road, Suite 240 - Plano, TX
75093 (214) 363-2812
