"The arthritis of lupus can mimic very closely that of rheumatoid arthritis," notes Dr. Azar, "but in contrast to RA, SLE does not cause an erosive, deforming arthritis and joint symptoms tend to be milder overall.”
These symptoms are clues to RA: Joint pain, tenderness, swelling or stiffness that lasts for six weeks or longer. Morning stiffness that lasts for 30 minutes or longer. More than one joint is affected.
Like many autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. In fact, nearly half of people diagnosed with RA may actually have another condition, according to a study in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.
RA is symmetrical, where a patient feels symptoms in the same spot on both sides of the body, often in the joints in the feet and hands. Osteoarthritis, in contrast, begins in an isolated joint, often in the knee, fingers, hands, spine and hips. While both sides may hurt, one side is more painful.
Anti-CCP antibody test (ACCP or CCP). This test is for a type of autoantibody called cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, which can be found in the blood of 60% to 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The test is often conducted along with an RF test.
Gout is an extremely painful type of arthritis caused by a buildup, overflow and/or inability to process uric acid.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and other spondyloarthropathies can present similarly to RA, but can often be distinguished through blood work. Since high levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are typically present in RA, these results are considered seropositive.
The symptoms of Felty syndrome are similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients suffer from painful, stiff, and swollen joints, most commonly in the joints of the hands, feet, and arms.
In the early stages of RA, however, X-rays may appear normal although the disease is active, making the films useful as a baseline but not much help in getting a timely diagnosis and treatment. Newer imaging techniques like musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have changed the picture.
People with RA usually experience pain, swelling, stiffness and/or tenderness in multiple joints — most commonly the wrists, hands, and feet at first, though other joints can be affected. The symptoms are often symmetric, which means they occur in the same place on both sides of the body.
Researchers think it's caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. An infection, smoking or physical or emotional stress may be triggering.
The main difference between MS and RA is the area of the body affected by each. In RA, the joints are affected. In MS, there is damage to the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord.
Viral Arthritis
Joint symptoms from parvovirus usually clear up quickly, lasting only from a few days to several weeks. Another virus that causes arthritis joint pain is called Chikungunya. It's caused by bites from infected mosquitoes, is increasingly reported in travelers, and causes symptoms that closely mimic RA.
Your doctor can order blood tests to determine whether you're getting enough vitamin D, but here are a few more telltale signs of a deficiency: Chronic pain or aches that last for weeks, similar to symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Both conditions affect your joints, so it's easy to confuse them. In fact, lupus has been called "the great imitator" because it can seem a lot like not just RA but many other diseases, too.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It tends to involve more than one of the small joints of the hands and feet. In particular, the lining of the joint or tendons (the synovium) is inflamed, causing warmth, pain, and stiffness.
In a few people with RA -- about 5% to 10% -- the disease starts suddenly, and then they have no symptoms for many years, even decades. Symptoms that come and go. This happens to about 15% of people with rheumatoid arthritis. You may have periods of few or no problems that can last months between flare-ups.
OA usually affects fewer joints, and its symptoms are generally limited to the joints. The progression of RA is more difficult to predict, and it can cause more widespread symptoms. The outlook for people with RA has greatly improved due to advances in research and therapies.
Stage I: Synovitis
During stage I, you may start having mild symptoms, including joint pain and joint stiffness. Most commonly, this affects the hands and fingers, as well as the ankles and knees. The immune system has begun attacking the joint tissue, causing the synovial membrane to swell and become inflamed.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop gradually over several weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days. The symptoms vary from person to person. They can come and go, and may change over time.
Conventional radiographs – Routine X-ray examinations
Regardless of the joint that is affected, osteoarthritis is revealed on conventional radiographs (X-rays) by characteristics that are distinct from other joint disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling. The problem is that some of those enzymes also help blood to clot and protect the lining of your stomach.