Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Autoimmune Disorders?

Think of arthritis and the image of deformed, painful limbs and other jointed body parts come into mind. Is arthritis and osteoarthritis an autoimmune disorder, which happens when the body’s immune system goes haywire and starts attacking the body’s own organs? Well, yes and no. Rheumatoid arthritis, which is an inflammation of the joints, is an autoimmune disorder while osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is not.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symptoms such as swollen and painful. Sufferers also experience stiffness in the morning, which could actually last for a period longer than two hours. Left untreated, fluid will continue to accumulate in the joints, making them more swollen and painful. Without appropriate medical intervention, the bone, cartilage, tendon and ligaments may suffer permanent damage and the patient may become disabled.

On the other hand, the non-autoimmune disorder, osteoarthritis, inflicts damage on cartilage, a dense and hard tissue. Cartilage cushions the contact point between joints, and once cartilage is lost, the bones rub against one another, causing intense discomfort and pain. The most common body parts affected by osteoarthritis are the lower back, hips, knees and feet.

Physicians conduct a series of tests to evaluate whether a person is suffering from arthritis; whether it is the autoimmune disorder type or osteoarthritis. The troubling aspect about rheumatoid arthritis is that it may take quite a while before it is diagnosed – only after it has been present for several months of a year. X-rays and blood tests are two of the diagnostic tools used by rheumatologists, or those specializing in arthritis. They are also the ones who will prescribe the treatment that is most appropriate for each patient.