Feeling pain and stiffness in your joints? All of us do from time to time, but those with arthritis live with it daily. How do you know if those aches and pains are being caused by arthritis?

Arthritis is actually an umbrella term that covers a variety of specific chronic conditions. Arthritis Foundation statistics indicate that nearly 53 million adults have arthritis. Juvenile arthritis occurs in children, as the name suggests, although it is not necessarily a junior size version of adult arthritis.  Gout and fibromyalgia are under the umbrella of arthritis as well. When we talk about arthritis in mature adults, we are usually referring to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Often seen in gnarled finger joints, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is actually a disease of our immune systems. Our immune system normally protects us by fighting off viruses and bacteria. RA causes that system to turn on us and attack the healthy cells that protect our joints. This causes pain and inflammation and can eventually cause wearing on cartilage and bone, and bone deformity. It can even affect other organs in the body. There is no cure, but there are treatments for managing symptoms and preventing joint damage.

How Do I Know I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?

A doctor will ask questions about your symptoms. Do have pain in multiple joints on both sides of your body? Are you often tired? What is your level of pain? The doctor will perform a physical exam, looking for signs of RA: warm and swollen joints, tenderness, nodules under your skin, and limited movement in joints. In addition, there are several blood tests that can help your doctor determine whether you have RA.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis—affecting 27 million Americans according to the National Institutes of Health. It is a degeneration of joints and tends to show up as we age. Injury, overuse, and carrying excess weight are the main causes of OA. Protective cartilage wears away allowing bones to rub against each other. Bones can develop small pointy spurs that irritate surrounding tissue.

How Do I Know If I Have Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis causes pain during or after movement. Joints can feel tender and stiff. You may even feel a grinding when you use the joint. Your doctor may want to take an x-ray or an MRI to determine what is causing your pain. Sometimes doctors will perform blood tests or joint fluid analysis to help with the diagnosis.

Early treatment can help lessen the amount of joint damage that happens over time in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you have persistent joint pain, it may be time to visit the doctor for an evaluation.