About rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of disease known as an autoimmune disease – that is, a disease caused by the body’s own immune system. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the membrane lining the joints. This causes inflammation, which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling of the affected joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is not the same as osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, which people often just call ‘arthritis’. Osteoarthritis, or OA, is caused by general wear and tear of the joints and is very common as people get older. In osteoarthritis, cartilage (a spongy substance that cushions the joints and stops bones rubbing against each other when they move) becomes stiff and damaged until eventually, it may wear away completely. This leads to bone damage, inflammation, pain and stiffness. The treatment of osteoarthritis is aimed at reducing the pain and inflammation and is different from the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
