Q. I have pain, swelling and stiffness in my hands. How do I know if this might be osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis?
A
Painful, swollen joints that can be stiff are symptoms of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, which is caused by the wearing down of cartilage (the smooth covering over the ends of bones in joints), is by far the most common type of arthritis, affecting nearly half of Americans over 65. Rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease, occurs in about 1.3 million Americans. Both types of arthritis can affect almost any joint in the body, including the hands.
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