Rheumatoid Arthritis My Body Attacks Me...twice the risk of osteoporosis
Jun 12, 2025
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The stiffening of the finger joints in the morning 'articular stiffness' is a characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is prone to delay diagnosis due to the gradual appearance and ambiguity of symptoms, but early detection and treatment are important because joint damage progresses quickly.
◇ degenerative arthritis and other rheumatoid arthritis
Many people misunderstand rheumatoid arthritis as degenerative arthritis caused by aging. Both diseases cause joint pain, but the cause and manner of progression are completely different.
Professor Jeong Hye-min of Rheumatology Department at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital explained, "Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the cause of the disease is not clear, but our body's immune system causes abnormalities and attacks our joints. It symmetrically invades small joints such as fingers and toes, causes inflammation of the synovial membrane, and is accompanied by pain, swelling, and heat."
Although it mainly invades the joint, systemic inflammatory reactions affect the skin, lungs, and eyeball, which can lead to rheumatoid nodules, interstitial pneumonia, and scleritis. Usually, morning stiffness lasts for more than an hour, and it tends to gradually ease with movement.
On the other hand, degenerative arthritis is a disease caused by the wear of cartilage, which mainly occurs in the knee or hip joints that are often used. It is characterized by pain caused by wear and tear rather than inflammation.
◇Initial diagnosis is important if you don't want to miss the golden time
Rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to diagnose with a single test. In addition to clinical symptoms, blood tests and imaging tests are combined and judged by a rheumatologist.
Professor Jeong Hye-min said "If joint pain persists for more than six weeks, rheumatoid arthritis can be suspected. If left unattended for more than two years without proper treatment, the joints are irreversibly deformed, limiting daily life.
◇Rheumatoid arthritis patients have 1.5 to 2 times higher risk of osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease and requires constant drug treatment. Anti-rheumatic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, etc. are used for treatment. However, if you stop taking medicine on your own just because your symptoms have improved, you can relapse, so you must consult your doctor and gradually reduce it.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients have 1.5 to 2 times higher risk of osteoporosis than the general population due to the inflammatory response of the disease and steroid use. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on aerobic exercise or stretching that does not strain the joints, and to avoid ball games with a large impact. In addition, smoking affects disease occurrence, worsening symptoms, and deterioration of treatment response, so you must quit smoking.
Professor Chung advised that `Rheumatoid arthritis is a sufficiently manageable disease if diagnosed and treated early,' and"If your hands are stiff or joint pain persists for more than a few weeks in the morning, it is recommended to see a rheumatologist."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
