Getting diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn’t always straightforward. These other diseases can present similarly to RA and cause a delay in diagnosis. Margaret Liang Harris was convinced that the pain in her joints was rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, research published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases found that more than 40% of people who were diagnosed with RA actually have a different condition.
One such condition is Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease that can be similar to RA. When you have RA, you usually experience symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, or swelling. But many other conditions share similar warning signs. It’s essential to understand these differences for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
The most common comorbid autoimmune disease seen with RA is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE can affect all parts of the body, causing pain, inflammation, and a host of other symptoms. Another common autoimmune disease in people with RA is psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
In addition to these, several other conditions can mimic RA symptoms, such as scleroderma, infectious arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica. Most of these conditions happen when your immune system goes awry and attacks your own body.
Understanding these potential misdiagnoses is crucial. Routine health care, including annual physical exams and vaccines, plays a significant role. Your primary care doctor may diagnose or treat a disease, but they may also refer you to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist.
For more detailed information, visit WebMD’s page on conditions that can look like RA, and myRAteam for conditions related to rheumatoid arthritis. The Mayo Clinic also provides comprehensive information on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and causes, and Johns Hopkins Medicine offers insights on arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Lastly, WebMD has an overview of rheumatic diseases.
