Morning stiffness must be rheumatoid arthritis?

Morning stiffness is not necessarily rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis hands morning stiffness, time is often longer, lasting more than an hour. Osteoarthritis can also show morning stiffness phenomenon, time is often shorter, in less than an hour, this is also a more important identification point. If the patient shows morning stiffness of the hands, especially showing pain and pain between the proximal joints of the hands, must be strictly distinguished in the end is rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Because these two are completely different diseases, the treatment plan is very different, osteoarthritis is mainly symptomatic treatment, can be applied non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or diacerein treatment. Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, need to use immunosuppressants or biological agents for a long time to maintain treatment. Therefore, if you show morning stiffness of your hands, be sure to do the relevant examination under the guidance of a specialist rheumatologist, and actively treat after a clear diagnosis.