I'm not sure. I thought RA caused erosion of joints. Maybe your rheumy was thinking a different inflammatory arthritis and is now thinking RA? Lupus and Psoriatic arthritis are considered "inflammatory arthritis" as well, but Lupus typically doesn't destroy joints.

Your doctor might mean that s/he thinks you have some osteoarthritis in the joints that are being attacked by rheumatoid. One of the rheumatologists in my area says "erosive" for osteo and "inflammatory" for autoimmune arthritis. It might benefit you to ask your doc what s/he means.

All the best, -Megan

I definitely have osteo in my lumbar spine and inflammatory in hips, knees, shoulders, hands, etc. But he said the MRI of my hip showed some damage that may be consistent with inflammatory osteoarthritis(also called erosive osteo) instead of RA or with RA. There is definitely inflammation, I can feel and see swelling and my markers (sed and crp) are always high. I looked some info up on erosive osteo, I just wondered if y'all had any info.

I will ask for more clarification from the rheumatologist. It is all very in depth and can be confusing. I feel like I should earn a second master's degree in rheumatology, or at least a certificate!

My DR.says I have severe erosive osteo arthritis ,inflammatory R.A. and fibro.All the damage that x-rays have shown is osteo.I cant have a MRI because I have a plate in my arm.It took me quite a while to accept the fact that I have R.A.MY RF was 80 when diagnosed,but has since come down.He did say that the osteo tends to "burn itself out"eventually,and the RA meds are to prevent joint damage.so,I just take all my meds and hope for the best.

Ovhslunch..... I have plates in both arms and I have MRI's. I wonder why it's different for me? Different type of plate maybe?

I guess. Mine are stainless steel.

I think RASally is right. My rheumy says its about "level of disease activity." He said there is a new test only recently approved done in a lab in California.

Tests are just tests. Last week my CRP was pretty low and yet my hands and feet have more swelling thatn I have seen - even with a much higher CRP. Thankfully rheumy actually examines me and listens. I see him today to see what is happening, as I have only been on mtx for a month and am tapering the pred - which I am sure is why I am swelling!!

My erosions are bone in the hip. I have both RA and osteoarthritis. There is a separate related disorder called inflammatory osteoarthritis. I think the difference is in location and type of bone erosions, and I read that inflammatory osteo (also called erosive osteo) can progress quickly. But I just know what I've looked up and read. I was just wondering if anyone knew about this or had this specifically.

If you have been given a diagnosis of RA then you will have a few different stages of deterioration of the the joints:

-Early Damage is mostly to the synovium, causing joint effusions (swelling).
-Mid stage damage - often referred to as "Secondary Osteoarthritis", as it resembles the damage caused by Osteo, joint space narrowing, loss of fluid, wearing of cartilage, joint clicking, tendon issues ETC. NOTE: unless you actually have a bone "spur" or bone "growth" of the joints affected - its not actually Osteoarthritis... some doctors fail to make the distinction.
-Progressive Damage: Your disease has progressed to late stage and due to uncontrolled, consistent inflammation of the joints the bone has started to erode. RA causes joint erosions of the bone.... as far as I know its the only form of "inflamatory arthritis" that causes this type of damage. When the erosion gets bad enough it causes joint deformity.

RA joint deformity is NOT the bulges at the knuckles seen in Osteo (due to bone growths). RA deformity means loss of bone to the point that the joint can no longer hold together and the joint essentially dislocates.

All you have to do is Google: "Rheumatoid Joint Damage, photos" and you get a pretty clear picture of why RA is different and a really serious condition.

Here is what my new rhumie DX me with. First the facts 15 yrs of "its Only OA" led me to search a new rhumie when my surgeon said affter my 8th joint replacement. " Mirri I'VE SEEN YOUR JOINTS FROM THE INSIDE IVE TREATED YOU FOR 15 YEARS IVE REPLACED 8 JOINTS DARLIN IT AINT JUST OA FIND SOMEBODY TO LISTEN" My 4th rhumie feels its Erosive arthritis but its also callef Inflammatory Arthritis. Listed in the PDR EA IA are real. Its a combination OF RA & OA. RA meds give no relief joints erode to bone bone them erodes. Plaquinel helps slow damage. As with RA your life is cut shortvas EA IA affects major organs. Mine was left untreated fpr 15 years. I put it into perspective and I DREAM AS IF I HAVE A LIFETIME AND I LIVE AS IF I ONLY HAVE TODAY.

RA effects organs as well..eye.ss heart lungs liver kidney ..etc...i sometimes wish people wouldn't abreviate terms so others can understand what is being said ...this is alll way to confusing ..wayyyyyy tooo confusiing ..OA .RA inflammatory arthrits ...lupus ...all of them ..i to have osteoarthritis on top of RA and possible lupus ...soooooo now there are more forms of all of this or what ?