Adults only (18+)

What Is the Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Understanding Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is often described as a “wear and tear” condition. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in joints gradually breaks down over time. This degeneration leads to bones rubbing against each other, causing joint pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. Osteoarthritis primarily affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips and spine but can also involve the hands. It tends to develop slowly and is closely linked to ageing, previous joint injuries and repetitive joint use.

Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovium — the lining of the joints. This causes chronic inflammation that can damage cartilage, bone and surrounding tissues. RA often affects smaller joints, such as those in the hands, wrists and feet, usually in a symmetrical pattern on both sides of the body. Unlike OA, RA can affect people of any age and tends to develop more rapidly. It is a systemic disease, meaning it can impact other organs beyond the joints.

Key Differences in Causes

The fundamental difference between OA and RA lies in their causes. OA results from mechanical wear and tear and degeneration of joint cartilage, while RA is caused by an autoimmune process that triggers inflammation. OA is primarily a degenerative joint disease whereas RA is a systemic inflammatory condition.

Differences in Symptoms

Osteoarthritis symptoms usually include joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest, stiffness after inactivity that lasts less than 30 minutes and localized swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include prolonged morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, joint swelling, warmth and tenderness, fatigue and sometimes fever or weight loss. RA symptoms often affect the same joints on both sides of the body.

Treatment Approaches

Treatment for OA focuses on pain relief, physical therapy, exercise and sometimes surgery to repair or replace damaged joints. RA treatment involves medications that suppress the immune system, such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics, alongside pain relief and physical therapy.

Summary

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease caused by cartilage breakdown, usually linked to ageing and joint wear. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease causing joint damage and systemic symptoms. Their causes, symptoms and treatments differ significantly.