The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms.Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joints. The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms.Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joints.
The fluid buildup causes pain, stiffness, tenderness and inflammation—symptoms of RA. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a degenerative joint disease. People with OA experience a breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the joints. Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe pain, stiffness and inflammation of the joints. However, there are different kinds of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Although RA and OA both affect the joints, they are very different forms of the same broader condition. Osteoarthritis is the result of wear and tear on your joints, which causes weakening and deterioration of your cartilage [ Mayo Clinic ]. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an auto-immune disorder, whereby your body attacks and destroys joint cartilage [ NIAMS ]. Both conditions, however, share common symptoms, including joint paint, stiffness and swelling. The risk factors for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are fairly different. Rheumatoid arthritis also causes other symptoms that are unrelated to joint deterioration, such as fatigue, fever and a vague feeling of sickness. The symptoms of osteoarthritis get progressively worse as you age [ Mayo Clinic ]. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, however, can flare up and dissipate. Osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by the wear and tear of the joint itself and surrounding cartilage. In most cases, symptoms of osteoarthritis begin to gradually show over the years and increases with age. Only about a tenth of those with osteoarthritis have rheumatoid arthritis. What differentiates the two forms of arthritis is the cause. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused when the body’s own immune system overreacts and attacks the joints of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis. They share some similar characteristics, but each has different symptoms and requires different treatment. So an accurate diagnosis is important. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about one-tenth as many people as osteoarthritis. The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks the body's joint The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 1  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative joint disease that often involves the hips, knees, neck, lower back, or small joints of the hands. 1 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that usually involves various joints in the fingers, thumbs, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet, and ankles. 2  An autoimmune disease is one in which the body releases enzymes that attack its own healthy tissues. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, involves the wearing away of the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints. With rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane that protects and lubricates joints becomes inflamed, causing pain and swelling. Joint erosion may follow.  The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage that caps the bones in your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in joint deformity. While both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can affect the small joints of the hand, there are differences. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the middle joints of the fingers and the joints where the fingers attach to the hand Summary: 1. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs due to an autoimmune response of the body, while osteoarthritis is mainly a result of mechanical wear and tear of the cartilage in between the joints. 2. Osteoarthritis affects older people, but rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone. 3. The basic difference between the conditions arises due to their underlying cause. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. This means that it takes place because of wear and tear of the cartilage between the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, takes place because of an autoimmune disorder.
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what is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis