Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is recognized as the most disabling type of arthritis. While they both fall under the "arthritis" umbrella and share certain similarities, these diseases have significant differences. Show
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage that cushions your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks your body's own tissues in the joints. Verywell / Alexandra GordonOA and RA: Key ComparisonsMore than 30 million people in the United States are believed to have osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. It's often called wear-and-tear arthritis and is caused by cartilage loss. Cartilage is the cushioning that sits between the bones that form your joints. When it wears away or deteriorates, it causes your bones to rub together, which is extremely painful. Osteoarthritis typically begins in a single joint and is more common after age 65. Rheumatoid arthritis is much less common, with an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with it. RA is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that primarily targets the lining of the joint (synovium), but it can also affect the organs throughout your body. Multiple joints are usually involved as well. RA disease onset is most common in people between 30 and 60. Women are two to three times more likely than men to have the disease, and men tend to get it later in life.
Symptoms of OA and RAOA and RA have some symptoms in common. However, each condition also has several symptoms that are different from the other. Common symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include:
Osteoarthritis pain tends to start slowly with joint pain and gradually increase in symptoms through the months and years. RA may start with symptoms like fatigue, fever, and weakness. The joint pain may get worse over a few weeks or months. Some symptoms of RA and OA are similar but present differently. For example, both
conditions include morning stiffness. However, with OA, it tends to last for a shorter time than RA. CausesOA and RA have different causes, although the theories behind both are still under scientific investigation. OA was long thought to solely be caused by normal wear-and-tear or the effects of aging. However, experts now know that other factors can contribute to your risk of developing OA, including:
In addition, it's been discovered that the water content of cartilage initially increases with osteoarthritis while the protein composition of cartilage steadily degenerates. This is believed to be due to an imbalance in your body's ability to repair cartilage as it deteriorates. Thus far, the cause of this imbalance is unknown. The cause of RA is less understood. Researchers have worked for years to find the cause of the abnormal autoimmune response associated with the disease but have yet to find a single clear cause. Common theories point to a genetic predisposition combined with other possible triggers, such as smoking or obesity. DiagnosisIf you're experiencing any arthritis symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can help you determine whether they're signs of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The diagnostic processes for OA and RA have a fair amount of overlap. Test results, a physical examination, and your medical history are all taken together to determine a diagnosis.
Laboratory tests that are commonly ordered to help diagnose (or rule out) rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, include:
A proper diagnosis is essential to finding the right treatments. TreatmentsOA and RA are treated very differently. Treatment options for osteoarthritis focus on pain relief and restoring function to the affected joint. Common medications for reducing pain and inflammation include:
Other treatment options are:
The primary treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is medication to reduce immune system activity and inflammation. Five categories of drugs commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are:
For both conditions, steroid injections may help with inflammation and pain in your joints. Managing weight may also help with reducing strain on your joints in both RA and OA. Staying at a healthy weight can also help reduce inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as RA. For serious cases of either condition, the last-resort treatment option is surgery. This includes arthroscopy, arthrodesis (fusion), and arthroplasty (joint replacement). Summary OA and RA may have similar symptoms, but they are two very different conditions.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing down of cartilage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks tissues in the joints. Symptoms can be similar, but there are differences between RA and OA. While OA tends to start with joint pain, RA may start with other symptoms like fatigue and fever. Treatment for OA tends to focus on pain relief. Treatment for RA includes several different medications to treat this autoimmune disease. A Word From VerywellWhether you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, it's important to know that treatments have come a long way. It is also possible to have both OA and RA, which requires treating both at the same time. The first step on the road to feeling better is getting a proper diagnosis, so speak to your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms. Frequently Asked Questions
Which is worseThe two conditions can cause similar symptoms, but they have different causes and treatments. OA usually affects fewer joints, and its symptoms are generally limited to the joints. The progression of RA is more difficult to predict, and it can cause more widespread symptoms.
What is the most painful type of arthritis?Rheumatoid arthritis can be one of the most painful types of arthritis; it affects joints as well as other surrounding tissues, including organs. This inflammatory, autoimmune disease attacks healthy cells by mistake, causing painful swelling in the joints, like hands, wrists and knees.
How do I know if it's osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis?Osteoarthritis tends to develop gradually over several years, as the joint cartilage wears away. Eventually the bones of your joints rub against each other. In contrast, the pain and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis can develop and worsen over several weeks or a few months.
Can an xray show the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?X-rays are a helpful tool for figuring out joint pain. Joints in RA look different than joints in OA. For example, there's less space between the bones in OA, and there is more bone erosion in RA. That said, X-rays can be normal in either disease if it's early.
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