Osteoarthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis

Posted on September 04, 2024

Arthritis is often associated with joint pain and stiffness, but not all arthritis is the same. For many, living with arthritis means facing the daily frustration of being unable to do things they once did with ease.

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two common yet distinct forms of this condition, each with a unique set of characteristics and symptoms. Understanding their differences is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Mature woman suffering from knee pain on sofa indoors, closeup.

Keep reading to learn the differences between rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis, their symptoms, and how to get proper diagnosis and treatment.

What’s the Difference Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis?

Understanding rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis differences can help clarify how these conditions affect joint health and treatment approaches.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can occur at any age. It causes the immune system to attack the lining of the joints, often affecting several joints at the same time. This disease can flare up or go into remission, and it is typically managed with treatment.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive disease caused by age-related wear and tear. It develops when the cartilage between your joints breaks down or wears away, causing pain and physical changes in the surrounding joints and bones.

What’s the main difference in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? The main difference lies in what causes the joint damage.

RA develops due to a malfunctioning immune system, whereas OA is more common among older adults and results from wear and tear on the joints.

If you or a loved one struggles with joint pain, review the symptoms below to help you understand which type of arthritis could be causing it.

How Is Osteoarthritis Different From Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms

When trying to identify rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis symptoms, knowing what to look for is key. Let’s explore the symptoms of each:

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

The first joints impacted with OA are typically those in your spine or hands due to more usage over time.

Joints that bear weight are also likely to be impacted early on, making hip and knee osteoarthritis some of the most likely conditions to be diagnosed first. Let’s explore the difference in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:

Knee, hip, neck, back, toes, and thumb joint pain, often worsened by activity and relieved by rest.
Stiffness in affected joints (especially after inactivity or in the morning).
Swelling and tenderness in affected joints.
Decreased range of motion in affected joints.
Grating sensation when the affected joint or joints are moved.
Bone spurs around the affected joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

With RA, joint symptoms can accompany fatigue, low-grade fevers, limited appetite, or even nodules (lumps that form under your skin).

Unlike OA, RA impacts smaller joints in the feet, hands, shoulders, elbows, ankles, and knees, often impacting multiple joints symmetrically (both sides of the body). Common symptoms include:

Joint swelling or dysfunction at any time of day.
Cracking, popping, or grinding sounds when moving the affected joints.
Changes in joint shape over time, especially in the fingers and toes.

Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Osteoarthritis: Risk Factors

Knowing each condition’s risk factors can be an extremely helpful first step in getting a proper diagnosis.

OA risk factors include:

Being an older adult.
Having sustained a previous joint injury.
Overusing your joints.
Carrying excess weight.
Having a family history of osteoarthritis.

RA risk factors are less evident, but may include:

Being a woman.
Being a smoker.
Exposure to certain chemicals (e.g., asbestos, pesticides, and silica).
Carrying excess weight.
Having a family history of the disease.

Now that you understand the difference between RA and OA, let’s discuss treatment options.

Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Osteoarthritis: Treatment Options

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for arthritis, and joint damage cannot be reversed. However, proper diagnosis and treatment can help ease your pain and improve joint function.

The primary goal of rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis treatment is to stop your immune system from attacking your joints.

To that end, RA is usually treated in the following ways:

Biologic or disease-modifying medications designed to stop disease progression.
Pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to ease pain and swelling.
Weight loss to help reduce symptom burden.

Similarly, OA is commonly treated with:

Pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Weight loss and supervised exercise programs to help reduce symptom burden.

However, many with OA will also need medical intervention to address the disease, particularly when major joints like the hips or knees are impacted.

In the past, that often meant surgically replacing your damaged joint. But today, patients with knee osteoarthritis have a different treatment option: the genicular artery embolization (GAE) procedure.

Consider GAE for Arthritis Pain at Georgia Knee Institute

GAE is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces blood flow to the joint lining to treat the pain and inflammation of knee osteoarthritis.

This is an ideal option for knee OA sufferers who haven’t found relief from lifestyle modifications or medications. GAE helps you address your disease without surgery, or overnight hospital stays.

Want to see if you’re a candidate for GAE? Request a consultation with the Georgia Knee Institute to learn more about this innovative treatment option.