Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two of the most common types of arthritis. Both conditions result in joint damage and pain, but they are different diseases.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis, affecting approximately 62.35 million adults in India(1) alone (2019 statistics). The condition causes joints to wear out. It is the same way as car tyres slowly wear down with use.
An important part of joints is cartilage – a smooth, slippery tissue. It works like a shock absorber between the bones – cushioning them so that they do not rub against each other. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage starts deteriorating.
This increases friction between bones. Although any joint in the body may get affected by osteoarthritis, weight-bearing joints like knees, hands (especially fingers), spine, and hips are more prone to it, since they are used more frequently.
What are Osteoarthritis Symptoms?
It may be months or even years before signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis appear. Typical symptoms include:
Joint pain that intensifies with activity
- Often the first symptom
- Pain may begin as slight discomfort after activity and slowly become more frequent
Morning stiffness in joints
- Joints feel stiff when you wake up
- Movement for about half an hour reduces stiffness
Compromised flexibility
- Reduced range of motion while bending or straightening joints
- Routine activities like climbing stairs and opening jars seem hard
Sound in Joints
- Joint movement may cause popping, crackling, or grinding sounds (crepitus)
- Generally, a painless and common sign of osteoarthritis
Swollen or tender joints
- Swelling in joints
- Joints feel tender when touched
- More so after an increase in activity
Spurs in bones
- Affected joints may develop tiny, hard lumps
- It may not always be visible or painful
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting nearly 42.19 million Indians(2). The highest incidence rate is seen in the age group of 65-69, and women are more susceptible(3) to the condition.
While osteoarthritis (OA) is related to wear-and-tear, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is related to a malfunctioning immune system.
An Autoimmune Disease
It is your immune system that safeguards you against infections, but when it mistakenly starts attacking your own body, autoimmune conditions occur. Rheumatoid arthritis is one such condition that occurs when the immune system starts attacking healthy joint tissue – synovium (the lining of joints).
Why is Rheumatoid Arthritis Different?
RA causes inflammation in multiple joints simultaneously and on both sides of the body. The chronic condition, if not properly treated, can damage cartilage, bone, and other structures in joints to the extent of deforming them.
Although this autoimmune condition has no cure as of today, appropriate physical therapy and medications can help slow down its progression.
What are Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms?
Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:
- Pain and inflammation in multiple joints
- Stiffness and pain in joints on either side of the body
- Fever, tiredness, weakness, and lack of energy
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Perspiration
- Chest pain and dry eyes (indirect implications)
Other Implications of Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA may also raise the risk of some other diseases, such as:
- Osteoporosis (bones turning fragile and brittle)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (weakness, numbness, and tingling in hands and forearms)
- Inflammation in other parts (lungs, eyes, heart, blood vessels, etc.)
- Joint damage
- Cardiac disease
- Cervical myelopathy (affecting the spine)
- Lymphoma (a type of cancer affecting the germ-fighting network of the body)
- Sjogren’s syndrome (causing dry eyes, mouth, and skin)
At a Glance: How Osteoarthritis (OA) Differs From Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
| Factor | Osteoarthritis (OA) | Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) |
| Underlying Cause | Wear and tear of joints | Autoimmune condition |
| Onset Age | Typically after 50 (may happen earlier due to overuse or injury) | Typically between 30 and 50 (but may happen even in children) |
| Which Joints are Affected? | Larger, weight-bearing joints (knees, hips) & more-used joints (hands, spine) | Smaller joints (toes, fingers, wrists) affected first |
| Pattern of Affliction | Generally affects one side of the body more (asymmetrical) | Generally affects both sides simultaneously (symmetrical) |
| Flare ups | Intensifies with activity,Improves with rest, Morning stiffness < 30 minutes | More pain & stiffness after inactivity (morning & rest), Morning stiffness > 1 hour |
| Affects other organs of the body? | No (affects only joints) | Yes (whole body, including heart, lungs, eyes, etc.). A general feeling of fever, tiredness, and illness) |
| Risk Factors | – Age > 50 – Women (especially post menopause) – Obesity – Previous joint injuries – Family history – Consistent joint overuse over the years | – Women (3X more prone than men) – Genetics Infections – Smoking – Exposure to specific substances – Age 30-60 (typical onset) |
What is the Treatment for Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?
Presently, there is no cure for the conditions. Also, joint damage caused by them is not reversible. The treatment options for both diseases aim at alleviating pain and improving joint function.
Joint Replacement Surgery
OA and RA have some aspects in common and some major differences. If diagnosed early, the conditions can be managed well without surgical intervention. However, in advanced stages, both may require joint replacement surgery.
Why Choose Sohana Hospital
At Sohana Hospital, patients of both conditions get personalised care and treatment as per their symptoms. Expert joint specialists and rheumatologists carefully assess and analyse your symptoms using cutting-edge diagnostic tools. What follows is a comprehensive treatment plan to restore function in your joints. We aim to enable you to lead a quality life once again.
Trusted Choice of Patients
From medications and biologics to arthroscopy and the most advanced robotic joint replacement surgery, we have it all. What makes Sohana Hospital a medical hub for national and international patients is ethical, world-class care at affordable costs, along with easy, no-cost EMI payment options.
Conclusion
Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are different forms of arthritis. Talking about differences, the predominant one is that OA is wear-and-tear related, while RA is a result of the body’s immune system attacking healthy body tissue.
The key lies in timely diagnosis and the right treatment. Looking for the best joint specialist in Chandigarh? Get in touch with Sohana Hospital, and enjoy an active life once again!
Reference Source:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35598766/#:~:text=Around%2023.46%20million%20individuals%20in%20India%20had%20OA%20in%201990%3B%20this%20increased%20to%2062.35%20million%20in%202019.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38018201/#:~:text=Roughly%2042.19%20million%20individuals%20in%20India%2C%20constituting%20around%200.31%25%20of%20the%20populace%2C%20have%20been%20documented%20as%20having%20Rheumatic%20Arthritis%20(RA).
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11868046/#:~:text=with%20all%20age%2Dstandardized%20rates%20being%20significantly%20higher%20in%20females%20than%20in%20males.%20The%20age%20group%20of%2065%E2%80%9369%20years%20showed%20the%20highest%20incidence%20rate%2C%20while%20the%20prevalence%20peaked%20at%2075%E2%80%9379%20years.