Joint Pain Differences of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are two of the most common forms of arthritis, but they have different underlying causes and lead to different symptoms. Joint pain is a key symptom of both types of arthritis, but there are some differences in how it presents.

OA is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the joints begins to wear away over time. This can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the affected joint, and it often affects weight-bearing joints like the hips, knees, and spine. The pain associated with OA tends to be worse after activity, and stiffness is usually worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity.

RA, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovium, the lining of the joints. This can cause inflammation, pain, and swelling in multiple joints, and the pain associated with RA tends to be more symmetrical, affecting both sides of the body equally. Stiffness in the joints associated with RA tends to last longer than with OA, often lasting for hours.

In summary, the key differences in joint pain between OA and RA are:

• OA pain is typically worse after activity, while RA pain can occur at any time.
• OA stiffness is usually worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity, while RA stiffness tends to last for hours.
• OA typically affects weight-bearing joints like the hips, knees, and spine, while RA can affect multiple joints in a symmetrical pattern.