How is oa different from ra

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. This exposes small nerves, causing pain. They did all sorts of tests, including testing my thyroid. Then, they suggested an HIV test.

When joint pain started, they thought it was a blood clot in my knee. Finally, I was referred to a rheumatologist. Both types of arthritis are more common in women than in men. RA can run in families. You have a higher chance of developing the condition if a parent, child, or sibling has it. Many of the basic symptoms of RA and OA are the same, including:.

Each kind of arthritis also has its own unique set of symptoms. RA is a systemic disease, which means it can affect your entire body — lungs, heart, eyes — and not just your joints. Early signs of RA can include:. People with advanced stages of RA may notice hard lumps underneath the skin near joints.

The lumps, called rheumatoid nodules , can be tender. People with OA are unlikely to experience systemic symptoms. The degenerative nature of OA is limited solely to the joints. You might develop lumps under the skin around joints, but these lumps are different from rheumatoid nodules. People with OA tend to develop bone spurs , or excess bone growth at the edges of the affected joints. Learn more about the symptoms of OA. RA usually begins in the smaller joints.

As RA progresses, symptoms can develop in larger joints such as knees , shoulders , and ankles. RA is a symmetrical disease. OA is less symmetrical. You might have pain in both your left and right knee , for example, but one side or one joint is worse. OA, like RA, is common in the hand and fingers. OA often affects the spine and hips in addition to the knees.

Anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications are generally effective for both OA and RA , but use of corticosteroids is minimized. If you have RA, drugs that suppress your immune system can prevent damage by stopping your body from attacking your joints, and prevent joint damage.

While OA usually develops after years of wear and tear on cartilage, people with RA may have it earlier in life due to causes such as sports injuries that result in damage to the cartilage, joints, or ligaments. While people with OA may have morning stiffness that lasts fewer than 30 minutes , it lasts longer for people with RA. Treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms of both conditions. If needed, they can refer you to a specialist who can help you find the right treatment to manage your condition.

Warm joints, or the sensation of heat or warmth around the joints, can be caused by arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow and other…. There are more than types of arthritis and related diseases. Two of the most common types are rheumatoid arthritis RA and osteoarthritis OA.

OA is more common than RA. Both involve inflammation in the joints, but RA causes much more inflammation. Until recently, experts believed that inflammation was not a feature of OA, and researchers are still investigating the role that it plays in the illness — whether it is a cause or a result of the condition.

OA and RA share some symptoms, but RA can affect multiple joints, and it tends to develop symmetrically, on both sides of the body. OA usually affects a few joints, and it typically only develops on one side. Also, RA involves systemic inflammation and can cause a fever and other flu-like symptoms. The symptoms of OA tend to be limited to the affected joint or joints.

Below, we explore the similarities and differences between RA and OA in more detail, looking at their symptoms, causes, and treatments. Joints contain protective tissues that prevent the bones from scraping against one another. For example, cartilage sits over the bones to facilitate smooth movement in the joint. Arthritis damages this protective tissue. But in RA and OA, the causes of joint damage are different. RA is an autoimmune disease. In the process, it releases enzymes that destroy the linings of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Other symptoms can also develop throughout the body. OA involves the protective cartilage gradually wearing down, causing the bones to rub together. This wear and tear can result from repetitive movements, such as in sports, that place pressure on the joints. Bony growths called bone spurs develop on the joints, which become stiff, painful, and harder to move.

The risks of developing OA and RA increase with age, although either condition can occur at any age. What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and gout?

Symptoms of both conditions tend to be worse in the morning. Both can cause stiffness in the morning or after resting, too. However, in a person with OA, the stiffness usually improves within 30 minutes. In someone with RA, it usually lasts longer. RA symptoms may develop and worsen quickly, sometimes within a few weeks. OA symptoms arise more slowly, as the protective tissues in the joints gradually wear down. However, certain activities can cause a sudden worsening of OA symptoms.

For example, going for a hike may cause sudden, severe swelling in the knee.