Mobile Menu

  • Natural Pain Relief
  • RA Symptoms List
  • RA & Diet
  • RA Treatments
  • RA & Exercise
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Blog
  • 6 Foods To Avoid

7 Best Socks for Arthritis Foot Pain CLICK HERE

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

RA Pain Management

Making Life More Enjoyable

  • Natural Pain Relief
  • RA Symptoms List
  • RA & Diet
  • RA Treatments
  • RA & Exercise
  • Search
rheumatoid arthritis vs osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis VS Osteoarthritis: 7 Key Differences

Updated on: April 5, 2021 //  by RA Pain Management

Table of Contents

  • 1 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease
  • 2 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is 2-3 times more common in women
  • 3 – Rheumatoid Arthritis can occur at any age
  • 4 – Joint Pain: Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Osteoarthritis
  • 5 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic disease
  • 6 – Rheumatoid Arthritis usually begins in the smaller joints
  • 7 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is a symmetrical disease
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Although there are many types of arthritis, the two most commonly compared Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Osteoarthritis.

Together, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis affect millions of Americans and are the main cause of disability in the United States.

Both affect your joints, but are very different in form.

In this article, we will dive deep to the seven key differences between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

 

1 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body attacks itself.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which is a breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the joints causing bones to rub against each other.

Rheumatoid Arthritis influences around one-tenth the same number of individuals as osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common of all arthritis in the US. It affects more than 30 million adults in the United States alone.

Symptoms for Rheumatoid arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis
Painful, swollen warm joints Pain in a joint during or after movement
Fatigue, occasional fever, and a general feeling of discomfort, low appetite Crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone when used
Inflammation in hands (wrist and finger joints), neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, or feet Stiffness after periods of inactivity, such as sleeping or sitting
The symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis may arise and get worse quickly, sometimes within a few weeks. The symptoms of Osteoarthritis appear more slowly, as the protective tissues in the joints gradually break down.

Even if they are different in a lot of ways, they also share similarities like the below symptoms:

  • Joint pain
  • Stiffness in joints
  • Swelling, which is more severe in RA
  • Restricted mobility in affected joints
  • Symptoms that are worse in the morning
  • They can affect any joint in the body

 

2 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is 2-3 times more common in women

Rheumatoid Arthritis is 2- 3 times more common in women while Osteoarthritis is more common in men before the age of 45 years old.

Women that are 50 years old and above are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis than men.

 

3 – Rheumatoid Arthritis can occur at any age

RA can occur at any age while Osteoarthritis oftentimes begin in the middle age.

You may be more likely to get Rheumatoid Arthritis if you have a family member who has it.

Evidence suggests that being a woman, smoking, and being around dangerous chemicals like asbestos or silica may increase your risk.

You’re more likely to develop Osteoarthritis if you:

  • Are overweight
  • Have joint deformities
  • Have diabetes
  • Have gout
  • Have experienced traumatic injuries to your joints

 

4 – Joint Pain: Rheumatoid Arthritis vs Osteoarthritis

The joint pain for Rheumatoid Arthritis can last over 30 minutes while joint pain for Osteoarthritis often fades within 30 minutes.

 

5 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic disease

RA is a systemic disease which means it can affect your entire body.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is solely limited to joint degeneration.

 

6 – Rheumatoid Arthritis usually begins in the smaller joints

Rheumatoid Arthritis usually begins in the smaller joints.

Pain, stiffness, and swelling would start in the finger joints.

Osteoarthritis, although experiences pain in the hand and fingers, often also affects the spine, hips, and knees.

When you have Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis, reaching that weight goal becomes even more important.

When you have Osteoarthritis: Extra weight puts extra stress on your joints, especially your knees, hips, and low back.

Losing weight gives those joints some relief.

When you have Rheumatoid Arthritis: In addition to taking pressure off your joints, weight loss has other benefits.

Research shows it can reduce disease activity which means it slows the attack on your joints.

 

7 – Rheumatoid Arthritis is a symmetrical disease

RA lets you experience symptoms on both sides of your body at the same time.

Almost half of people with Rheumatoid Arthritis have stopped participating on some activities.

Osteoarthritis is not a symmetrical disease, although you may sometimes experience symptoms on both sides of the body, one side would always be more painful.

Manifestations regularly start on one side of the body and may spread to the opposite side.

They begin gradually and are often limited to one set of joints, usually the finger joints closest to the fingernails or the thumbs, large weight-bearing joints (hips, knees), or the spine.

Both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis are chronic illnesses and cannot be cured.

However, various treatments can help patients manage their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and slow down the progression of the condition.

Anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid medications are generally effective for both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

If you have Rheumatoid Arthritis, drugs that suppress your immune system can prevent damage by stopping your body from attacking your joints.

While it is possible to have both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis…

Osteoarthritis doesn’t cause Rheumatoid Arthritis, yet Rheumatoid Arthritis can develop to Secondary Osteoarthritis

It is conceivable that Rheumatoid Arthritis caused the joint injury that prompted Secondary Osteoarthritis, or you may have incidental Primary Osteoarthritis in a joint while you have Rheumatoid Arthritis in different areas.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than just your joints.

Primary versus Secondary Osteoarthritis:

Primary Osteoarthritis is related to aging, whereas secondary Osteoarthritis is caused by another disease or condition (Joint Injury, Congenital Joint Deformities, etc.).

Unlike primary Osteoarthritis, secondary Osteoarthritis has a specific cause.

It is also possible to occur in younger people, more likely under age 35.

Treatment for secondary Osteoarthritis begins with managing the underlying cause and getting it under control.

While there is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis, you can still have a positive outlook with the right treatment.

Should you experience any of the symptoms of stiffness or chronic rheumatoid arthritis joint pain, make sure to talk to your doctor immediately.

—

References:

  • https://www.arthritis.com/about-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-vs-osteoarthritis
  • https://www.arthritis.com/about-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis
  • https://www.arthritis.com/about-arthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/ra-vs-oa#treatment
  • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323617
  • https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/special/comparing-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-osteoarthritis/aa19377.html
  • https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-osteoarthritis-difference
  • https://www.medicinenet.com/rheumatoid_arthritis_vs_osteoarthritis/views.htm
  • https://www.verywellhealth.com/osteoarthritis-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-together-2552112
  • https://www.verywellhealth.com/secondary-osteoarthritis-4799074

Category: Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

About RA Pain Management

The purpose of RA Pain Management is to provide rheumatoid arthritis sufferers a resource for natural pain management tips, treatments, products, resources, and links that are helping those living with the disease to live their lives more enjoyably.

Connect with us online: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest | Share Your Story/

Previous Post: «arthritis bathroom aids 15 Arthritis Bathroom Aids & Tools You Can’t Live Without
Next Post: Pecan Rosemary Baked Tilapia Recipe (Clean-Eating Meal) baked tilapia recipe for arthritis»

Primary Sidebar

Sign Up For FREE RA Pain Relief Tips & Receive BONUS EBOOK 6 Foods To Avoid If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

book
Fill out the form below to gain instant access and start feeling better.

By submitting your info, you agree to send it to RA Pain Management who will process and use it according to their privacy policy.

Recent Related Posts

rheumatoid arthritis rash

9 Ways To Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis Rash & Skin Problems

Ways to prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis rash & skin problems are not often talked about but are part of the daily management …

7 Unusual Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

7 Unusual Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aside from joint pain, there are a handful of unusual symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Below, we specifically point out 7 …

rheumatoid arthritis and depression

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression: What You Should Know

Rheumatoid arthritis and depression go hand-in-hand. It sounds obvious, but the fact that RA and depression are so …

rapm-early-signs-of-rheumathoid-arthritis

Detecting the Early Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis

You're not too young to worry about your joints, so learning how to catch some of the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis is …

Footer

rapain logo

Inspiration

“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”

Be A Better You


Most Popular Pages

  • The Complete List of Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
  • Review of Most Effective Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Plans
  • Top 20 Natural Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Options
  • The Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercise Program
  • Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis For 21 Years [Interview]
  • 101 Anti Inflammatory Foods o Help Reduce Inflammation
  • Can Cannabis Oil Help Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Recent Posts

  • Smoked Salmon Salad Recipe with Green Goddess Dressing
  • 15 Arthritis Gardening Tools to Help You Be Pain Free in the Garden
  • 21 Arthritis Grooming and Hygiene Aids to Help Keep You Fresh & Clean
  • 13 Arthritis Playing Card Holders & Aids to Manage Hand Pain Naturally
  • Gluten-Free Oatmeal Banana Cookies for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About RA Pain Management
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.
By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, and Affiliate Disclosure. Content may not be reproduced in any form.

Copyright © 2014-2023 RA Pain Management ·

×

Terms and Conditions

UPDATED: June 26, 2017

By using this website (the “Site”) or any services provided through this Site, you (“you,” “your,” or “User”) agree to the terms and conditions that Moneyball Marketing LLC (“MBM,” “us,” “our,” or “we”) have provided. This Agreement between us and User supersedes all previous written and oral agreements, representations, and warranties. If you do not wish to agree to these terms of service (the “TOS” or “Agreement”), please refrain from using the Site.

1. General

RA Pain Management (“RAPM”) is a website (https://rapainmanagement.com/) owned by MBM to provide an informational resource about natural treatments and products to aid in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (“RA”) pain and a forum where people can share their experiences with RA pain management.

This Site is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your doctor before starting or changing your RA pain management regimen. Any experience provided on this Site is simply the experience and opinion of the person providing it. It is not a guarantee of any results for you.

2. User Conduct

All Users are allowed to post comments on our blog; however you are required to abide the following rules of conduct.

  • You must be at least 13 years old.
  • Your comments must be relevant to the post’s topic.
  • You may post comments anonymously.
  • You may not use this Site to abuse, harass, or defame anyone.
  • You may not post content that contains hate speech, threats, excessive violence or curse words, or pornography. You may not use this Site to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.
  • You may not post spam or upload viruses or other malicious code. You may not do anything that is designed to disable, overburden, or interfere with the normal working of the Site.
  • You may not use this Site to commit copyright infringement or violate anyone’s intellectual property rights. You may share our content using our social sharing buttons.
  • If you share an opinion about a product or service, you may only share your honest opinions based on your personal experience. Failing to do this will violate the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations regarding truthfulness in testimonials (16 CFR §§ 255.0–255.5). You must also disclose when you are compensated for giving a testimonial.

We have no obligation to monitor the Site, but we can, and we may remove anything that a User posts for any or no reason. All comments are currently moderated.

3. User Interaction with Site

If You use this Site to subscribe to Our free resources, to interact with us or other users, or to use our general contact form, you must provide accurate information about yourself when such information is required. You may not use this Site to sign up other people or entities for products or services without their consent.

4. License to Use User Provided Content

You may only publish content that You have created or have permission to use and publish on this Site. You will retain the copyright in Your original work that You publish on this Site. By posting Your work on this Site, You grant MBM a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use Your work in any way for any reason, including advertising and marketing purposes. This license includes the ability to modify Your work and sublicense it to others for any reason. If we use any of Your content, we may do so without notification or compensation to You.

5. Links, Sponsorship, and Guest Posts

We may provide links to other websites on this Site. Providing a link, however, is not an endorsement. We shall not be responsible for any material on any site to which We provides a link. User assumes all risk by following a link. MBM provides no guarantee that any website We link to will be accurate or available.

We reserve the right to post sponsored ads and posts on this Site. Providing the opportunities to others to advertise or promote a product or service is not an endorsement by MBM. We cannot guarantee the veracity of any statements made by sponsors or guest writers.

6. Disclosure

We may write product reviews and/or provide links from this Site to those products and earn an affiliate commission for any purchases you make. We may also receive free products or otherwise be compensated for writing a review. We promise that when we do this, we will always write a fair and accurate review of the product. The fact that we are compensated in any way to do this will not cloud our judgment.

When we are compensated for writing a review, we will label the post as such.

We provide these disclosures for two reasons.
#1 – The Federal Trade Commission requires it.
#2 – It’s good business practice.

We will provide reviews of products based on our experience, but ultimately you should make your own assessment as to whether a particular product is right for you.

7. Copyrights and Trademarks

MBM retains its copyright rights in all its content published on this Site. Users may request permission to use or repurpose our content by contacting us at support@rapainmanagement.com.

Moneyball Marketing LLC is a trademark for MBM and may not be used without our explicit written permission.

Any violation of this policy may result in a copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right infringement that may subject User to civil and/or criminal penalties.

8. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Policy

MBM has a registered DMCA agent with the United States Copyright Office and complies with the DMCA (17 U.S.C. § 512).

If you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied and posted on the Site in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, you must contact our DMCA Agent at the following address:

Moneyball Marketing LLC
Attn: DMCA/Copyright Agent
2303 North 44th Street, Suite 14-1266
Phoenix, AZ 85008
support@rapainmanagement.com

We comply with all properly submitted DMCA takedown and counter takedown notices.

9. Indemnification

User agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless MBM, its affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to any activity by User in connection with the Site.

To the extent permitted under applicable laws, User hereby releases MBM from any and all claims or liability related to any product or service provided through this Site and any conduct or speech, whether online or offline, of any other User.

10. Dispute Resolution

By using this Site, User agrees that any claim, dispute, or controversy User may have against us arising out of, relating to, or connected in any way with this Agreement, or this Site, shall be resolved exclusively in a court located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Arizona law shall govern all disputes related to this Site.

In all claims, disputes, and controversies related to this Agreement or this Site, the prevailing party’s attorneys fees will be paid by the other party in addition to any damages assessed against them.

11. Modified Terms of Service

We reserve the right at any time to discontinue or modify any of Our TOS as We deem necessary or desirable. We may notify Users of changes by posting notice of the change on the Site. Changes to this Agreement may occur, however, without notice. Any changes to these TOS will be effective upon the changes being made to this document.
We suggest, therefore, that You re-read Our TOS periodically in order to stay informed as to any such changes. The date at the top of Our TOS will inform You of the date of the most recent change. Any use of the Site by User after the changes shall be deemed to constitute acceptance by User of such modifications.

12. Warranty Disclaimer

USER EXPRESSLY AGREES THAT USE OF THIS SITE IS AT USER’S SOLE RISK. NEITHER MONEYBALL MARKETING LLC, OUR AFFILIATES, NOR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, THIRD-PARTY CONTENT PROVIDERS OR LICENSORS, OR ANY OF THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS, WARRANT THAT USE OF THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE; NOR DO THEY MAKE ANY WARRANTY AS TO (1) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM USE OF THIS SITE OR (2) THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY OR CONTENT OF ANY INFORMATION OR SERVICE PROVIDED THROUGH THIS SITE.

THIS SITE IS MADE ACCESSIBLE ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. MONEYBALL MARKETING LLC HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE OF TITLE NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

13. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL MONEYBALL MARKETING LLC BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT.

14. Contact Information

Questions and complaints may be sent to Moneyball Marketing LLC at 2303 North 44th Street, Suite 14-1266, Phoenix, AZ 85008 or via email at support@rapainmanagement.com.

15. Privacy Policy

We have the upmost respect for Your privacy. We will use the information collected from You to provide and improve Our services, which may require us to share some information with third parties. In the event that We sell the business or this Site, that sale will include all User information we’ve obtained via this Site. We will never spam You or sell Your information to a third party for other purposes.

When You provide Your contact information to us via this Site, You are opting in to receive email offers for any of MBM’s services and recommendations. In accordance with the CAN-SPAM Act, You may opt-out from receiving these communications at any time.

We reserve the option to collect data from Users on other parts of the Site than listed above and to make other service options available through the Site where Users must provide their personal information to participate.
When You visit the Site, Our servers automatically recognize Your domain names and IP addresses, but this does not give Us any additional personal information about You. The Site may also collect anonymous aggregate “traffic data” (contains no personally identifiable information about individual Users) that may help Us improve and market Our services.
We may use cookies on Our Site. These cookies track about how You use Our Site which will help inform Us which areas are useful to Users and what areas need improvement. You may decide whether You will allow cookies using Your browser’s settings.
We may share Your information with a third party if We have a good-faith belief that sharing the information is necessary to comply with a law, regulation, or enforceable government request; to investigate potential violations or technical issues on this Site; or to protect against harm to Our Users, or our affiliates’ rights, property, safety, or to the public as permitted by law.

16. Reviews

When You provide a review or testimonial (“Review”), it must contain Your true and accurate opinion of the product or service. You must disclose in Your Review when You are compensated for providing an opinion and when You have a relationship with the company.
When You submit a Review through this Site or to Us via email, You retain the copyright in Your Review and You grant Us a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license to use Your review for any purpose. Your license to Us includes permission to edit Your Review so long as it does not change the overall message.
We read all Reviews prior using them on this Site. We do not permit reviews on this Site that are obscene, defamatory, harassing, false, misleading, or unrelated to the products, services, and/or topics discussed on this Site. We may follow up with You to ensure Your Review complies with this policy. Submitting a Review through the Site or via email to Us does not guarantee that We will use it.

17. Miscellaneous

This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter in this TOS. No waiver by either party of any breach or default hereunder is a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach or default.
The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall be of no legal force or effect.
If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the enforceability of any other provisions contained in this Agreement, and the remaining portions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect. If a provision is found to be invalid, the parties hereby request that the intention of the invalid provision be upheld wherever possible. The failure of either party to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver or forfeiture of such rights or any other rights provided by this Agreement.

18. Termination

MBM may terminate this Agreement with any User at any time for violations of the Site’s TOS. Without limiting the foregoing, We shall have the right to immediately terminate or suspend any User subscriptions in the event of any conduct by User or which MBM in its sole discretion, considers to be unacceptable, or in the event of any breach by User of this Agreement.
Termination may occur without notification and without a refund to the User. The provisions of the following sections will survive termination of this Agreement: User Conduct, User Interaction with Site, Copyrights and Trademarks, Indemnification, Dispute Resolution, Warranty Disclaimer, Limitation of Liability, Privacy Policy, and Miscellaneous. MBM shall not liable for any damages for terminating a User.