OA vs RA: Difference and Comparison

OA and RA are inflammatory conditions that have a ramification of pain, swelling, and redness, especially in the joint areas. OA and RA have pain as symptoms, so it can be hard to distinguish them. However, they are not indistinguishable.

Key Takeaways

1. OA (Osteoarthritis) is a degenerative joint condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage, while RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) is an autoimmune disorder causing chronic inflammation in the joints.
2. OA affects older individuals and develops gradually over time, while RA can occur at any age and presents with sudden onset of symptoms.
3. Treatment for OA focuses on pain management and improving joint function, while RA treatment aims to control inflammation and prevent joint damage.

OA vs RA

The difference between OA and RA is that Osteoarthritis (OA) influences the structure and function of the joints, whereas, Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, has an influence on all the joints, including the joints in the hands, thus well-known as an auto-immune disorder.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and during minor movements, joints’ elderliness, wear and tear arise whenever they are overloaded.

Repeated wearing away of these bony growths is what causes pain and eventual destruction of the affected joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is also well-known as rheumatoid disease and chronic progressive systemic-onset polyarthritis.

In People with RA, their immune system attacks specific cells in their joints, causing inflammation and pain, where the inflammation tissues eventually lead to joint damage.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	OA	RA
Definition	OA is a degenerative joint disease that affects cartilage, bone, and the synovial membrane of joints.	RA is ill health where the immune system attacks specific cells in the joints causing inflammation and pain.
Root	Genetic conditions or accidents that result in cartilage injuries.	The collagen in the joints has been attacked and broken down and exposed to the immune system’s immune antibodies that use them as targets.
Age Group	OA can happen at old age.	RA can happen at any age.
Manifestation	Extreme pain, swelling, and redness.	Extreme pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness of the joints followed by gradual joint deterioration.
Threat Elements	Severe pain and destruction of the affected joint.	Deformity growths, disability, disability loss of work, and need for assistance in daily activities.
Therapeutic	Medication, a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise routine, and physical therapies.	Medication, and physical therapies.

What is OA?

Osteoarthritis (OA) root can be a genetic condition or accident that results in cartilage injuries. This can occur due to trauma to the joint, such as a fall or a car accident.

It may also be caused by chronic arthritis, which is when the joint starts to get arthritis and wear down over time.

Physical therapy can also be beneficial in helping you maintain mobility and flexibility while reducing pain and the progression of the disease itself.

Osteoarthritis affects two-thirds of people over 50 years old, and there is no cure for it.

The only treatment for osteoarthritis is to take medication to relieve symptoms and reduce the pain so that a person can manage their condition and continue with their daily activities.

This can include taking painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen or anti-inflammatories such as naproxen, diclofenac, or indomethacin.

Osteoarthritis can develop after a joint injury, resulting in extreme discomfort. However, a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce the progression of osteoarthritis.

This includes a regular exercise routine, which increases blood flow and reduces inflammation.

What is RA?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starts with extreme pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness of the joints, followed by gradual joint deterioration.

The disease can be life-threatening because of deformities, deformity growths disability, disability, loss of work, and need for assistance in daily activities.

Some people with RA develop polymyalgia rheumatic, characterised by widespread upper body pain, especially the shoulders and neck, decreased muscle strength, and fatigue.

The inflammation of affected tissues eventually leads to joint damage.

During origination, the collagen forms into a gel-like substance when water is added.

This gel forms because it allows for ease of movement; however, because of RA, the collagen in the joints has been attacked and broken down and exposed to the immune system’s immune antibodies that use them as targets, moreover, due to autoimmune destruction of the collagen, it is replaced with microscopic fibres this causes hardening of those parts of the joints that are affected by RA.

Main Differences Between OA and RA

1. OA is a degenerative joint disease that affects cartilage, bone, and the synovial membrane of joints, whereas RA is ill health, where the immune system attacks specific cells in their joints, causing inflammation and pain.
2. The root of OA is genetic conditions or accidents that result in cartilage injuries, whereas the root of RA is collagen in the joints that have been attacked and broken down and exposed to the immune system’s immune antibodies that use them as targets.
3. OA can happen in old age, whereas RA can happen at any age.
4. Manifestation of OA includes extreme pain, swelling, and redness, whereas RA manifestation includes extreme pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness of the joints, followed by gradual joint deterioration.
5. OA threat elements include severe pain and destruction of the affected joint, whereas RA threat elements include deformity growths, disability, disability loss of work, and need for assistance in daily activities.
6. The therapeutics of OA are medication, a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise routine, and physical therapies, whereas the therapeutics of RA are medication and physical therapies.

References

1. https://europepmc.org/article/med/1555050
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cbf.3370
3. https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article-abstract/49/5/898/1787364

Last Updated : 21 June, 2023