Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause joint pain and stiffness , but their causes as well as cures differ. Osteoathritis and rheumatoid arthritis are very different conditions, however, as they have different causes, symptoms as well as treatments.

Rheumatoid arthritis refers to an autoimmune disease. It is a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues which leads to inflammation. In this case, joint inflammation begins in the membrane which lines the joints. The most commonly affected areas in this type or arthritis are the hands, wrists, elbows, as well as shoulders, knees, ankles and feet. Over time, the cartilage in the joints and then even the bone is eroded, which causes joint deformities as well as disability.

Osteoarthritis refers to a progressive, degenerative joint disease which is very common in older people. It is often said that with increasing age, various factors cause the cartilage in the joints to weaken, leading to structural and chemical changes in the bone below the cartilage. It is the hands, knees as well as hips which are the most commonly affected. In younger people, osteoarthritis may take place due to a joint injury or infection, or because of obesity.

A joint affected by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis often feels stiff first thing in the morning, and will be hot, swollen as well as tender to the touch. Blood tests are needed in order to confirm the diagnosis, to look for certain antibodies which are characteristic of the disease.

The autoimmune origin of rheumatoid arthritis indicates that people with this condition will often suffer related problems in other parts of the body, such as joint pain and stiffness. In addition, people with rheumatoid arthritis may also have anemia, skin rashes, as well as heart and lung problems, besides dry-eye syndrome.