1. Visible Differences Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Because osteoarthritis is caused by the cartilage of the joints wearing down due to overuse, it has few, if any, visible effects (until the later stages, when the joints start to become deformed). Rheumatoid arthritis, however, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the lining of the joints. This attack process causes the affected joints to become noticeably swollen and red with inflammation. The joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis may also be warm or hot to the touch during the active phases of the disease.
2. Blood Tests Distinguish Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Blood test results for people with osteoarthritis will usually be normal, unless some other medical condition is present. People with rheumatoid arthritis, however, will find that their blood test results show a high sedimentation rate (which measures inflammation) during the active phases of the disease. Further, many people with rheumatoid arthritis become anemic, which will also show up in a blood test. Eighty percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis will also test positive for the rheumatoid factor, which is an antibody that contributes to the autoimmune reaction that causes rheumatoid arthritis.
3. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Feel Bad All Over
Other than joint pain, people with osteoarthritis often feel just fine. That's because their body isn't attacking itself. On the other hand, people with rheumatoid arthritis often suffer from severe fatigue and sometimes run low-grade fevers. Some people may also experience muscle aches, inflammation of the eyes and the formation of small nodules under the skin at the small joints. These overall body symptoms are usually worse when the disease is in its early stages or when a flare is happening. Most modern medicines that treat rheumatoid arthritis are made to reduce or eliminate fatigue, fevers and other systemic symptoms, so when the medicines start working, these symptoms will start to fade.
