Joints affected by osteoarthritis compared to rheumatoid arthritis and their signs and symptoms

Osteoarthritis
OA is the most common type of arthritis. It affects the cartilage in the joints. Cartilage cushions the ends of the bones involved in a joint, and in OA the cartilage breaks down. With the ends of the bones unprotected, the joint doesn’t function in its normal smooth way.
OA most commonly occurs in the fingers and weight bearing joints, mainly knees, feet, hips and back.

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of OA vary. Most individuals remain essentially free of symptoms. Symptoms may include any of the following:
• Pain and stiffness in the joint
• Swelling
• Joint instability
• Loss of function
• Joint tenderness
• Crepitus on movement
• Limitation of range of movement
• Joint instability
• Joint effusion and variable levels of inflammation
• Bony swelling
• Wasting of muscles


Rheumatoid arthritis
In RA, inflammation (pain, heat and swelling) affects joints, and sometimes other organs of the body. RA is an auto-immune disease, where the immune system attacks the synovial membrane lining the joints, and inflammation occurs. Treatment is vital to minimise damage to cartilage and bone within the joint. RA can start in any joint, but often starts in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands and wrists. Most commonly affected joints are in the hands, feet, shoulders and knees.

Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person and may include:
• Tender, warm, swollen joints
• Persistent fatigue and feeling "run down"
• Joint stiffness more noticeable in the morning
• Limitation of movement
• Muscle wasting
• Deformities develop as the disease progressed
• Generally, both sides of the body are affected similarly.

http://www.arthritisvic.org.au
http://www.arthritis.org
Kumar and Clark