Overview

Learn about the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a disease that affects your joints (areas where your bones meet and move). Arthritis usually involves inflammation or degeneration (breakdown) of your joints. These changes can cause pain when you use the joint.

Arthritis is most common in the following areas of the body:

Feet.
Hands.
Hips.
Knees.
Lower back.

What are the parts of a joint?

Joints get cushioned and supported by soft tissues that prevent your bones from rubbing against each other. A connective tissue called articular cartilage plays a key role. It helps your joints move smoothly without friction or pain.

Some joints have a synovial membrane, a padded pocket of fluid that lubricates the joints. Many joints, such as your knees, get supported by tendons and ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to your bones, while ligaments connect bones to other bones.

What are the different types of arthritis?

Arthritis is a broad term that describes more than 100 different joint conditions. The most common types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis, or “wear and tear” arthritis, which develops when joint cartilage breaks down from repeated stress. It’s the most common form of arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis, or arthritis of the spine (usually your lower back).
Juvenile arthritis (JA), a disorder where the immune system attacks the tissue around joints. JA typically affects children 16 or younger.
Gout, a disease that causes hard crystals of uric acid to form in your joints.
Psoriatic arthritis, joint inflammation that develops in people with psoriasis (autoimmune disorder that causes skin irritation).
Rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes the immune system to attack synovial membranes in your joints.

How common is arthritis?

Arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the U.S. About 50 million adults and 300,000 children manage some form of arthritis.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes arthritis?

Different types of arthritis have different causes. For instance, gout is the result of too much uric acid in your body. But for other types of arthritis, the exact cause is unknown. You may develop arthritis if you:

Have a family history of arthritis.
Have a job or play a sport that puts repeated stress on your joints.
Have certain autoimmune diseases or viral infections.

What are the risk factors for arthritis?

Some factors make you more likely to develop arthritis, including:

Age: The risk of arthritis increases as you get older.
Lifestyle: Smoking or a lack of exercise can increase your risk of arthritis.
Sex: Most types of arthritis are more common in women.
Weight: Obesity puts extra strain on your joints, which can lead to arthritis.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Different types of arthritis have different symptoms. They can be mild in some people and severe in others. Joint discomfort might come and go, or it could stay constant. Common symptoms include:

Pain.
Redness.
Stiffness.
Swelling.
Tenderness.
Warmth.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is arthritis diagnosed?

If you think you may have arthritis, see your healthcare provider. The provider will ask about your symptoms and learn how joint pain affects your life. Your provider will perform a physical exam, which may include:

Assessing mobility and range of motion in your joints.
Checking for areas of tenderness or swelling around your joints.
Evaluating your overall health to determine if a different condition could be causing your symptoms.

Can imaging exams detect arthritis?

Imaging exams can help your healthcare provider get a clear picture of your bones, joints and soft tissues. An X-ray, MRI or ultrasound can reveal:

Bone fractures or dislocations that may be causing you joint pain.
Cartilage breakdown around your joints.
Muscle, ligament or tendon injuries near your joints.
Soft tissue inflammation.

Can a blood test detect arthritis?

There is no blood test that can directly detect arthritis. But if your healthcare provider suspects gout or rheumatoid arthritis, they may order blood work. It looks for uric acid or inflammatory proteins.

Management and Treatment

How is arthritis treated?

There’s no cure for arthritis, but there are treatments that can help you manage the condition. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of the arthritis, its symptoms and your overall health.

Conservative (nonsurgical) treatments include:

Medication: Anti-inflammatory and pain medications may help relieve your arthritis symptoms. Some medications, called biologics, target your immune system’s inflammatory response. A healthcare provider may recommend biologics for your rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
Physical therapy: Rehabilitation can help improve strength, range of motion and overall mobility. Therapists can teach you how to adjust your daily activities to lessen arthritic pain.
Therapeutic injections: Cortisone shots may help temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in your joints. Arthritis in certain joints, such as your knee, may improve with a treatment called viscosupplementation. It injects lubricant to help joints move smoothly.

Will I need surgery for arthritis?

Healthcare providers usually only recommend surgery for certain severe cases of arthritis. These are cases that haven’t improved with conservative treatments. Surgical options include:

Fusion: Two or more bones are permanently fused together. Fusion immobilizes a joint and reduces pain caused by movement.
Joint replacement: A damaged, arthritic joint gets replaced with an artificial joint. Joint replacement preserves joint function and movement. Examples include ankle replacement, hip replacement, knee replacement and shoulder replacement.

Prevention

How can arthritis be prevented?

You can lower your chances of developing arthritis by:

Avoiding tobacco products.
Doing low-impact, non-weight bearing exercise.
Maintaining a healthy body weight.
Reducing your risk of joint injuries.

Outlook / Prognosis

What’s the outlook for someone living with arthritis?

Since there’s no cure for arthritis, most people need to manage arthritis for the rest of their lives. Your healthcare provider can help you find the right combination of treatments to reduce symptoms. One of the biggest health risks associated with arthritis is inactivity. If you become sedentary from joint pain, you may face a greater risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other serious conditions.

Living With

What can I do to make living with arthritis easier?

Changing your routine can make living with arthritis easier. Adjust your activities to lessen joint pain. It may help to work with an occupational therapist (OT). An OT is a healthcare provider who specializes in managing physical challenges like arthritis.

An OT may recommend:

Adaptive equipment, such as grips for opening jars.
Techniques for doing hobbies, sports or other activities safely.
Tips for reducing joint pain during arthritic flare-ups.

Do certain types of weather make arthritis worse?

Some people find that arthritis feels worse during certain types of weather. Humidity and cold are two common triggers of joint pain.

There are a variety of reasons why this might happen. People tend to be less active in rainy seasons and the wintertime. The cold and damp can also stiffen joints and aggravate arthritis. Other theories suggest that barometric pressure, or the pressure of the air around us, may have some effect on arthritis.

If you find that certain types of weather make your arthritis worse, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to manage your symptoms. Dressing warmly, exercising inside or using heat therapy may help relieve your pain.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. There are many types of arthritis, all of which can cause pain and reduce mobility. Some forms of arthritis result from natural wear and tear. Other types come from autoimmune diseases or inflammatory conditions. There are a variety of treatments for arthritis, ranging from physical or occupational therapy to joint surgery. Your healthcare provider will assess your symptoms and recommend the right treatment plan for your needs. Most people can successfully manage arthritis and still do the activities they care about.

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Arthritis