Difference between Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis?
Osteoarthritic or arthritic symptoms?
While both conditions affect the joints and cause pain, they are fundamentally different:
| Criterion | Osteoarthritis | Arthritis |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Degenerative disease (mechanical wear and tear) | Inflammatory disease |
| Origin | Cartilage wear and tear due to age, trauma, or repeated strain | Inflammatory reaction, often autoimmune or infectious in origin |
| Type of pain | Mechanical pain: appears with effort, relieved by rest | Inflammatory pain: present at rest, often at night |
| Morning stiffness | Short duration (< 30 minutes) | Prolonged (> 30 minutes, sometimes several hours) |
| Swelling | Infrequent, moderate | Frequent, with warmth and local redness |
| Age of onset | Generally after 50 years old | Can occur at any age, even in young adults |
| Affected joints | Often begins in an isolated joint, asymmetrically | Often affects several joints symmetrically |
| Evolution | Progressive and slow | Can evolve in inflammatory flares |
Key takeaways:
- Osteoarthritis is "wear and tear" of the cartilage, like tire wear.
- Arthritis is an active inflammation of the joint, often due to an immune system dysfunction.
- Osteoarthritis can nevertheless present occasional inflammatory phases.
- It is possible to suffer from both conditions simultaneously.
