In everyday life, many patients confuse osteoarthritis with rheumatoid arthritis, but these two diseases are indeed very distinct. Generally speaking, osteoarthritis is mostly caused by hyperplastic arthritis due to trauma or, in some cases, osteoarthritis resulting from overuse,

The characteristic of osteoarthritic pain is that it is related to activity. The more a joint affected by arthritis moves, and the greater the overuse, the more severe the pain becomes. When resting, the pain in that joint will decrease,

However, rheumatoid arthritis is different and has clear distinctions from osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the small joints of the limbs, usually occurs symmetrically, and rarely affects only one limb. Once it occurs, it generally affects other parts too, appearing in both hands or both feet. These small joints are usually the first to be affected, with symptoms presenting symmetrically, and there is significant morning stiffness; that is, joints are stiff in the morning,

Furthermore, rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain at rest or pain during inactivity, and nocturnal pain does not necessarily correlate with activity. Sometimes, pain may intensify after rest or during the night, and sometimes, physical activity may actually alleviate the pain. Thus, this symptom is a primary distinguishing feature from osteoarthritis. Understanding these points, the differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can basically be mastered.