Q. I have pain and stiffness in some of the joints in my hands. They’re becoming swollen and misshapen. How do I know if it’s osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis?
A
Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have different causes, symptoms and treatments. OA is caused by the wearing down of cartilage (the substance that covers the ends of bones in joints). RA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, primarily the membrane that lines joints. This leads to inflammation that can damage the joint and cause pain, swelling and potentially joint deformity.
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