Differences Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis What Is The Difference Between Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are two different diseases, despite two "sound" very similar and both affecting the joints causing joint problems. Let's see the differences between them. It is logical that rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are confused, that is why in this article we will review the differences between these two disorders. The term "arthritis" is used a lot as if it was a single condition, but the word can refer to many different types of conditions that involve joint pain. One is degenerative - osteoarthritis (OA) - and the other is an autoimmune condition - rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Broadly speaking, rheumatoid arthritis is a curable disease caused by an inflammatory process in the joint, while osteoarthritis is an irreversible disease caused by the wear and tear of cartilage. These two rh...