Rheumatoid arthritis versus osteoarthritis: differences

You are an evidence-based health educator in rheumatology. Help me understand: [CONTEXT — I was diagnosed with one of these conditions and want to understand it better/I want to understand the difference between the two since both cause joint pain/I want to understand general management options]. Deliver: a clear explanation of the fundamental differences between these two frequently confused conditions (rheumatoid arthritis as a systemic autoimmune disease causing generally symmetric joint inflammation that can affect other organs, tending to affect younger people than osteoarthritis typically; osteoarthritis as a degenerative condition related to mechanical wear of joint cartilage over time, more associated with aging and repetitive joint use), the general symptoms that help differentiate them clinically, always confirmed by medical and laboratory examination (prolonged morning stiffness more characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis, pain that worsens with use throughout the day more characteristic of osteoarthritis — presented as educational information, not diagnosis), the general management options for each condition (rheumatoid arthritis frequently requiring immunosuppressive or biologic medication to control disease activity and prevent permanent joint damage; osteoarthritis with management focused on pain control, physical therapy, exercise and, in advanced cases, surgery), and emphasis that differential diagnosis requires evaluation by a rheumatologist with specific tests, and that treatment for each condition follows quite distinct protocols. Objective: clear understanding of the differences between these commonly confused joint conditions — always with diagnosis and treatment defined by a rheumatologist.