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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common kind of arthritis. The problem in OA is the breakdown of cartilage in joints. This causes pain in the affected joint with use. For example, OA in the knee causes knee pain with walking or climbing steps.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammation causes the joints to be swollen, stiff, and tender. Unlike OA, however, the inflamed joints in RA will often feel better with use. Because it is an inflammatory illness, RA can affect other parts of the body, including the skin, nerves, heart, and lungs.

Gout is caused by uric acid, a chemical made by the body, which gets into the joints. It causes sudden episodes of very painful, swollen joints.