I read an article about joint replacements for arthritis. I have rheumatoid arthritis. Is this the kind of arthritis that requires joint replacement?

There are two main kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that can affect the joints and other organs in the body. There is a painful inflammatory process with this type of arthritis. The larger joints such as the hip or knee can be affected. However, it’s usually the smaller joints of the wrist, hands, and feet that are damaged by RA.

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects the hips and knees most often. Swelling may be present, but there isn’t an inflammatory response in the joint. The lubricating fluid is gone and the joint surface is worn away. The majority of total hip and total knee replacements done are for OA.

Patients with RA are more likely to need joint replacement for the fingers of the hands.