arthritis is simply inflammation in the joint.
Cervical arthritis is inflammation in the joints at the side of any or all cervical or neck vertebra.
Osteoathritis is when the cartilage in a joint becomes damaged with resulting bone changes--disintegration or bone spurs.
Rheumatoid arthritis is swelling that results from autoimmune disease where a person's body attacks the cartilage in joints. Without treatment RA results in the disintegration of cartilage and then bone in the joints. RA is suspected with bilateral pain in hands and/or feet. Diagnostic testing includes serum blood draws for rheumatoid factor and xrays of the hands and/or feet. Disintegration from RA can be halted by methotrexate and monoclonal antibodies like Humira.
I have cervical osteoarthritis. In my neck bone changes at C5-6-- osteophytes (sharp little bone spurs).
I get tested for RA because there is a strong genetic component and my sister, an uncle and a cousin have RA. My sister was treated early and has no damage to her joints.