People of different ages, especially after 40-50 years, often have joint problems, but without the help of a specialist it is difficult to determine which disease is developing. Common diseases are arthritis and osteoarthritis. What is the difference, how to treat, how to prevent joint pathologies?
The advice of specialists on the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system will be useful to many. Understanding how to recognize arthritis and osteoarthritis is important for treatment to be successful.
General signs
Joint pathologies have a common root in the name. Translated from the Greek, "arthron" means "joint".
Osteoarthritis and arthritis are damage to the joints. The pathological process is accompanied by discomfort, pain, damage to the cartilage tissue, mobility of the problem area is reduced. Both arthritis and arthrosis disrupt the patient's usual course of life.
When distinguishing diseases, it is important to consider all the signs and conduct the necessary studies and analyzes.
Joint pathologies have many differences, incorrect diagnosis reduces the quality of treatment.
Basic information about common pathologies
It is important to understand not only the similar and characteristic signs of arthrosis and arthritis, but also the causes, types and features of the course of joint pathologies. Understanding the provoking factors, under the influence of which negative processes begin in the cartilage tissue, will help prevent diseases.
| arthritis | arthrosis | |
|---|---|---|
| The reasons | Inflammation against a background of systemic pathology or infection of the articular tissues | Destruction of the cartilage with tissue wear, more common with age. Improper metabolism causes loss of elasticity, changes in the structure of cartilage, abrasion, partial or complete destruction of cartilage tissue. |
| provoking factors | Infectious diseases, allergies, injuries, hypothermia, metabolic disorders, heredity, stress, vitamin deficiency | Aging of the body, obesity, injuries, malnutrition, autoimmune diseases, deterioration of blood supply to cartilage and bone tissue, inflammatory processes in the body, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, excessive stress on the joint, hypothermia, hereditary predisposition |
| types of pathologies | monoarthritis, polyarthritis | Primary (damage to the cartilage with a lack of nutrients, poor blood circulation). Secondary - the disease develops in the affected joint more often after an injury |
| forms of the disease | Purulent, rheumatoid, juvenile, gout | Four stages: from a slight narrowing of the joint space to a noticeable deformity with complete closure of the joint space |
| complications | The prolonged presence of an infectious agent in the joints and other organs undermines health and reduces immunity. The mobility of the limb is impaired, during periods of exacerbation the tissues swell, hurt, it is difficult to perform many familiar movements | Without treatment: complete destruction of the joints, immobilization of the limb, negative changes in the intervertebral discs |
| forecast | With timely treatment and elimination of the inflammatory process, many types of arthritis can be completely cured. | The disease is difficult to treat, in most cases it becomes chronic. Osteoarthritis is an irreversible process, it is impossible to 100% restore the quality of cartilage tissue. Competent therapy improves the condition of the cartilage, maintains the functionality of the limbs, but if certain rules are violated, the disease progresses |
What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?
Joint pathologies have more differences than similar signs. It is easy to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis once you know the etiology of the condition.
Information for patients:
- Arthritis develops against the background of an inflammatory process in the joint, arthrosis is a consequence of degenerative processes, degenerative changes in cartilage tissue;
- both pathologies have an acute and chronic form, but arthritis occurs with more pronounced symptoms, inflammation actively spreads not only to the joint, but also to other areas;
- Arthrosis is a protracted disease, the remission is longer, the cartilage is gradually destroyed without severe inflammation of the tissues.
The table describes the differences in joint pathologies according to the main characteristics:
| arthritis | arthrosis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of pathological changes | Infection causing acute and chronic inflammation | Degenerative-dystrophic changes, gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. The main reason is the negative processes against the background of aging of the body. |
| The nature of pathology | More acute than osteoarthritis, remission alternates with active inflammation | Longer, more often, sluggish, with periods of exacerbation |
| area affected | The infection spreads far beyond the joint zone. Monoarthritis develops (in one joint), polyarthritis (several areas are affected, e. g. polyarthritis of the fingers) | Joint tissue in an area, for example osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Other organs are not involved in the destructive process |
| localization zone | Minor joints: wrists, fingers, hands, ankles. The knee area is also at risk | Large joints: hips, knees, big toes, less commonly phalanges and ankles |
| age of patients | More often - up to 40 years | The main category is people over 45 years old, more often 55-60 years old |
| risk group | Young men. The development of the disease is associated with dangerous bacterial and viral infections, injuries to the limbs. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in children and adolescents | Women after 45-50 years. Against the background of menopause, degenerative processes develop. In men, dystrophic changes in cartilage often develop against the background of high loads on the joints during life with the difficult type of work associated with lifting weights and monotonous movements. |
How to differentiate by symptoms
It is easier to detect the onset of the disease with an infectious type of pathological changes.
Osteoarthritis often does not manifest itself for a long time, often patients with a second, moderate stage of the disease come to the doctor.
Pay attention to the main signs of joint pathologies. Even slight discomfort in the joints should raise suspicions about the development of negative processes in the cartilage tissue.
Correct and timely diagnosis will help both to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis and to prescribe the right treatment.
Arthritis Symptoms:
- swelling or severe swelling of the problem area;
- the skin in the affected area turns red;
- the diseased joint becomes inflamed;
- the affected area is hot to the touch, with active inflammation, penetration of a dangerous pathogen, the general temperature rises;
- a sharp pain is heard when moving, at rest, pulsating, "twitching", pain in the area of \u200b\u200bthe inflammation does not go away;
- often the infection affects other parts of the body, the state of health worsens, weakness develops, chronic pathologies become more active;
- negative processes often develop in the fingers, hands, knuckles, less often in the knees.
Osteoarthritis Symptoms:
- undulating nature of the pain. At an early stage, the pain is weak, the intensity does not increase for a long time;
- gradually the pain increases, stiffness in problematic joints is heard in the morning;
- when dystrophic changes develop, mobility of the affected area decreases, in advanced cases complete immobility is possible due to cartilage destruction;
- The main places of localization are the hip joints (coxarthrosis), the spine (spondylarthrosis), the knees (gonarthrosis).
The main methods of treating diseases
Patients often believe that the "tested" recipe for arthritis suggested by a neighbor will surely help with osteoarthritis. Ignorance of the nature of the disease often damages the joints and worsens the condition of the body.
For example, with arthritis there is an active inflammatory process, the infection spreads to a large tissue area. Warming up is strictly forbidden, but often sufferers warm their sore knees with arthritis in hopes of healing. The result is exactly the opposite: heat accelerates the development of the inflammatory process, the infection penetrates new parts of the joints, other organs with the flow of blood and lymph, the disease progresses.
The main differences in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis are related to the nature of the pathological processes. The therapeutic scheme, the use of drugs, folk methods, a complex of exercise therapy and physiotherapy is developed by a rheumatologist, orthopedist or arthrologist. In the advanced stage of arthrosis (less often with arthritis), the help of an orthopedist is required.
Information for patients! Warm bandages are effective for osteoarthritis, while cold compresses are recommended for osteoarthritis to reduce inflammation.
treatment of osteoarthritis
Basic principles:
- The main task is to normalize the condition of the cartilage tissue. The doctor prescribes chondroprotectors containing hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. A long course of treatment improves the elasticity of cartilage tissue, restores blood circulation and metabolism, stops degenerative-dystrophic processes;
- In severe cases, drugs from the NSAID group are needed to relieve pain and eliminate inflammation that developed during abrasion of the joint tissues. But as the main tool in the treatment of arthrosis, they are ineffective;
- physiotherapeutic procedures, special exercises are useful;
- Patients successfully use traditional methods. Homemade ointments, decoctions, compresses, baths, tinctures are made from natural ingredients. Proper use of compounds reduces pain and improves joint mobility.
- With complete destruction of cartilage tissue, surgical treatment is performed - arthroplasty. Arthrosis cannot be completely cured, one can only maintain joint health, prevent exacerbations.
Arthritis Therapy
Basic principles:
- The first stage is the fight against pathogenic bacteria, dangerous viruses, under the influence of which the inflammatory process began. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are required;
- it is important not only to destroy the causative agent of infection, but also to strengthen the immune system;
- recommended protein diet, vitamin therapy, dairy products. It is mandatory to refuse alcohol, strong coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, black tea (preferably green);
- Physiotherapy has an excellent effect: electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs, magnetic and laser therapy, therapeutic baths. After stopping the inflammatory process, the complex of exercise therapy and massage will help restore mobility to the diseased joint. Useful folk methods without the use of heat.
There is a significant difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis. Knowledge of the features of joint diseases will help the patient to control the course of the pathological process and competently use all available methods of treatment. With the guidance of an experienced doctor, you can cope with any joint pathology.