Arthritis and osteoarthritis are often confused because of the similarity of names. Yes, both diseases are affected by the joints (for example, there is arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint). Affected joints become inflamed, swollen and painful. Otherwise, they are completely different diseases. Let's try to understand how arthritis differs from arthrosis?
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
Arthritis is accompanied by inflammation of the ankle joints, which in turn leads to impaired motor functions. The patient experiences discomfort, has acute or painful pain, both during physical activity and during rest, especially in the morning. The skin around the wrist swells, reddens and becomes taut. Body temperature often rises. Osteoarthritis is a disease in which degenerative processes occur in the articular cartilage. The altered cartilage ceases to cope with the load falling on them and is gradually destroyed. Pain caused by exertion usually passes at rest. The tissues around the joint become swollen and inflamed. Progressive disease leads to destruction of cartilage and serious deformation of joints. The difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis lies in the causes of the disease. Osteoarthritis occurs:
- primary, usually associated with age;
- secondary, arising from other diseases or is genetically determined.
Predisposing factors for the development of osteoarthritis are:
- overweight;
- excessive physical activity (most often, in athletes) or very low physical activity;
- past injuries;
- endocrine diseases.
Arthritis is inflammatory. The causes of the disease are as follows:
- various infections;
- joint damage and repeated minor injuries;
- metabolic disorders;
- allergy;
- lack of trace elements and vitamins.
Tests for arthritis and osteoarthritis
For an early diagnosis of diseases that affect the support apparatus, the specialist should collect a complete anamnesis. The patient is invited to pass the following tests and perform the following examinations:
- Clinical blood test to determine ESR levels (in arthritis, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases significantly, with arthrosis it is close to normal).
- Biochemical blood test to determine the lack of macro- and microelements, characteristic of arthritis.
- X-rays to help detect the bone deformity that is characteristic of osteoarthritis and determine the width of the joint space.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which allows you to recognize changes in cartilage tissue in the early stages of the disease.
The cause of the disease
The main difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is the origin of the disease. Arthritis is a contagious disease that causes inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process that occurs in the body as a result of the natural wear and tear of the joints and aging, which causes the destruction of the cartilage layer in the joint. Therefore, osteoarthritis is mostly characteristic of the elderly, and arthritis can be contracted at any age, even in childhood. Women are more likely to have arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects both women and men who are older. The most common causes of arthritis are:
- various infections;
- allergic reactions;
- joint damage;
- frequent minor injuries;
- physical stress;
- metabolic disorders;
- vitamin and mineral deficiency;
- autoimmune disorders;
- diseases of the nervous system.
In addition, arthritis often develops as a complication of osteoarthritis, but not vice versa. Osteoarthritis mainly results from:
- genetic predisposition;
- insufficient blood supply and bone nutrition;
- excessive stress on the joints;
- joint injuries;
- hypothermia.
Symptoms of joint disease
Despite the fact that both diseases are accompanied by painful sensations, these sensations occur under different conditions. In arthritis, pain occurs during physical exertion, during sleep and in the morning. In osteoarthritis, pain worries a person only during physical exertion.
Another characteristic difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is the nature of the pain. Arthritis is characterized by sharp, strong and twitching pains, and arthrosis is dull and painful, followed by cracking.
Arthritis most often affects the small joints, and arthrosis - the large joints (especially the knees and hips). Osteoarthritis only affects the joints. In arthritis, the inflammation can spread to several joints as well as other organs. In addition, arthritis is accompanied by fever, swelling and redness in the affected area. Sometimes subcutaneous rheumatic nodules appear in arthritis. Over time, osteoarthritis leads to deformities of the joints, which can become thinner and take on unusual shapes.
Diagnosis
Similar methods are used for diagnosis (X-ray, computed tomography, laboratory tests), but their results differ. In arthritis, a complete blood count will show an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a high concentration of C-reactive protein, leukocytes, and seromucoids. In osteoarthritis, such an analysis will not reveal any deviations.
Treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis
Various specialists are engaged in the treatment of the disease. Osteoarthritis is treated by an orthopedic traumatologist, and in the case of arthritis, the cause of the disease is first determined, and then, depending on that, a specialist is chosen. Diseases are treated by identical methods, using drugs and physiotherapy. If the disease has gone too far, then surgery is used - endoprosthesis or joint replacement. But there are also some differences in the treatment of the disease. Arthritis requires immediate and active therapy, and osteoarthritis requires long-term and thorough treatment. Arthritis treatment begins with a change in diet and lifestyle. The patient is then prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, as well as physiotherapy procedures. Osteoarthritis is treated with hormonal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Arthritis is mostly completely cured, and arthrosis, which is a chronic disease, causes irreversible consequences in the joints that cannot be treated - it is only possible to slow down the degenerative processes.
These two diseases with consonant names are similar in that they are symptoms of rheumatism. However, do not be confused: arthrosis is a mechanical disease, and in arthritis the joints become inflamed. Simply put, if the painful joints are swollen, the patient has arthritis. If the pain in the joints is weak, then it is arthrosis. In this article, we will try to explain in accessible language how they differ. For those unfamiliar with medicine, it is difficult to distinguish the two. Because both diseases are directly related to rheumatism. Both diseases cause pain and discomfort in the joints which become immobile. The symptoms of these diseases, as well as the methods of treatment, are very different.
What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis?
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is that in arthritis, the joints become inflamed. As a result, enzymes are released, which leads to their destruction. They form proteins that stick to them. It is one of the causes of pain. This most often happens when a person is asleep. He gives in a little with physical effort. Weakness is felt in the morning. This disease affects the joints of the legs and arms.
Arthritis can have different causes. For example, septic arthritis is caused by infection, and rheumatoid arthritis is reduced immunity. Gout develops due to metabolic disorders.
Joint changes occur together with physiological changes. As a result, the skin may become hot or red.
How is arthritis treated?
To cure it, it is necessary to alleviate the symptoms and restore joint mobility. To do this, it is recommended to try different methods. They can be combined as needed. This will help you determine which one works best. Also, in these diseases, the results of blood tests differ. With osteoarthritis, protein levels rise. If the patient has arthritis, there is no change in the composition of the blood. When choosing a drug used to solve such problems, the type of this disease must be taken into account. It is most often used for healing:
- corticosteroids;
- biological and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- analgesics;
- anti-irritant drugs;
- antirheumatic drugs;
- therapeutic methods.
Healing requires physical activity. With specialized exercises you can strengthen your joints and keep your muscles toned. Sometimes staples or splints are used for this purpose. If other methods of therapy do not help, doctors suggest removing the damaged joints. They replace them with artificial ones. Most often the knees are treated this way. Such an operation is done to alleviate the discomfort and restore their activity. After this procedure, the destruction of the joints is slower. In addition, it is common for surgical methods to perform joint tissue excision surgery. At the same time, foreign particles are removed from their shell. Patients undergo such operations to level rough surfaces and change the pressure angle.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
To cure this disease, you need to reduce the risk factors. Overweight people are advised to eat properly. Patients should follow a diet. This is especially true for those who have undergone surgery due to pathology of bone structure.
If the patient's condition does not improve, you can solve the problem with anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. In order not to have to use a prosthesis, the patient should be prescribed hyaluronic acid. It will also help alleviate discomfort.
You should not completely reduce physical activity. Exercise should be easy for your health. This should prevent weight gain. If you suspect a particular disease, don’t panic and don’t try to treat it yourself. Timely diagnosis and properly prescribed treatment increase your chances of a speedy recovery.
The main differences
As mentioned above, osteoarthritis is a mechanical disease. With it, the articular cartilage occasionally shrinks until it disappears. As a result, the rubbing bones are exposed. It mainly occurs in the elderly. In this case, patients notice certain characteristic features associated with the appearance of the joints. As a rule, it has the following reasons associated with injuries, abnormalities in bone structure, overweight. It most commonly affects the pelvic and knee joints. It often damages the joints of the neck and spine. Unlike arthritis, osteoarthritis can cause significant discomfort during movement. The discomfort passes between walking, running and so on. But, apart from unpleasant sensations, it is not able to manifest itself in the form of inflammation, so it is often called a "cold" disease.