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?
Specialist advice on the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system will be useful to many. Understanding how to recognize arthritis and osteoarthritis is important for successful treatment.
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 cartilage tissue, the mobility of the problem area is limited. Both arthritis and osteoarthritis alter the usual life course of the patient.
When differentiating diseases, it is important to take into account all the signs, conduct the necessary studies and analyzes.
Joint pathologies have many differences, incorrect diagnosis reduces the quality of treatment.
Basic information on joint pathologies
It is important to understand not only the similar and distinctive signs of osteoarthritis 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 cartilage tissue, will help prevent diseases.
| Arthritis | osteoarthritis | |
|---|---|---|
| The reasons | Inflammation against the background of systemic pathology or infection of joint tissue. | Destruction of cartilage during tissue wear, more often in old 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, disturbances in metabolic processes, heredity, stress, vitamin deficiency | Aging of the body, excess weight, injuries, malnutrition, autoimmune pathologies, impaired blood supply to cartilage and bone tissue, inflammatory processes in the body, malfunctions of the thyroid gland, excessive stress on the joint, hypothermia, hereditary predisposition. |
| Types of pathology | monoarthritis, polyarthritis | Primary (cartilage damage with a lack of nutrients, poor blood circulation). Secondary - the disease develops in the affected joint, most often after an injury |
| disease forms | Purulent, rheumatoid, juvenile, gouty | Four stages: from slight joint space narrowing to marked deformity with complete joint space closure |
| complications | The prolonged presence of an infectious agent in the joints and other organs undermines health, reduces immunity. The mobility of the limb is impaired, during periods of exacerbations, the tissues swell, hurt, it is difficult to perform many familiar movements. | In the absence of treatment - complete destruction of the joints, immobilization of the limb, negative changes in the intervertebral discs. |
| Forecast | With timely treatment, 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. Arthrosis is an irreversible process, it is impossible to restore the quality of cartilage tissue by 100%. Competent therapy improves the condition of 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 with knowledge of the etiology of the disease.
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 long-term 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 | osteoarthritis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of pathological changes. | Infection that causes acute and chronic inflammation. | Degenerative-dystrophic changes, gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. The main reason is the negative processes against the background of the aging of the body. |
| The nature of the pathology. | More acute than osteoarthritis, remission alternates with active inflammation | Prolonged, more often slow, with periods of exacerbation |
| affected area | The infection spreads far beyond the joint area. Monoarthritis develops (in one joint), polyarthritis (several areas are affected, for example, polyarthritis of the fingers) | Joint tissue in one area, for example, osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Other organs are not involved in the destructive process. |
| location zone | Smaller joints: wrist, fingers, hands, ankle. The knee area is also at risk | Large joints: hip, knee, big toes, less often phalanges of the fingers and ankle |
| patients age | More often - up to 40 years | The main category is people aged 45 and over, most often 55-60 years old. |
| At-risk group | Youths. The development of the disease is associated with dangerous bacterial and viral infections, limb injuries. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in children and adolescents | Women after 45-50 years. Degenerative processes develop in the context of menopause. In men, dystrophic changes in cartilage often develop against the background of a large load on the joints during life with the difficult nature of the work associated with lifting weights, monotonous movements. |
How to distinguish by symptoms
It is easier to recognize the onset of the disease with an infectious type of pathological changes.
Arthrosis often does not manifest itself for a long time, often patients come to the doctor with a moderate second stage of the disease.
Pay attention to the main signs of joint pathologies. Even slight discomfort in the joints should arouse suspicion of the development of negative processes in the cartilage tissue.
Correct and timely diagnosis helps both to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis and to prescribe the correct treatment.
Arthritis symptoms:
- severe swelling or 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;
- when moving, a sharp pain is heard, at rest - pulsation, "twitches", the pain in the area of 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 on the fingers, hands, ankles, less often on the knees.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- undulating nature of pain. At an early stage, the pain is weak, the intensity does not increase for a long time;
- gradually the pain increases, in the morning stiffness in the problem joints is heard;
- as dystrophic changes develop, the mobility of the affected area decreases, in advanced cases, complete immobility due to cartilage destruction is possible;
- the main places of localization are the hip joints (coxarthrosis), the spine (spondyloarthrosis), the knees (gonarthrosis).
The main methods of treating diseases
Patients often believe that the "proven" recipe for arthritis, proposed by a neighbor, will certainly help with arthrosis. Ignorance of the nature of the disease often damages the joints and worsens the condition of the body.
For example, in arthritis there is an active inflammatory process, the infection spreads to a large area of tissue. Warming up is strictly prohibited, but patients often warm up their aching arthritis knees in hopes of healing. The result is just the opposite: heat accelerates the development of the inflammatory process, the infection penetrates with the blood and lymphatic flow into new parts of the joints, other organs, the disease progresses.
The main differences in the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis are related to the nature of the pathological processes. The scheme of therapy, the use of drugs, folk methods, a complex of exercise therapy, physiotherapy is developed by a rheumatologist, orthopedist or arthrologist. In the advanced stages of osteoarthritis (less often - with arthritis), the help of an orthopedic surgeon is needed.
Information for patients! With arthrosis, warm bandages are effective, cold compresses are recommended to relieve inflammation in arthritis.
Treatment of osteoarthritis
Basic principles:
- the main task is to normalize the state of cartilage tissue. The doctor prescribes chondroprotectors with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. A long course of treatment improves the elasticity of cartilage tissue, restores blood circulation, metabolism, stops degenerative-dystrophic processes;
- in severe cases, drugs from the NSAID group are needed to relieve pain and eliminate inflammation that has developed during abrasion of joint tissue. But as the main tool in the treatment of arthrosis, they are ineffective;
- physiotherapeutic procedures, special exercises are useful;
- patients successfully apply traditional methods. Homemade ointments, decoctions, compresses, baths and tinctures are made from natural ingredients. Proper use of compounds relieves pain, improves joint mobility;
- with the complete destruction of cartilage tissue, surgical treatment is performed - arthroplasty. Arthrosis cannot be completely cured, only the health of the joints can be maintained, exacerbations prevented.
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 the 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 gives an excellent effect: electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs, magnetic and laser therapy, therapeutic baths. After stopping the inflammatory process, the complex of exercise therapy, massage will help restore the mobility of 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, competently use all available methods of treatment. Under the guidance of an experienced doctor, you can cope with any joint pathology.