Arthritis and osteoarthritis are diseases that not only sound very similar, but also affect the body in the same way: they affect bones, joints, ligaments and cartilage.Symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty moving also occur in both cases.However, there is quite a big difference between them.We will try to clarify these concepts.We will explain how arthritis and arthrosis present, the differences between these diseases, and how to treat them.
Difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.Arthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage destruction).
Arthritisis a very broad term used to describe different types of conditions that cause arthritis.Each type of inflammation has its own name, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (arthrosis, arthrosis deformans).Arthritis can occur at any age.
Arthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis)- one of the most common types of arthritis, occurs when cartilage tissue wears away.Our joints have the ability to move thanks to cartilage, its elasticity and smoothness.Its destruction leads to direct contact between bones in the joint, causing pain.Arthritis is an age-related change that occurs in old age.
Additionally, arthritis and arthrosis have differences in:
- Symptom
- Risk factors.
- Classify.
- Diagnose.
- Treatment.
Symptom
Symptoms of arthritis can also occur with arthritis, but the nature of these symptoms is different.For example, joint pain is present in both cases, but pain from tension and prolonged stress is common only in joint disease.
Arthritis
It is important to understand that the symptoms of one type of arthritis are sometimes completely different from the symptoms of another type.But here are some symptoms that are common in all types of arthritis:
- Painful.It is usually painful at night and may subside with increased activity (eg, when walking during the day).
- Edema and swelling.If you don't have any injuries and when comparing both knees or wrists, one of them appears swollen, this could indicate arthritis.
- Feeling of joint movement.It may feel like the joints are shifting and pushing against each other.
- Tired.With any inflammatory disease, the immune system is activated and begins an active fight, which leads to general weakness of the body and fatigue.
- Fever and loss of appetite.Inflammation not only reduces energy levels, as mentioned earlier, but can also lead to fever and loss of appetite.
- Redness and skin rash.Often occurs near inflamed joints.
- Limited range of motion in affected joints.It was clear that the pain made every movement difficult.Performing simple household chores or engaging in your favorite hobby becomes difficult due to acute pain in the joints.
Arthritis
Here are the most common symptoms of arthritis:
- Painful.Specific joint pain is affected by arthritis and varies depending on the extent of cartilage damage.The more cartilage is destroyed, the more pain a person will feel.Unlike arthritis, where pain often occurs at night or while resting, arthritis pain often occurs during the day: when walking, running, etc.Touching the skin in the area of a painful joint can also cause pain.
- Reduced mobility.It is especially noticeable after a long period of inactivity, such as after a night's sleep.
- Crispy.When moving around with arthritis, you may hear specific sounds (not soft clicking sounds, but heavy, rough sounds).This is the result of the breakdown of cartilage, which is designed to create smooth, painless friction between joints.
- Distortion.With arthritis (especially in the later stages), various deformations of bones and joints may occur: nodules, tumors.There is no swelling like arthritis.
Risk factors
Some factors may be the same for both diseases, while others are different.
- Year old.One of the most common risk factors.As you get older, your risk of developing arthrosis or other types of arthritis increases tenfold.In this case, arthritis mainly affects older people and arthritis can occur at any age.
- Weight.The heavier a person is, the more pressure their joints receive.This increases the risk of developing arthritis and arthritis.
- Injury.Your risk of developing arthritis at a young age increases if you have previously had an injury to your bones or joints.
- Genetics.If many people in your family have joint disease, there is a high chance that you will also encounter this disease.However, your genetics do not increase your risk of developing arthritis.
- Work.If you regularly do jobs that require a lot of pressure on your bones, joints and cartilage, your chances of developing arthritis will increase.
By the way, a research team at the University of Oxford recently discovered a marker in the blood that can determine the risk of developing arthritis before symptoms appear, even at an early age (up to 16 years old).
Classify
Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis and develops due to wear and tear of cartilage and painful friction between joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - This type of arthritis usually affects all joints in the body except the lower back.This is an autoimmune disease, the cause of which is not fully understood.A person can get the disease at any age (even young children get it).
- Ankylosing spondylitis mainly affects the spine.It develops in the vertebrae and discs.This is an autoimmune disease.
- Cervical arthritis occurs for many reasons, but the main cause is age.About 85% of people over 80 years old have this disease.
- Gout is a rare type of arthritis that causes inflammation of many different joints.This disease occurs due to increased uric acid levels in the blood.Gout is now very rare.
- Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints.With this disease, inflammation of tendons and cartilage is observed;The eyes, lungs, and even the aorta can also be affected.
- Reactive arthritis occurs when the body responds to bacterial attack and infection.The causative agent is intestinal and genitourinary tract infection.The disease causes swelling of the fingers and toes and pain in the lower back.
- Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children under 16 years of age.Leads to bone and joint destruction, development and growth problems.
- Post-traumatic arthritis - occurs as a result of a previous injury (fracture, crack, sprain).
Arthritis
There are the following types of joint diseases:
- Cervical arthritis affects the cervical vertebrae, occurs in old age and can be caused by stress and chronic neck diseases.Symptoms include neck pain and muscle spasms.
- Facial syndrome is most common in older adults and causes back pain, especially when the person is in an upright position.Poor posture can cause facial syndrome.
- Coxarthrosis is arthritis in the hip joint.The hip joint is a hinge joint and one of the strongest joints in the body.However, in old age, it becomes worn out and coxarthrosis is also common in athletes and overweight people.
- Lumbar arthritis affects the lower back.It can be caused by scoliosis and abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the upper body).
Diagnose
Diagnosis of both joint diseases includes:
- Poll.When the pain occurs, in which joints, the nature and duration of the pain, occupation, under what circumstances the pain increases, infectious diseases, previous injuries, etc.
- Visual inspection and palpation.Check for visible signs: swelling, redness, lymph nodes.
- Analysis.
- X-rays and MRIs.
What is the difference between the diagnosis of arthritis and arthritis?Because arthritis is an inflammatory disease, inflammation will be visible in blood tests.Tests for joint disease were clear;X-rays or MRI are often used for diagnosis.
Treatment
Arthritis
There are different treatment options depending on the severity of the disease.The main goal of arthritis treatment is to eliminate the cause of arthritis.
- Medicines.Treating rheumatoid arthritis may require a combination of different medications.In addition to pain relievers, your doctor may also prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and hormonal medications to relieve pain.
- Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to reduce pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods rich in calcium (to stimulate strong bones) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
- Surgical intervention.Surgeries range from minor procedures to major surgeries (joint replacement).
Arthritis
The main goal of treating arthrosis is to restore damaged cartilage.Treatment includes:
- The pill form is a cartilage protectant.
- Injections - corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation and increase mobility.
- Massage therapy.The following essential oils are especially effective: orange, ginger, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood and eucalyptus.
- Exercise therapy.
- Surgery - Damaged joints can be replaced with artificial joints to reduce pain and improve mobility.
- Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to reduce pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods rich in calcium (to stimulate strong bones) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
Conclude
- Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.Arthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage destruction).
- Arthritis occurs in older people (50+) (can also occur at a young age, but very rarely and after a serious injury).Arthritis can occur at any age (even in children).
- With arthritis, joints hurt during physical activity.With arthritis, pain occurs at night.
- When you have arthritis, the pain increases with movement; when you have arthritis, the pain decreases.
- Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knee and hip joints.Arthritis can occur in any joint;several distant joints or just one joint may be painful.
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that can be diagnosed with a blood test, but joint disease cannot.