Arthritis and osteoarthritis, what are the similarities and differences

These two words are quite similar in the understanding of listening, so many people who say the words "arthritis" and "arthrosis" do not even suspect that they are completely different diseases, although they are associated with joint problems. In fact, both diseases are very serious and it is worth knowing what the difference is between arthritis and osteoarthritis, although just to avoid embarrassment, because the topic of health is one of the "eternal" topics when a person communicates. with another.

What is arthritis

Arthritis is a disease that affects most middle-aged people (under the age of 40), although there may be exceptions. According to statistics, few people suffer from arthritis, no more than 2% of the total population. In essence, however, arthritis is a severe inflammatory process in which joint problems are only the visible part of widespread inflammation.

In arthritis, the root cause of the disease lies much deeper than swelling of the joints, as well as pain that does not leave the patient even during the rest period at night (sometimes these pains only intensify). The cause of this inflammation can be either an infection or a malfunction of the immune system. Joints are not the only organs affected by inflammation. Often a powerful blow falls on such internal organs of a person as the liver, heart and kidneys. If the problem of arthritis is ignored, then it is very dangerous not only for human health, but even for his life.

What is osteoarthritis

what is osteoarthritis of the joints

Osteoarthritis is generally related to the age change that a person undergoes, most often closer to the middle of the second half of life. Quite often the mechanism of development of arthrosis is provoked by severe injuries in the form of fractures and joint damage in people over 45 years.

Medical statistics say that one in three people over the age of 50 and one in two over the age of seventy suffer from osteoarthritis. In general, about 10% of the inhabitants of our planet suffer from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis most often affects the knees and hips in the elderly. In addition, the joints of the fingers and ankles can be subject to osteoarthritis.

Causes of disease

It is clear that the causes of each disease are completely different.

For arthritis they can be:

  • Injuries of various origins, to a greater extent, recurrent recurrent injuries related to occupational activities can provoke the disease;
  • Infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infection, SARS, influenza;
  • Lack of vitamins and the resulting imbalance in metabolism;
  • Body overload;
  • Nervous system disorders;
  • Malfunctions of your own immune system;
  • Presence of a genetically inherited predisposition to arthritis.

Arthritis is a common companion of people in such professions as seamstress, hairdresser, masseur, loader, builder.

As for osteoarthritis, here the factors for the development of the disease are:

  • Overweight, which affects the functioning of the joints;
  • Poor nutrition;
  • Prolonged hypothermia;
  • They have previously suffered (perhaps even a long time ago) various types of injuries;
  • Intoxication of the body;
  • Metabolic disorders;
  • Past infectious diseases;
  • Manifestations of autoimmune disorders;
  • Perthes' disease, manifested in altered blood supply to the femoral head;
  • Disorders of the thyroid gland;

Hereditary predisposition to the development of osteoarthritis, transmitted at the genetic level.

Annoying symptoms of arthritis

Arthritis causes severe joint pain, especially when walking or other physical activity. The joint itself swells noticeably and the skin around the joint becomes hot to the touch. The skin may also become red. The patient develops a feeling of weakness, it is very difficult for him to make any movements with the affected arm or leg. It is especially difficult in the morning after a night's rest. When pressing on the joint, the patient experiences severe pain. When performing movements, the joints affected by arthritis can crunch strongly. The patient may have a fever and the patient may have chills at this time. In acute arthritis, all symptoms appear simultaneously and abruptly. In chronic arthritis, the symptoms increase slowly and gradually.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

how is osteoarthritis different from arthritis

In osteoarthritis, doctors distinguish four main symptoms of the disease:

  1. Joint pain.The pain is strong and sharp. It begins the moment the movement begins and subsides with the transition to a state of rest. At night the person has practically no pain and after choosing a comfortable position, the patient can sleep peacefully. Painful sensations increase as the disease progresses. The pain intensifies in cold and rainy weather;
  2. Crunching joints.Due to the reduced freedom and softness of the bone rotation, a strong crunch is heard in the joint. Experts distinguish arthritic crunch by a type of "dry" sound. The more the disease develops, the stronger the cartilage in the joints. A characteristic of cartilage in osteoarthritis is that cartilage is almost always accompanied by pain;
  3. Limitation of the mobility of the joint itself.In osteoarthritis in many cases the limb is immobilized. This is due to the fact that there is a growth of bone formations and the joint space narrows, which leads first to a restriction of mobility, and then to complete immobilization of the joint;
  4. Joint deformity.As a rule, this symptom is characteristic of the late stages of osteoarthritis, when osteophytes grow.

The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis according to the clinical picture

It is quite clear that arthritis and osteoarthritis have different genesis as diseases. If arthritis is the result of a malfunctioning immune system or an infectious disease, then osteoarthritis refers more to diseases resulting from the aging process of the body. Accordingly, based on this, the clinical picture of the manifestations of arthritis and osteoarthritis will also differ.

Arthritis of the fingers

how to distinguish arthritis of the fingers from osteoarthritis

So with arthritis of the fingers, the patient has severe pain that does not subside during rest and at rest. In addition, the skin around the affected joints becomes red.

Arthritis can affect a different number of joints from one (monoarthritis) to several (polyarthritis). The joints are swollen. The joint pressure reaction can be a sharp pain.

As for the crunch in the joint, it may or may not be present.

Osteoarthritis of the fingers

It is most common in the elderly, and in women osteoarthritis occurs about 10 times more often than in the stronger sex. The main site of localization are the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.

Any movement of the fingers causes uncomfortable pain to the patient. At rest, however, the pain is virtually absent. The joints are swollen and there may be redness of the skin around the affected joint. Osteoarthritis is always accompanied by "dry" crunch in the joints.

The same picture is observed in cases of arthritis and osteoarthritis of the joints of the toes.

Chondreoprotective treatment

In arthritis and osteoarthritis, cartilage is destroyed due to contact with the rough and rough surface of the bone. As a result, the process of synovial fluid production is disrupted, cartilage is deprived of nutrition, and the joint is deprived of the lubricant necessary for its normal functioning.

Chondroprotector prevents these pathological processes. The active substance in chondroprotectors is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Dosage forms for the release of these substances are different and can be used by doctors depending on the situation.

Today, chondroprotectors are produced in the form:

  1. injectable solutions;
  2. Tablets;
  3. Creams, ointments and gels.
drugs to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis

Chondroprotective treatment should be started before the cartilage has completely collapsed. Unfortunately, such treatment is absolutely useless when the cartilage is destroyed. The next thing to remember when treating with chondroprotectors is the duration of the course of treatment. The fact is that the process of cartilage recovery is quite long and the minimum course of treatment should be six months, but practice shows that treatment with chondroprotectors takes an average of one and a half to two years. If the recovery is not completed, the destruction of cartilage resumes. As a rule, chondroprotectors have no side effects on the patient's body, the maximum that is observed in practice is mild intestinal disorders. The only complication may occur when treating diabetic patients with chondroprotectors. In their treatment, the insulin dose must be calculated correctly, as chondreoprotectors contain glucose. And it is also not recommended to use chondroprotector during pregnancy, as well as for the treatment of children.

Today in the arsenal of doctors treating problems with arthritis and osteoarthritis, there are a number of effective drugs for treatment.

Chondroprotective treatment should be started under medical supervision, otherwise treatment may not be effective.

Folk remedies

For arthritis, traditional medicine recommends several effective recipes:

  1. Apple cider vinegar.This substance is added to water (1 teaspoon for one glass of water). The resulting solution is drunk before meals;
  2. Potato compress.Get green tubers for the compress.

Wash, cut into pieces without peeling. The potatoes are heated in water at a temperature of 38 degrees. A compress is then applied to the affected area. The potato layer should be 1, 5 - 2 centimeters. You need to bet at night. The course of treatment in this way is seven to ten days.

Ointments for arthritis and osteoarthritis

In the early stages of the development of arthritis, as well as osteoarthritis, the use of ointments for external use can help in the treatment of the patient. The specialist will select the appropriate medicine based on the test results.