Arthritis and arthritis are complex diseases that affect the joints. Because of the similar symptoms, many people think that these diseases are identical, but they are not. Arthritis and osteoarthritis differ in the causes of the disease, the nature of its development, the area of the lesion and require completely different treatment.
Suppose two people visit a doctor who complains of joint pain. One was diagnosed with arthritis and the other with osteoarthritis. As the two patients stood in line, they had time to discuss their health problems a bit.
It turned out that their symptoms are very similar: the joints hurt, do not bend / disintegrate with full force, do not give rest neither night nor day. Even the diagnoses are consonantal, yet they are different. What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis if both diseases affect the joints?
What is arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder of the joint. It is always preceded by damage to bone or cartilage tissue by some factor.
Biologically active substances are released from destroyed cells, which cause an inflammatory reaction. The vessels in the lesion dilate, filling with blood: because of this, immune cells appear in the joint tissue to fight the damaging factor.
At the same time, the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and edema forms, which limits the area of inflammation. This is how the body protects itself from major damage from bacteria, foreign bodies and chemicals.
After complete or partial elimination of the pathogen, the healing mechanism begins. If the damage was minor, then normal tissue function is restored. Deep defects heal through a scar - an area of rough connective tissue that does not perform the normal function of an organ.
Arthritis goes through all these stages:
- change - damage;
- exudation - formation of edema;
- spread - healing.
Reasons
The causes of the disease are great, we will list the main ones:
- streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often causes a complication - rheumatism;
- aggressive autoantibodies - proteins that the body produces to fight its own tissues; such a situation develops with a mistake in immune defense, due to which it perceives the joints as a foreign element to the body - rheumatoid arthritis;
- violation of purine metabolism leads to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints - gout;
- allergic reactions may involve joint tissue with the development of an inflammatory reaction - allergic arthritis;
- long-term use of certain medications causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillin, hydralazine, perforation) - arthritis medication;
- bacteria are carried in the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- viral or bacterial infection of any localization can indirectly affect joint tissues - this is reactive arthritis;
- acute trauma - recent injury (impact, bruising, capsule rupture).
Symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute initial stage, that is, against the background of complete health, a person has a sharp pain in the joints. For autoimmune forms, symmetrical damage to small joints is characteristic - interphalangeal on fingers, wrist, elbow.
Gout in the vast majority of cases begins with inflammation of the ankle between the big toe and the foot. In bacterial and reactive arthritis, the large joints are usually affected on one side: knee, hip, sacral (at the junction of the spine with the pelvic bones).
Rheumatism develops against a background of fever and general weakness, usually preceded by angina. Severe inflammation of the bones, cartilage and synovial membrane can occur with fever, general intoxication: headache, weakness, lack of appetite.The skin above the joint becomes red and feels hotter than other areas. From the outside, it looks bloated and increases in volume. If the lesion occurred on one side only, then the difference between a healthy limb and a diseased one is obvious.
Restricted movement is accompanied by swelling and pain. If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, then it functions almost completely. With a pronounced pathological reaction, the entire synovial cavity can be filled with fluid - in this case, mobility is significantly limited.
Treatment
Treatment is performed by a general practitioner, rheumatologist or traumatologist - if the cause is mechanical damage. Therapy aims to eliminate the provoking factor and stop the inflammation.
For bacterial and reactive arthritis, antibiotics are needed, for autoimmune - cytostatics or glucocorticoids, for allergies - glucocorticoids and antihistamines.
Inflammatory fluid is removed with a special syringe or suction during arthroscopy. The node is immobile for the entire period of acute inflammation. Once the patient is shown therapeutic exercises to restore joint movement.
Doctor Tips
From personal practice and work experience of colleagues - with inflammation in the joints of any etiology, gelatin compresses have shown themselves well. They are easy to implement and inexpensive. It is necessary to fold the gauze in several layers, the length and width should be such that there is enough for the injured joint. Soak the folded gauze in hot water, squeeze, straighten. Sprinkle a thin layer of gelatin on top, roll it so that it is inside, as in a bag, and do not spill. Wrap in knots, wrap in a plastic bag on top, fix with a bandage and / or adhesive tape. You can wear a compress for up to 3 hours, do it 2 times a day for 2 weeks. Usually the effect is felt on the 4th-5th day of use, but the therapy must be continued to achieve the desired result, if the course is interrupted, the pain will return.
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (otherwise known as osteoarthritis) is a degenerative-dystrophic disease. It is based on a deterioration of articular cartilage nutrition, a slowing of its recovery and a gradual thinning.Simply put, the cartilage layer breaks down faster than it rebuilds. The bony articular surfaces are exposed. They are not as soft as cartilage and rub against each other with effort when moving. Bone plaques are partially destroyed, mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, bone spines grow in the joints - a response of the protective tissues to permanent damage. They interfere with the sliding of surfaces relative to each other, and the mobility of the joint is impaired.
Osteoarthritis in most people begins to progress after 30-40 years, lasts for years, its symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints is commonly called osteochondrosis.Reasons
There are predisposing factors that cause the development of pathology at an early age and complicate its course:
- heavy physical activity among athletes;
- mbipesha;
- history of joint damage;
- vascular disease;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- violation of the normal articulation configuration, for example, with flat feet;
- prolonged exposure to vibration;
- in women - hormonal imbalance or menopause.
Symptoms
Large joints on one side usually affected: knee, hip, sacral. The disease begins invisibly. At first, pain is rare and is accompanied by considerable physical exertion.
Unpleasant feelings disappear on the same day or in several days if the person is able to rest. As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases, it also occurs with normal daily stress.
The mobility of the joint gradually decreases and as a result of the disease it is completely lost. Movements in the diseased limb cause severe pain. Osteoarthritis can be made worse by the type of arthritis - fluid builds up in the joint cavity, the skin on it turns red and heats up. Once the inflammatory reaction subsides, the course of the disease returns to the previous course.
Treatment
Osteoarthritis is treated by a traumatologist, orthopedist, sometimes a surgeon. Therapy aims to restore metabolic processes in cartilage, improve joint nutrition and eliminate the inflammatory response. Treatment is lifelong, can be continuous or with medication.In the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and oils, therapeutic exercises, massages. With an exacerbation, chondroprotectors are administered intravenously or intramuscularly along with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. A traumatologist can inject protective medication directly into the joint every few months.
The advanced stages of the disease require surgery, during which the diseased joint is replaced with an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Features | Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Cause of the disease | Inflammation | Cartilage degeneration |
| Flow | Acute, chronic exacerbations | Chronicle |
| Pain | Intense from the beginning, most pronounced in the morning | At the beginning of the disease, weak, gradually increases. Intensifies in the evening and after straining |
| Movements | it is necessary to "disperse" - in the morning after sleep the joints are less mobile | Mobility gradually decreases without morning stiffness |
| Affected nodes | The small joints of the hands and feet are affected symmetrically. Adults suffer from bacterial infection | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| Blood test | Severe inflammatory changes in general blood test, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies to pathogens | No typical changes |
| X-ray | Stage changes, osteoporosis - bone loss, bone cysts | Gradual changes, deformity of the joint space, appearance of the spine and bone protrusions. |
| Basic Treatment | Anti-inflammatory drugs | Chondroprotectors |
A similar feature of both diseases is a progressive course with a gradual loss of mobility. Autoimmune arthritis often appears at a young age, when a person is still unserious about his health.
It should be remembered that any joint pain that lasts for a long time occurs under certain conditions - this is a serious reason to see a doctor. It is important to diagnose the disease in time and start its treatment in order to slow down the development of the pathological process.