Arthritis and arthrosis are complex diseases that affect the joints.Due to similar symptoms, many people think that these diseases are the same, but this is not so.Arthritis and arthrosis differ according to the causes of the disease, the nature of its development, the area of damage and require completely different treatment.
Let's say that two people went to the doctor complaining of joint pain.One was diagnosed with arthritis, and the other with arthrosis.Both patients had time to briefly discuss their health issues as they sat in line.
It turns out that their symptoms are very similar: their joints hurt, they don't bend/unfold to their full potential, they don't rest day or night.Even the diagnoses are similar but still different.What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis if both diseases affect the joints?
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joint.Before this, bone or cartilage tissue is always damaged by some factor.
Biologically active substances are released from destroyed cells, which causes an inflammatory reaction.In the affected area, the vessels dilate and fill with blood: thanks to this, immune cells enter the joint tissue to fight the damaging factor.
At the same time, the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and edema is formed, which limits the area of inflammation.It also protects the body from extensive damage by bacteria, foreign bodies and chemicals.
After the complete or partial removal of the pathogenic agent, the healing mechanism is activated.If the damage was minor, normal tissue function is restored.Deep defects heal through a scar, an area of rough connective tissue that prevents an organ from performing its normal function.
Arthritis goes through all these stages:
- change - damage;
- exudation - formation of edema;
- spreading - healing.
Reasons
There are many causes of the disease, we list the main ones:
- streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often causes a complication - rheumatism;
- aggressive autoantibodies - proteins produced by the body to fight its own tissues;this condition develops when there is an error in the immune defense, so it perceives the joints as a foreign element for the body - rheumatoid arthritis;
- disruption of purine metabolism causes uric acid crystals to settle in the joints - gout;
- allergic reactions can include the joint tissue with the development of an inflammatory reaction - allergic arthritis;
- long-term use of certain drugs causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillins, hydralazine, proboinami) - drug-induced arthritis;
- bacteria are introduced through the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- viral or bacterial infection of any place can indirectly affect the joint tissue - this is reactive arthritis;
- acute injury - recent injuries (blow, bruises, rupture of capsules).
Symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute initial stage, that is, against the background of complete health, a person develops acute pain in the joint.Autoimmune forms are characterized by symmetrical damage to small joints - interphalangeal joints of fingers, wrists and elbows.
In most cases, gout begins with inflammation of the joint between the big toe and the foot.With bacterial and reactive arthritis, 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 a sore throat.Severe inflammation of bone, cartilage tissue and synovium can occur with fever, general intoxication: headache, weakness, loss of appetite.
The skin over the joint becomes red and warmer to the touch than other areas.Externally, it looks swollen and increases in volume.If the lesion occurs only on one side, there is a difference between the healthy limb and the diseased one.
Limited movement is associated with swelling and pain.If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, it is almost fully functional.With a clear pathological reaction, the entire synovial cavity can be filled with fluid - in this case, mobility is sharply limited.
Treatment
Treatment is carried out by a general practitioner, rheumatologist or traumatologist - if the cause is a mechanical injury.Therapy is aimed at eliminating the inciting factor and stopping inflammation.
Antibiotics are needed for bacterial and reactive arthritis, cytostatics or glucocorticoids for autoimmune arthritis, glucocorticoids and antihistamines for allergic arthritis.
During arthroscopy, inflammatory fluid is removed with a syringe or special suction.The joint is immobilized for the entire period of acute inflammation.The patient is then shown therapeutic exercises to restore joint mobility.
Doctor's advice
From personal experience and work experience of colleagues, compresses with gelatin worked well for inflammation in joints of any etiology.They are easy and cheap to implement.It is necessary to wrap the filling in several layers, the length and width should be enough for the painful joint.Dip the folded gauze in hot water, squeeze and straighten.Spread a thin layer of gelatin on top, roll it so that it collects inside and does not spill, like in a bag.Place it in the joint, cover it with a plastic bag and secure it with a bandage and/or adhesive plaster.You can wear the compress for up to 3 hours, do it 2 times a day for 2 weeks.Usually, the effect is felt on the 4-5th day of use, but to achieve the desired result, the therapy must be continued;if the course is interrupted, the pain will return.
What is arthrosis?
Arthrosis (otherwise known as osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease.It is based on deterioration of nutrition of articular cartilage, slower recovery and gradual thinning.
Simply put, the cartilage layer is removed faster than it is regenerated.Bone articular surfaces are exposed.They are not as smooth as cartilage and tend to rub against each other as they move.Bone plates are partially destroyed and mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, bony spines grow in the joint - a protective response of the tissue against permanent damage.They prevent the surfaces from sliding relative to each other and the mobility of the joint is impaired.
In most people, arthrosis begins to develop after 30-40 years, lasts for years, and the symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the spinal joints is generally called osteochondrosis.
Reasons
There are predisposing factors that lead to the development of pathology at an early age and complicate its course:
- heavy physical activity in athletes;
- obesity;
- history of joint injury;
- vascular diseases;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- violation of the normal configuration of the joint, for example, with straight legs;
- prolonged exposure to vibration;
- in women - hormonal imbalance or menopause.
Symptoms
Large joints are usually affected on one side: knee, hip, sacral.The disease begins unnoticed.Initially, pain is rare and associated with significant physical activity.
Discomfort disappears on the same day or after a few days if the person manages to rest.As the disease progresses, pain increases in intensity and occurs even with normal daily activities.
The mobility of the joint gradually decreases and is completely lost as a result of the disease.Movements in the affected area cause severe pain.Osteoarthritis can worsen depending on the type of arthritis - fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, the skin over it becomes red and warm.After the inflammatory reaction subsides, the course of the disease returns to its previous course.
Treatment
Treatment of arthrosis is carried out by a traumatologist, orthopedist, and sometimes a surgeon.Therapy is aimed at restoring metabolic processes in the cartilage, improving joint nutrition and eliminating the inflammatory reaction.Treatment is lifelong, can be continuous or drug courses.
In the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments, therapeutic exercises and massage.In case of exacerbation, chondroprotectors are given intravenously or intramuscularly along with pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.A traumatologist can inject protective drugs directly into the joint every few months.
Advanced stages of the disease require surgical intervention, during which the patient's joint is replaced with an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Signature | Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| The cause of the disease | Inflammation | Cartilage tissue degeneration |
| current | Acute, chronic with exacerbation | Chronic |
| Pain | Intense from the beginning, it is more obvious in the morning | It is weak at the beginning of the disease, but gradually increases.Increases in the evening and after exercise |
| Actions | it is necessary to "disintegrate" - in the morning after sleep, the joints are least mobile | Mobility gradually decreases, there is no morning stiffness |
| Affected joints | The small joints of the hands and feet are symmetrically affected.Adults suffer from bacterial infections | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| Blood test | Inflammatory changes evident in general blood test, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies against pathogens | There are no characteristic changes |
| x-ray | Phase changes, osteoporosis - loss of bone tissue, cysts in bones | Gradual changes, deformation of the joint cavity, the appearance of bone spurs and protrusions. |
| Basic treatment | Anti-inflammatory drugs | Chondroprotectors |
A similar feature of both diseases is a progressive course with gradual loss of mobility.Autoimmune arthritis often manifests itself at a young age, when a person is still not paying attention to their health.
It should be remembered that any pain in the joints that lasts for a long time occurs under certain conditions - this is a serious reason to consult a doctor.In order to slow down the development of the pathological process, it is important to start the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in time.