Arthritis and arthrosis are complex diseases that affect the joints. Because of the similar symptoms, many people think that the disease is similar, but not. Arthritis and arthrosis differ in the cause of the disease, its nature of development, the area of damage and require completely different treatment.
Suppose two people see a doctor who complains of joint pain. One is diagnosed with arthritis and the other with arthrosis. Although the two patients sat in line, they managed to discuss their health problems a bit.
It turns out that their symptoms are very similar: sore joints, not bent / bent at full strength, they do not rest at night or during the day. Although the diagnosis is consonant, but still different. What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis if both of these diseases affect the joints?
What is arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder of the joints. It is always preceded by damage to bone tissue or cartilage by several factors.
Biologically active substances are released from destroyed cells, triggering inflammatory reactions. The blood vessels in the lesion expand, filled with blood: because of this, immune cells appear in the joint tissue to fight the destructive factor.
At the same time, the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and edema, which limits the area of inflammation. In this way, the body protects itself from widespread damage by bacteria, foreign substances, and chemicals.
After complete or partial removal of pathogenic agents, the healing mechanism begins. If the damage is small, then normal tissue function is restored. Deep defects heal through scars - areas of coarse connective tissue that do not function normally.
Arthritis goes through all of these stages:
- change - damage;
- exudation - edema formation;
- germination - healing.
Reason
The cause of the disease is great, we will list the main causes:
- Streptococcal infections (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often cause complications - rheumatism;
- aggressive autoantibody - a protein produced by the body to fight its own tissues; such a situation occurs with the fault of the immune defense, because he considers the joints as a foreign element of the body - rheumatoid arthritis;
- violations of purine metabolism cause deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints - gout;
- Allergic reactions can involve joint tissue with the development of inflammatory reactions - allergic arthritis;
- Long-term use of certain drugs causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillin, hydralazine, pores) - drug arthritis;
- bacteria carried in the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- viral or bacterial infections of any localization can indirectly affect joint tissue - this is reactive arthritis;
- acute trauma - recent damage (effects, bruises, capsule rupture).
Symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute early stage, i. e. , with a complete health background, a person experiences sharp pain in the joints. For the autoimmune form, symmetrical damage to the small joints is characteristic - interphalangeal on the fingers, wrists, elbows.
Gout in most cases begins with arthritis between the thumb and toes. In bacterial and reactive arthritis, large joints are usually affected on one side: the knee, the hip, the sacrum (at the junction of the spine with the pelvic bone).
Rheumatism develops against a background of fever and general weakness, usually preceded by angina. Severe inflammation of the bones, cartilage and synovial membranes can occur with fever, general intoxication: headache, weakness, loss of appetite.
The skin on the joints becomes red and feels warmer than other areas. Externally, it appears to swell and multiply. If the lesion only occurs on one side, then the difference between healthy and diseased limbs can be seen.
Limited movement is associated with swelling and pain. If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, then it works almost completely. With significant pathological reactions, the entire synovial cavity can be filled with fluid - in this case, its movement is very limited.
Treatment
Treatment is performed by a general practitioner, rheumatologist or traumatologist - if the cause is mechanical damage. Therapy aims to eliminate provoking factors and stop inflammation.
For bacterial and reactive arthritis, antibiotics are needed, for autoimmune - cytostatic or glucocorticoids, for allergies - glucocorticoids and antihistamines.
Inflammatory fluid is removed with a special syringe or suction during arthroscopy. The joints do not move during the period of acute inflammation. Once the patient is shown therapeutic training to restore joint mobility.
Doctor's advice
From personal practice and work experience of colleagues - with inflammation of the etiology of any etiology, compresses with gelatin have shown themselves well. They are easy to implement and cheap. Need to fold the gauze in several layers, the length and width should be so that it is sufficient for a sore joint. Immerse the folded gauze in hot water, squeeze, straighten. Sprinkle a thin layer of gelatin on it, roll until it is inside, as in a bag and does not spill. Apply to joints, wrap with polyethylene bag on top, fix with bandage and / or adhesive tape. You can apply compresses for up to 3 hours, do it 2 times a day for 2 weeks. Usually the effect is felt on the 4th-5th day, but therapy must be continued to achieve the desired result, if the course is interrupted, the pain will return.
What is arthrosis
Arthrosis (instead of osteoarthritis) is a degenerative-dystrophic disease. This is based on the depletion of articular cartilage nutrition, slowing recovery and gradual thinning.
In short, the cartilage layer wears out faster than the reconstructed one. The articular surface of the bone is exposed. They are not as smooth as cartilage and rub against each other with effort while moving. The bone plate is partially destroyed, mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, the spine grows in the joints - a protective tissue response to permanent damage. They interfere with the interlocking surface slides, and the movement of the joints is disrupted.
Osteoarthritis in most people begins to develop after 30-40 years, lasting for many years, the symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints is commonly called osteochondrosis.
Reason
There are predisposing factors that cause the development of pathology at an early age and make it difficult to travel:
- strenuous physical activity in athletes;
- obesity;
- history of joint injuries;
- vascular disease;
- inactive lifestyle;
- violations of normal joint configuration, for example, with flat feet;
- prolonged vibration exposure;
- in women - hormonal imbalance or menopause.
Symptoms
Large joints on one side are usually affected: knee, hip, sacral. The disease begins significantly. Initially, pain is rarely interrupted and is associated with significant physical activity.
An unpleasant sensation disappears on the same day or within a few days if the person is able to rest. As the disease progresses, the intensity of the pain increases, it occurs even with normal daily stress.
Joint mobility gradually decreases and as a result the disease disappears completely. Movement in diseased limbs causes severe pain. Osteoarthritis can be exacerbated by a type of arthritis - fluid that accumulates in the joint cavity, the skin on it becomes red and becomes hot. After the inflammatory response subsides, the course of the disease returns to its previous state.
Treatment
Arthrosis is treated by a traumatologist, orthopedist, sometimes a surgeon. Therapy aims to restore metabolic processes in cartilage, improve joint nutrition, and eliminate inflammatory responses. Treatment is lifelong, can be continuous or medications.
During the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments, therapeutic exercises, massage. With exacerbations, chondroprotectors are given intravenously or intramuscularly along with analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. A traumatologist can inject protective medication directly into the joint every few months.
Advanced stages of the disease require surgical intervention, in which the diseased joint is replaced with an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Features | Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Causes of disease | Inflammation | cartilage degeneration |
| Flow | Acute, chronic with exacerbation | Chronic |
| Pain | Strong from the beginning, more pronounced in the morning | At the beginning of the disease, weak, gradually increasing. It grows in the evening and after exercise |
| Movement | Need to "disperse" - in the morning after bed, the joints are the most immobile | Mobility decreases gradually, without morning stiffness |
| Affected joints | Small joints of hands and feet are affected symmetrically. Most suffer from bacterial infections | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| Blood test | Severe inflammatory changes in general blood tests, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies to pathogens | No regular changes |
| X-ray | Gradual changes, osteoporosis - bone loss, cysts in the bones | Gradual changes, deformity of joint space, appearance of spinal cord and growth. |
| Basic Treatment | Anti-inflammatory | Chondroprotectors |
A similar feature of these two diseases is a progressive course with gradual loss of mobility. Autoimmune arthritis often manifests itself at a young age, when a person is still reckless about his or her health.
It should be noted that any joint pain that lasts a long time in certain conditions - this is a serious reason to see a doctor. It is important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and begin treatment to slow down the development of pathological processes.