Arthritis and osteoarthritis are diseases that not only look very similar, but also affect the body in the same way: they affect bones, joints, ligaments and cartilage.In both cases, symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty moving also occur.However, there is a big difference between them.We will try to shed some light on these concepts.We will explain how arthritis and arthrosis manifest themselves, what is the difference between these diseases and how they are treated.
Difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (destruction of cartilage).
Arthritisis a very broad term used to describe different types of conditions that cause joint inflammation.Each type of inflammation has its own name, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (arthrosis, deforming arthrosis).Arthritis can occur at any age.
Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis)- one of the most common types of arthritis, which occurs when cartilage tissue wears out.Our joints are mobile thanks to cartilage, its elasticity and softness.Its destruction causes direct contact between the bones of the joints, causing pain.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change that occurs in later life.
Furthermore, arthritis and osteoarthritis have differences in:
- Symptoms
- Risk factors.
- Classifications.
- Diagnostics.
- Treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of arthritis may also be present in osteoarthritis, but the nature of these symptoms is different.For example, joint pain is present in both cases, but pain due to prolonged effort and stress is common only in osteoarthritis.
Arthritis
It is important to understand that the symptoms of one type of arthritis are sometimes completely different from the symptoms of another.But here are some symptoms commonly seen in all types of arthritis:
- Pain.It usually hurts at night and may decrease with increasing duration of movement (for example, when walking during the day).
- Edema and swelling.If you have no injuries and when comparing both knees or wrists, one of them seems swollen, this could indicate arthritis.
- Sensations of joint displacement.There may be a sensation that the joints are shifting and pushing against each other.
- Fatigue.With any inflammatory disease, the immune system is activated and begins an active fight, this leads to a general weakening of the body and fatigue.
- Fever and loss of appetite.Inflammation not only reduces energy levels, as mentioned above, but can also lead to fever and loss of appetite.
- Redness and skin rash.They usually occur near inflamed joints.
- Limited range of motion in the affected joints.It goes without saying that the pain makes any movement difficult.Doing simple household chores or engaging in your favorite hobby becomes difficult due to acute pain in arthritic joints.
Arthrosis
Here are the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Pain.The pain is felt in the specific joint affected by arthrosis and varies depending on the extent of the cartilage damage.The more cartilage is destroyed, the more pain a person will experience.Unlike arthritis, where pain often occurs at night or at rest, pain in osteoarthritis often occurs during the day: while walking, running, etc.Even touching the skin over the sore joint can cause pain.
- Reduced mobility.It is especially noticeable after a long period of inactivity, for example after a night's sleep.
- Crunch.When moving with osteoarthritis, you can hear specific sounds (not a soft click, but a heavy, rough sound).This is the result of the breakdown of cartilage, designed to provide smooth, painless friction between joints.
- Deformation.With arthrosis (especially in the later stages) various deformations of bones and joints can occur: nodules, growths.There is no swelling, as with arthritis.
Risk factors
Some factors may be the same for both diseases, while others are different.
- Age.One of the most common risk factors.As you age, your chances of developing osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis increase tenfold.In this case, osteoarthritis 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 chances of developing osteoarthritis and arthritis.
- Injury.The risk of osteoarthritis at a young age increases if you have previously suffered injuries to your bones or joints.
- Genetics.If many family members suffer from osteoarthritis, there is a high probability that you will also encounter this disease.However, your genetics do not increase your chances of getting arthritis.
- Activity.If you are constantly engaged in a job that requires you to place a lot of stress on your bones, joints and cartilage, your chances of developing osteoarthritis increase.
By the way, a research team from the University of Oxford recently discovered a marker in the blood that can identify the risk of developing arthritis before the onset of symptoms, even at an early age (up to 16 years).
Classification
Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis and develops due to wear and tear of the cartilage and painful friction between the joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – This type of arthritis usually affects all joints in the body except the lower back.This is an autoimmune disease, the causes of which are not fully understood.A person can get sick at any age (even small children suffer from the disease).
- Ankylosing spondylitis mainly affects the spine.It develops in the vertebrae and discs.This is an autoimmune disease.
- Cervical arthritis occurs for various reasons, but the main one is age.About 85% of people over 80 suffer from this disease.
- Gout is a rare type of arthritis that causes inflammation of various joints.This disease occurs due to increased levels of uric acid in the blood.Gout is now rare.
- Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints.With this disease, inflammation of the tendons and cartilage is observed;The eyes, lungs and even the aorta can also suffer.
- Reactive arthritis occurs as the body's response to an attack of bacteria and infections.The causative agents are intestinal and genitourinary infections.The disease causes swelling of the fingers and toes and lower back pain.
- Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children under 16 years of age.It leads to the destruction of bones and joints, development and growth problems.
- Post-traumatic arthritis - occurs as a result of previous injuries (fractures, cracks, sprains).
Arthrosis
There are the following types of osteoarthritis:
- Cervical arthrosis affects the cervical vertebrae, occurs at an advanced age and can be caused by stress and chronic neck diseases.Symptoms include neck pain and muscle spasms.
- Facet syndrome is more common among older adults and causes back pain, especially when the person is standing.Poor posture can cause facet syndrome.
- Coxarthrosis is arthrosis of the hip joint.The hip joint is a hinge joint and is one of the strongest in the body.However, with old age it wears out and coxarthrosis is also often found in athletes and overweight people.
- Lumbar osteoarthritis affects the lower back.It can be caused by scoliosis and abdominal obesity (buildup of fatty tissue in the upper torso).
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of both joint diseases includes:
- Survey.When the pain occurred, in which joint, the nature and duration of the pain, occupation, in which cases the pain intensifies, past infectious diseases, injuries, etc.
- Visual inspection and palpation.Inspection for visible signs: swelling, redness, nodules.
- Analyses.
- X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging.
What is the difference between diagnosing arthritis and osteoarthritis?Because arthritis is an inflammatory disease, inflammation will be visible in a blood test.Tests for osteoarthritis are clear;X-rays or MRI are usually used for diagnosis.
Treatment
Arthritis
There are several treatment options depending on the severity of the disease.The main goal of arthritis treatment is to eliminate the cause of joint inflammation.
- Medicines.Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may require a combination of several medications.In addition to pain relievers, your doctor may also prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and hormonal drugs to reduce pain.
- Lifestyle adjustments: Diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.You need to consume foods rich in calcium (to stimulate bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
- Surgery.Surgeries range from minor to major surgeries (joint replacement).
Arthrosis
The main goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to restore damaged cartilage.The treatment includes:
- Medicines in tablet form are chondroprotectors.
- Injections: corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation and increase mobility.
- Massage therapy.The following essential oils are particularly effective: orange, ginger, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood and eucalyptus.
- Therapeutic gymnastics.
- Surgery: Damaged joints can be replaced with artificial joints to reduce pain and improve mobility.
- Lifestyle adjustments: Diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.You need to consume foods rich in calcium (to stimulate bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
Conclusions
- Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (destruction of cartilage).
- Osteoarthritis occurs in older people (over 50 years) (it 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 osteoarthritis, joints hurt during physical activity.With arthritis, the pain occurs at night.
- In arthrosis the pain increases during movement, in arthritis it decreases.
- Osteoarthritis most often affects the knee and hip joints.Arthritis can occur in any joint;several distant joints or just one may hurt.
- Arthritis, as an inflammatory disease, can be diagnosed with a blood test, osteoarthritis cannot.