Arthritis and osteoarthritis are common these days. Many people confuse these diseases because of the similarity in their manifestation. In fact, both diseases are very different from each other. You can only understand the difference between diseases by studying their characteristics.
Types of pathology
It is impossible to define joint diseases solely on the basis of pain. Almost every disease of the musculoskeletal system is associated with pain.
The most common diseases are:
- Arthritis,, caused by inflammation of the joint surface. This inflammation occurs for a number of reasons. The primary form develops against the background of a number of diseases of a gouty, septic and rheumatic nature.
The secondary form can develop after systemic lupus erythematosus, borreliosis, arthropathy.
- Arthrosis,provokes the destruction of the cartilage and part of the underlying bone.
Primary usually develops for no reason. It usually manifests itself in the elderly and affects the surface of large symmetrical bone joints.
The secondary form of the disease occurs after a serious illness. Often times, the development of this form is caused by a genetic predisposition.
Often, inflammation of large bone joints (shoulder, knee) is caused by excessive weight, intense physical exertion, previous trauma and endocrinological diseases.
- Arthropathy is a violation of the integrity of the joints as a result of the transmitted complex complaints.
- Tendonitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the tendons.
- Enthesitis - structural changes in the connection of soft tissue with bone.
- Bursitis is a lesion of the bursa.
- capsulitis - inflammation and violation of the integrity of the joint capsule.
How can one differentiate between osteoarthritis of different severity and arthritis? You need to know that arthritis disease and osteoarthritis have a different type of manifestation that determines arthritis treatment.
Difference in the functions
How is arthritis different from osteoarthritis? Signs that indicate the presence of a specific disease. Signs of arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint are specific.
What is osteoarthritis? A chronic disease that is inherently destructive. The peculiarity of the disease is that it affects the cartilage and is irreversible.
The disease most commonly affects people of both sexes over the age of 60. That is, osteoarthritis of the knee joint is considered to be a disease in which cartilage destruction occurs on a large scale. First, a large joint is affected, such as the ankle. It is his treatment that deserves special attention.
When rheumatoid arthritis touches the hands or feet, inflammation occurs in several bone joints at the same time. The main difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis is that the second disease is accompanied by inflammation of the large bone joints - knee, shoulder.
Arthritis has a number of secondary symptoms. In particular, it leads to swelling of the joints and redness around them. In addition, the patient has a fever and is blocking motor functions. One of the factors can provoke a disease: allergies, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders and trauma.
When there is an inflammatory process, a person's motor activity is impaired. In particular, the range of motion is significantly reduced. This restriction applies to both movements that are performed independently and movements that require assistance from a person.
The inflammation affects either one joint or several at the same time. Usually this phenomenon is accompanied by pain with no definite location, and the articular surface of the ankle or foot remains intact.
It is worth remembering that the main danger of this disease is that changes appear not only in bone tissue, but also in other organs, for example, the digestive, visual and excretory organs. Changes can also affect the dermis.
The disease affects people of all ages. Most often, however, the disease is diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 50.
As for arthritis, arthritis accompanies it all the time. In osteoarthritis, the destruction of bone tissue is usually asymptomatic without causing pain, so the patient does not notice it.
In the first case, the disease manifests itself in some way. It is accompanied by weakness in the body, sometimes psoriasis. In the second case, all inflammatory changes appear without any external signs.
Arthritic inflammation manifests itself externally as swelling of the soft tissues. They are also characterized by paralysis of the joints. Changes of any other kind occur smoothly and practically do not manifest themselves. However, they are characterized by a specific "dry" crunch that occurs as a result of joint wear.
What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis? The second provokes the destruction of the cartilage and rheumatic disease manifests itself in inflammation of the bone tissue. It is these signs that are the main characteristics that can be used to distinguish arthritis that has struck a person or osteoarthritis.
difference in symptoms
How does osteoarthritis of different origins differ from arthritis? Osteoarthritis and arthritis differ in the symptoms of the disease. It is very important to know about them as symptoms and treatment are related.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint show similar symptoms. However, you can still distinguish between them. Arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint and others are manifested in severe pain. However, the nature of the pain is different. With osteoarthritis, the patient feels pain when moving or due to a heavy load on the knees. It hurts, the attack takes a long time.
The first stage is characterized by slight pain, so the disease is often only recognized during diagnosis.
In the next stage, the patient feels pain even under conditions of low stress.
In the third stage of its development, the disease is considered neglected. Pain can occur even if there is no movement at all. After changing the position of the joint to a comfortable position, the pain subsides.
A hand, shoulder or hip disease is characterized by acute pain that does not go away at all. An attack of pain often begins early in the morning. The symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis are different. You can understand whether arthritis or osteoarthritis affected the joints from a crunch. If heard, it means that the second disease struck the bone articulation.
Osteoarthritis of the knee or other large joints can be accompanied by a crunch if the cartilage layers have been destroyed and there is direct contact with the bones.
The disease has a negative effect on the mobility of an affected joint. For example, knee osteoarthritis is associated with leg pain. Arthritic arthritis, or another type of arthritis, occurs with a feeling of stiffness throughout the body.
How is arthritis different from osteoarthritis? In addition, gonarthrosis runs without external swelling, but with an external change in the joints.
Osteoarthritis or arthritis affect the joints: what's the difference? In addition to the main symptoms, arthritis is associated with hyperthermia, eye inflammation, excessive sweating, and weakness.
Differences in diagnosis
Arthritis of various origins and osteoarthritis can only be diagnosed by determining the cause of the development of this disease. Treatment begins only after determining the level of activity in the development of the disease. In addition, the attending physician must give a prognosis during the diagnosis to prevent a bad result.
Treatment of osteoarthritis in various stages and arthritis begins only after a detailed diagnosis.
The complex of medical tests consists of general clinical laboratory research, X-ray research, microscopy and bacteriological research.
Diseases of different origins differ in the results of the analyzes carried out.
If arthritis and osteoarthritis are not treated right away, there is no cure for them. In addition, systematic prevention of arthritis and osteoarthritis should be carried out. Do you want to get rid of arthritis and osteoarthritis through effective treatment? Get a major exam that includes MRI and arthroscopy.
An informative method that can help you tell the difference between the manifestations of arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint is an X-ray.
Differences in treatment
How are arthritis and osteoarthritis treated? Symptoms and treatment of diseases are related. Treatment for arthritis osteoarthritis is the same, but there are some differences. From a medical point of view, diseases are different, so the treatment of forms of arthritis and arthritis is safe.
How are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis treated? Complex therapy will help cure all diseases. In both cases, patients with osteoarthritis and arthritis will be prescribed treatment including medication (medication will be prescribed by a doctor). Physiotherapy will be prescribed, which is physical therapy that is especially important for those with arthritis or some form of osteoarthritis of the knee joint as it speeds up treatment. For arthritis and osteoarthritis of the joints, treatment includes diets, the menu of which varies.
Those who want to improve their health "without drugs" often go through treatment with various folk remedies.
Illnesses can last long enough and become chronic. Despite the reason for their occurrence, they provoke the development of complications. Therefore, patients must be under medical supervision constantly or for a long time and undergo rehabilitation, the program of which is specially designed for them.
In order to avoid the development of diseases, special attention should be paid to disease prevention.
- First of all, it is necessary to treat all musculoskeletal disorders in good time and to fully rehabilitate yourself after injuries.
- Second, you should limit physical activity or at least dose it, eat properly and monitor your weight.
- Third, you should systematically consult a doctor to determine the presence and correct bone deformities in a timely manner.
So the difference between the two diseases is significant. It manifests itself in symptoms, signs and causes of illness. The type of course is also specific. Without timely qualified support, inflammatory processes in bone tissue and cartilage can lead to complications.
Prevention helps to avoid the development of this or that disease, to which special attention should be paid.