Arthritis and arthrosis are complex diseases that affect the joints.Due to similar symptoms, many people think that these diseases are identical, but this is not so.Arthritis and arthrosis differ in the causes of the disease, the nature of its development, the area of damage and require completely different treatment.
Suppose two people went to the doctor complaining of joint pain.One was diagnosed with arthritis and the other with arthrosis.As both patients sat in line, they had time to briefly discuss their health problems.
It turns out that their symptoms are very similar: their joints hurt, they don't bend/unfold with full force, they don't give peace 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 joint disease.This is always preceded by damage to the bone or cartilage tissue by some factor.
Biologically active substances are released from the destroyed cells, which cause an inflammatory reaction.The vessels in the affected area dilate and fill with blood: as a result, immune cells enter the joint tissue to fight against the harmful factor.
At the same time, the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and edema occurs, which limits the area of inflammation.In this way, the body is protected from major damage from bacteria, foreign bodies and chemicals.
After the complete or partial removal of the pathogen, the healing mechanism is initiated.If the damage was minor, 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 of these stages:
- modification - damage;
- exudation – formation of edema;
- proliferation - healing.
Reasons
There are many causes of the disease, and we list the main ones:
- streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often causes a complication - rheumatism;
- aggressive autoantibodies - proteins that the body produces to fight against its own tissues;this situation develops when there is an error in the immune defense, due to which the joints are perceived as a foreign element for the body - rheumatoid arthritis;
- violation of purine metabolism leads to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints - gout;
- allergic reactions can affect joint tissue with the development of an inflammatory reaction - allergic arthritis;
- long-term use of certain drugs causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillins, hydralazine, proboinam) - arthritis caused by drugs;
- bacteria are introduced through the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- viral or bacterial infection of any location can indirectly affect joint tissue - this is reactive arthritis;
- acute injury - recent damage (blow, bruise, capsule rupture).
Symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute initial phase, that is, against the background of complete health, a person develops sharp pain in the joint.Autoimmune forms are characterized by symmetrical damage to small joints - interphalangeal joints of fingers, wrists and elbows.
In the vast majority of cases, gout begins with inflammation of the joint between the big toe and the foot.In 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 the background of elevated temperature and general weakness, which is usually preceded by a sore throat.Severe inflammation of bone, cartilaginous tissue and synovium can occur with elevated temperature, general intoxication: headache, weakness, lack of appetite.
The skin over the joint becomes red and warmer to the touch than other areas.From the outside, it looks swollen and increases in volume.If the lesion occurs only on one side, then the difference between a healthy and diseased limb is visible.
Limited movement is associated with swelling and pain.If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, then it works almost completely.With a pronounced 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 mechanical damage.The therapy is aimed at removing the factor that causes and stopping the inflammation.
Antibiotics are needed for bacterial and reactive arthritis, cytostatics or glucocorticoids for autoimmune arthritis, glucocorticoids and antihistamines for allergic arthritis.
Inflammatory fluid is removed with a syringe or special suction during arthroscopy.The joint is immobilized for the entire period of acute inflammation.After that, the patient is shown therapeutic exercises to restore joint mobility.
Doctor's advice
From personal practice and work experience of colleagues, compresses with gelatin worked well for joint inflammation of any etiology.They are simple to implement and inexpensive.You need to fold the gauze in several layers, the length and width should be sufficient for the painful joint.Immerse the folded cheesecloth in hot water, wring it out and straighten it.Sprinkle a thin layer of gelatin on top, roll it up so that it ends up inside, like in a bag, and does not spill out.Place it on the wrist, wrap it with a plastic bag on top and secure it with a bandage and/or an adhesive patch.You can wear the compression for up to 3 hours, do it 2 times a day for 2 weeks.Usually the effect is felt 4-5.days of use, but the therapy must be continued to achieve the desired result;if the course is stopped, the pain will return.
What is arthrosis?
Arthrosis (otherwise known as osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease.It is based on deterioration of articular cartilage nutrition, slower recovery and gradual thinning.
Simply put, the cartilage layer is being removed faster than it is being renewed.Bony articular surfaces are exposed.They are not as smooth as cartilage and rub against each other with force when moving.Bone plates are partially destroyed and mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, bony spines grow in the joint - a protective reaction of the tissue to constant damage.They prevent the surfaces from sliding relative to each other, and joint mobility is impaired.
Arthrosis in most people begins to progress after 30-40 years, lasts for years, symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints is usually called osteochondrosis.
Reasons
There are predisposing factors that cause the development of pathology at an early age and complicate its course:
- heavy physical activities in athletes;
- obesity;
- history of joint injury;
- vascular diseases;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- violation of the normal configuration of the joint, for example, with flat feet;
- prolonged exposure to vibrations;
- in women - hormonal imbalance or menopause.
Symptoms
Large joints are usually affected on one side: knee, hip, sacral.The disease begins unnoticed.At first, the pain is rare and is associated with significant physical activity.
The discomfort disappears on the same day or after a few days if the person rests.As the disease progresses, the intensity of pain increases and occurs even during normal daily activities.
The mobility of the joint gradually decreases and as a result of the disease it is completely lost.Movements in the affected limb 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 hot.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.The therapy is aimed at restoring metabolic processes in the cartilage, improving joint nutrition and eliminating inflammatory reactions.Treatment is lifelong, it can be continuous or with courses of medication.
In the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments, therapeutic exercises and massage.In case of exacerbation, chondroprotectors are administered intravenously or intramuscularly along with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.The traumatologist can inject protective drugs directly into the joint every few months.
Advanced stages of the disease require surgical intervention, during which the diseased joint is replaced with an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Sign it | Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Cause of disease | Inflammation | Degeneration of cartilage tissue |
| Current | Acute, chronic with exacerbations | Chronic |
| Pain | Intense from the start, more pronounced in the morning | At the beginning of the disease, it is weak, but it gradually increases.It increases in the evening and after exercise |
| Moves | It is necessary to "disperse" - in the morning after sleep the joints are the least mobile | Mobility gradually decreases, there is no morning stiffness |
| Affected joints | The small joints of the hands and feet are symmetrically affected.Large ones suffer from bacterial infection | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| Blood test | Pronounced inflammatory changes in the general blood test, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies to pathogens | There are no characteristic changes |
| x-ray | Staged changes, osteoporosis - loss of bone tissue, bone cysts | Gradual changes, deformation of the joint space, appearance of bony spines and growths. |
| 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 careless about his health.
It must 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.It is important to diagnose the disease in time and start treatment in order to slow down the development of the pathological process.