Arthritis and osteoarthritis are complex diseases that affect the joints. Due to similar symptoms, many people think these diseases are identical, but they are not. Arthritis and osteoarthritis differ in the causes of the disease, the nature of its development, the area of the lesion and require completely different treatment.
Suppose two people see a doctor complaining of joint pain. One was diagnosed with arthritis and the other with osteoarthritis. While both patients were in line, they took time to discuss their health issues a bit.
It turned out that their symptoms are very similar: the joints hurt, they do not bend / bend at full strength, they do not rest either at night or during the day. The diagnoses are also consonant, but they are still different. What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis if both diseases affect the joints?
What is arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joint. It is always preceded by damage to the bone or cartilage tissue by some factor.
Biologically active substances are released from the destroyed cells, which trigger an inflammatory reaction. The vessels in the lesion expand, fill with blood: for this, immune cells go out into 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. This is the body's way of protecting itself from extensive damage caused by bacteria, foreign bodies, and chemicals.
After the complete or partial elimination of the pathogen, the healing mechanism begins. If the damage was minor, then 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 these stages:
- alteration - damage;
- exudation - the formation of edema;
- proliferation - healing.
Reasons
The causes of the disease are large, we will list the main ones:
- streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often gives rise to a complication: rheumatism;
- aggressive autoantibodies - proteins that the body produces to fight its own tissues; such a situation develops with an error in immune defense, as a result of which he perceives the joints 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 involve the joint tissue with the development of an inflammatory reaction - allergic arthritis;
- long-term use of some drugs causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillins, hydralazine, holes) - drug arthritis;
- bacteria are carried in the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- viral or bacterial infection of any localization can indirectly affect the joint tissues - this is reactive arthritis;
- acute trauma - recent damage (impact, contusion, rupture of the capsule).
Symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute initial stage, that is, against the background of complete health, a person has severe pain in the joint. For autoimmune forms, symmetrical damage to small joints is characteristic: interphalangeal on the fingers, wrist, elbow.
Gout in the vast majority of cases begins with inflammation of the joint between the thumb and foot. In bacterial and reactive arthritis, large joints are usually affected from 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 angina. Severe inflammation of the bones, cartilage and synovium can occur with fever, general intoxication: headache, weakness, lack of appetite.
The skin over the joint turns red and feels warmer than other areas. Outwardly, it looks swollen and increases in volume. If the injury occurred on one side only, the difference between a healthy and a diseased limb is visible.
Limited movement is associated with swelling and pain. If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, it works almost completely. With a pronounced pathological reaction, the entire synovial cavity can be filled with fluid - in this case, the mobility is sharply limited.
Treatment
Treatment is performed by a general practitioner, rheumatologist or traumatologist, if the cause is mechanical damage. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the provoking factor and stopping inflammation.
For bacterial and reactive arthritis, antibiotics are needed, for autoimmune - cytostatics or glucocorticoids, for allergy sufferers - glucocorticoids and antihistamines.
The inflammatory fluid is removed with a syringe or special suction during arthroscopy. The joint is immobilized for the entire period of acute inflammation. After the patient is shown therapeutic exercises to restore the mobility of the joint.
Doctor's advice
From personal practice and work experience of colleagues - with inflammation in the joints of any etiology, gelatin tablets have proven themselves well. They are simple to implement and inexpensive. It is necessary to fold the gauze in several layers, the length and width should be such that there is enough for the sore joint. Dip the folded gauze in hot water, wring out, straighten. Sprinkle a thin layer of gelatin on top, roll it up so that it is inside, like in a bag, and does not spill. Lay on the joint, wrap the top with a polyethylene bag, secure with bandage and / or tape. You can wear a 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 the therapy must be continued to achieve the desired result, if the course is stopped, the pain will return.
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (otherwise osteoarthritis) is a degenerative-dystrophic disease. It is based on a deterioration in the nutrition of the articular cartilage, a slowdown in its recovery and a progressive thinning.
In a nutshell, the cartilage layer wears out faster than it rebuilds. The bony articular surfaces are exposed. They are not as smooth as cartilage and rub against each other with effort when moving. Bone plates are partially destroyed, mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, bone spines grow into the joint, a protective tissue response to permanent damage. They interfere with the sliding of surfaces relative to each other and the mobility of the joint is impaired.
Osteoarthritis in most people begins to progress after 30-40 years, lasts for years, its symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints is usually called osteochondrosis.
Reasons
There are predisposing factors that cause the development of the disease at an early age and complicate its course:
- intense physical activity among athletes;
- obesity;
- history of joint injuries;
- vascular disease;
- 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
Usually large joints on one side are affected: knee, hip, sacral. The disease begins imperceptibly. In the beginning, pain is rare and is associated with significant physical exertion.
The unpleasant sensations disappear the same day or in a few days if the person is able to rest. As the disease progresses, the intensity of pain increases, it also occurs with normal daily stress.
The mobility of the joint gradually decreases, and in the result of the disease it is completely lost. The movements of the diseased limb cause severe pain. Osteoarthritis can be exacerbated by arthritis: fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, the skin on top of it turns red and becomes hot. After the inflammatory reaction subsides, the course of the disease returns to its previous course.
Treatment
Osteoarthritis is treated by a traumatologist, orthopedist, sometimes a surgeon. Therapy is aimed at restoring metabolic processes in the cartilage, improving the nutrition of the joints and eliminating the inflammatory response. Treatment is permanent, it can be continuous or courses of drugs.
In the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments, therapeutic exercises, massages. With an exacerbation, chondroprotectors are administered intravenously or intramuscularly along with analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. A traumatologist can inject protective drugs directly into the joint every few months.
Advanced stages of the disease require surgery, during which the diseased joint is replaced with an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Features | Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Cause of the disease | Inflammation | Degeneration of cartilage |
| Stream | Acute, chronic with exacerbations | Chronic |
| Pain | Intense from the start, most pronounced in the morning | At the beginning of the disease, weak, gradually increasing. It intensifies in the evening and after exertion |
| Movements | It is necessary to "disperse": the morning after sleep, the joints are the least mobile | Mobility gradually decreases, no morning stiffness |
| Joints affected | The small joints of the hands and feet are affected symmetrically. The big ones suffer from bacterial infection | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| Blood test | Serious inflammatory changes in the general blood test, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies to pathogens | No typical changes |
| X-rays | Changes in stages, osteoporosis - bone loss, cysts in the bones | Gradual changes, deformation of the joint space, the appearance of bone spines and growths. |
| Basic treatment | Anti-inflammatory | Chondroprotector |
A similar feature of both diseases is a progressive course with a gradual loss of mobility. Autoimmune arthritis often occurs at a young age, when a person is still frivolous about their health.
It should be remembered that any joint pain 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 its treatment in order to slow down the development of the pathological process.