When we talk about diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis, joint problems inevitably come to mind. Both of these pathologies, in fact, are directly related to the musculoskeletal system, since the pathological process is localized in the articular joints. Both arthritis and osteoarthritis have similar symptoms. Many patients confuse these diseases and consider them the same pathology, however they have fundamental differences.
What is arthritis and arthrosis and how do they differ?
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are common diagnoses in elderly patients. To understand the differences between these two pathologies, let's consider what arthritis and arthrosis are and what the difference is between them.
A chronic disease of the joints, in which their gradual deformation is observed, is called arthrosis. A more correct name is arthrosis, since the pathological process involves not only cartilage, but ultimately also bone tissue.
The immediate cause of the disease is damage to the surfaces of the joint, as a result of which they wear out and cease to perform their functions. A typical manifestation of arthrosis is severe pain when moving the limb; due to the aggravation of the pathological process, the mobility of the joint is significantly limited. In an advanced stage the joint may become immobile.
Osteoarthritis usually appears in people over the age of forty-five, but in rare cases it can affect the joints of young people. The disease develops mainly in women and also affects people who have congenital pathologies of the limbs. Osteoarthritis is caused by excess weight, joint surgery and injuries, for example, to the hip or knee joint. Endogenous factors, such as poor nutrition or circulatory disorders in the joint, can also trigger the disease.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease localized in the joint. This is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis. Inflammation can occur due to an infection of the joint, injury and also due to degenerative changes in the tissues. Like osteoarthritis, arthritis is characterized by joint pain that worsens with movement.
The lack of adequate treatment leads to loss of mobility of the joint and its complete immobilization. Arthritis is easier to distinguish, as the inflammation causes redness of the skin at the site of the lesion and swelling. Keep in mind that arthritis is not an isolated condition. This is a systemic disease that affects not only the musculoskeletal system. Arthritis typically affects the liver, kidneys, and heart. This is the main difference between arthritis and local arthrosis.
Signs
The symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis are largely similar, but they also have significant differences. Pain is an essential symptom that comes to the fore in both osteoarthritis and arthritis. The nature of pain varies: with arthrosis, patients experience negative sensations during physical activity, as well as when the load on the damaged joint increases.
In the initial stage, the pain may not be severe. For this reason, patients do not always attach importance to such symptoms and do not pay attention to the first signs of pathology. At rest, the pain decreases. Only in the second and third stages is pain constantly present. However, if you position the limb well, the pain will decrease. With arthritis, the pain does not decrease, and the highest peak of its development is reached at night, closer to the morning.
The crunch is a typical feature of osteoarthritis and chronic arthritis.
A creak occurs due to a decrease in the elasticity of the cartilage tissue and an increase in friction between the joint surfaces. In the initial stage, you may notice cracking of the fingers, and then the larger joints are affected. A defining characteristic of joint creaking is the rough, dry sound produced by the joint.
Limitation of joint mobility and stiffness in movements are typical symptoms of arthrosis and arthritis, but in arthrosis the joint problems differ depending on the location, e. g. a specific joint is affected, and with arthritis - a systemic pathology - discomfort is noted not only in the joints, but throughout the body.
Joint deformities are observed in both pathologies, but have distinctive characteristics. With arthrosis, changes affect only the joint itself, and the inflammatory process in arthritis causes changes in the skin: you can see swelling, redness and hyperthermia. Furthermore, arthritis is accompanied by a general somatic pathology: body temperature increases, a typical feverish state occurs, sweating increases, weakness and drowsiness appear. Conjunctivitis may begin, and chronic diseases may become more complicated. With arthrosis there are no such symptoms, but if arthrosis has developed, inflammation will also accompany arthrosis.
A doctor must carefully differentiate the signs of arthritis and arthrosis, so if negative symptoms appear, consultation with a specialist is necessary.
Diagnostics
To begin treatment of the disease, the correct diagnosis of arthritis or arthrosis is important. This can be done using various search techniques. Not all patients know which doctor deals with joint pathologies, so at the initial stage you can contact a rheumatologist or therapist, then you will have to consult an orthopedist or surgeon.
Patients must undergo a blood test, which will demonstrate general changes in the body. If the results of a blood test show no abnormalities, doctors are likely to consider osteoarthritis as a preliminary diagnosis.
If the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes in the blood plasma increases, rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, since there is a clear indication of an inflammatory process. Typically the speed increases above 25 mm/h. A further confirmatory sign will be joint pain that worsens during the night. To be honest, we note that an increase in ESR is also possible in case of arthrosis, if it is accompanied by inflammation.
An additional argument in favor of rheumatoid arthritis will be the increased number of leukocytes. Blood is also taken from a vein for rheumatological tests - the appearance of a special marker - C-reactive protein, which indicates inflammation. However, you should not rely only on a blood test, since it is impossible to reliably determine any of the diseases using this analysis. It is necessary to conduct further research, constantly taking into account the presence of an inflammatory factor in the blood.
As additional tests, doctors prescribe the following to the patient:
- x-ray of the problem area;
- MRI;
- computed tomography;
- radioisotope scanning.
Doctors take into account examinations, a carefully collected medical history and the results of a blood test, after which a particular disease is diagnosed.
Treatment
In order for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis to be successful, it is necessary to choose the right treatment strategy. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to completely cure the disease, and in some cases long-term remission is considered a huge success.
To alleviate exacerbation and prevent relapses of the disease, it is imperative to treat with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicines have a particularly powerful effect on the body affected by arthritis and also influence the positive dynamics of arthrosis.
Features of the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are as follows:
- Taking drugs for prolonged periods is not recommended, even if they do not cause negative effects during administration;
- patients with pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney and heart disorders are prohibited from taking NSAIDs;
- Do not increase the dosage of medications without your doctor's permission, as a negative reaction may occur in case of individual sensitivity;
- When taking medications, you should take them with a large glass of water;
- when taking NSAIDs, it is forbidden to combine multiple drugs and drink alcoholic beverages;
- It is forbidden to take NSAIDs during pregnancy.
When contacting a doctor, the patient will be prescribed effective treatment with the safest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after the examination. Basically, all drugs in this group can be divided into cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 inhibitors. COX-2 inhibitors are considered drugs that are more loyal to the body.
First and second generation inhibitors are included in many drugs. These are ointments, plasters, gels and tablet preparations.
Drugs to relieve muscle spasms - muscle relaxants - will be useful in treatment. Typically, this often happens in patients suffering from osteoarthritis or arthritis. With severe pain in the joints, the muscles experience severe tension, and with prolonged discomfort they suffer from a lack of nutrition and oxygen, so it is very important to timely relieve the discomfort accompanying the disease.
During therapy, an indispensable condition is the normalization of metabolic processes. This becomes possible after the inflammation subsides and the muscle spasm is relieved. Metabolic drugs for patients with arthritis and arthrosis are adenosine triphosphoric acid, inosine, adenosine phosphate, B vitamins, anabolic steroids.
To remove salts from arthrosis, a special set of drugs are prescribed, as well as means to achieve an optimal acid-base balance.
To cure arthritis and arthrosis or achieve a lasting positive dynamic, it is very important to take all the medications recommended by your doctor. Moreover, this must be done according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor, because even the most effective metabolic agents against the background of an active inflammatory process will be simply useless.
Traditional treatment
Diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis can be treated not only with traditional drugs, but also with folk remedies. Massages with preparations based on natural ingredients will be useful. These are ointments with bee and snake venom. These preparations also include essential oils. During the massage you can add eucalyptus and ginger oil, ginger oil, marjoram, rosemary or juniper.
In case of arthritis and arthrosis, warm baths have a good relaxing effect. They will help relieve muscle pain and fatigue and help relax the body as a whole. The best composition is one drop of ginger oil and the same amount of benzoin storax or two drops of marjoram and black pepper oil for one tablespoon of olive oil. Add 15-20 drops to the bath. The recipe helps well if the patient has arthrosis of the legs. Oil baths can be done every evening during the night.
Black poplar also has an excellent effect. Not all patients know how to cure arthritis and arthrosis with black poplar, but it is very simple to do. From a healthy tree it is necessary to collect rot, young leaves and shoots - about half a bucket, after which everything is poured with boiling water to the edge of the container and stored overnight. In the morning, the liquid is carefully poured into the bathtub, leaving the cake, and immersed in it for half an hour. After the bath it is advisable to warm up and lie down in bed for an hour.
Folk remedies are also of great help if the patient is affected by arthrosis - a severe combination of bone deformities and inflammatory process in the joint joint. To treat, you need to take a glass of spruce needles and fill them with two liters of water. It is necessary to boil the product for fifteen minutes, after which the broth is poured into the bath and taken until the water cools completely.
Senna leaves help with arthritis and osteoarthritis. If the patient regularly treats the disease with this remedy, the inflammation quickly disappears. Senna is used as follows: two glasses of the dry component are poured with a liter of boiling water and sealed for forty minutes. Then the liquid is poured into the bathtub, sea salt is added there and taken until the water reaches the optimal temperature. After the bath, areas damaged by arthrosis or arthritis are treated with fir oil and wrapped in a scarf.
Prevention
As a preventive measure, doctors give patients the following advice:
- completely treat all infectious pathologies, do not interrupt the course of therapy with antibacterial drugs, so as not to leave pockets of inflammation in the body;
- adhere to a balanced diet;
- wear comfortable shoes that do not constrict your feet;
- get rid of excess weight, which creates additional stress on the limbs;
- do not overcool your feet, be careful in rain and cold seasons;
- protect yourself from injuries, and when actively playing sports, use special bandages, supports and elastic bandages;
- perform daily gymnastics, take walks in the fresh air to activate blood circulation in the body, and when the first symptoms of arthritis or arthrosis are detected, perform special joint gymnastics - exercises for hands, ankles, knees.
Arthritis and arthrosis are serious lesions of the joint surfaces. If treated incorrectly or prematurely, they can lead to disability, so doctors strongly recommend consulting a doctor at the first symptoms of the disease.