These two words are very similar in terms of listening comprehension, so many people who say the words "arthritis" and "osteoarthritis" do not suspect completely different diseases, although they are associated with joint problems. In fact, both of these diseases are very serious, and it's worth knowing what the difference is between arthritis and osteoarthritis, so as not to get awkward in conversation, because health is one of the "eternal" topics when one person communicates with another.
What is arthritis
Although arthritis may be an exception, it is a disease that affects most people in middle age (under 40). According to statistics, a small number of people suffer from arthritis, no more than 2% of the total population. However, arthritis is, in essence, a severe inflammatory process in which joint problems are only a visible part of widespread inflammation.
The main cause of arthritis is deeper than the swelling of the joints, as well as the pain that does not leave the patient at night (sometimes these pains only intensify). This inflammation can be caused by an infection or a disorder of the immune system. Joints are not the only organs affected by inflammation. Often a strong blow falls on a person's internal organs, such as the liver, heart and kidneys. If the problem of arthritis is not taken into account, it is very dangerous not only for human health, but also for life.
What is osteoarthritis
Arthrosis is generally an age-related change in a person, often approaching the middle of the second half of life. The mechanism of development of osteoarthritis often causes severe injuries in people over 45 years of age in the form of fractures and joint damage.
Medical statistics show that one in three people over the age of 50 and one in two people over the age of seventy suffer from osteoarthritis. In general, about 10% of the world's population suffers from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis often affects the knee and hip joints in the elderly. In addition, the joints of the fingers and ankles can be exposed to osteoarthritis.
causes of diseases
It is clear that the causes of each disease are completely different.
For arthritis, these can be:
- Injuries of various origins, to a greater extent, recurrent occupational injuries, can cause disease;
- Infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infections, SARS, influenza;
- Vitamin deficiency and consequent imbalance in metabolism;
- Overloading the body;
- Disorders of the nervous system;
- Faults in your own immune system;
- Genetically predisposed to arthritis.
Arthritis is a common companion in professions such as tailor, hairdresser, massage therapist, loader, and construction worker.
When it comes to osteoarthritis, the factors in the development of the disease are:
- overweight affecting joint function;
- Poor nutrition;
- Prolonged hypothermia;
- He had suffered various injuries in the past (perhaps a long time ago).
- Intoxication of the body;
- Metabolic diseases;
- Past infectious diseases;
- Manifestations of autoimmune disorders;
- Perthes disease, manifested in altered blood supply to the femoral head;
- Disorders of the thyroid gland;
Hereditary predisposition to the development of genetically transmitted osteoarthritis.
Anxiety Symptoms in Arthritis
Severe joint pain occurs during arthritis, especially when walking or other physical activity. The joint itself swells significantly and the skin around the joint becomes warm to the touch. Also, the skin may turn red. The patient feels weak and it is very difficult to move with the affected arm or leg. Mornings are hard after a night's rest. When pressing on the joint, the patient feels severe pain. Arthritis-affected joints can be severely compressed during exercise. The patient may have a high body temperature and the patient may have a cold. In acute arthritis, all the symptoms appear at the same time and suddenly. With chronic arthritis, symptoms increase slowly and gradually.
Osteoarthritis symptoms
Doctors with osteoarthritis distinguish four main symptoms of the disease:
- joint pain.The pain is sharp and sharp. The movement starts from the moment it starts and decreases with the transition to the resting state. At night, the person has practically no pain, and by choosing a comfortable position, the patient can sleep comfortably. As the disease progresses, the pain increases. The pain is exacerbated in cold and rainy weather;
- Broken joints.Due to the reduced freedom and softness of rotation of the bones, a strong crisis is heard in the joint. Experts distinguish arthritis squeaks with a kind of "dry" sound. The more the disease progresses, the stronger the crisis in the joints. One feature of the crisis in osteoarthritis is that the crisis is almost always accompanied by pain;
- Restricting the mobility of the joint itself.In many cases with osteoarthritis, the limb becomes immobile. This is due to the growth of bone formations and the narrowing of the joint space, which leads first to limited mobility and then to complete immobilization of the joint;
- Deformation of joints.As a rule, this symptom is characteristic of the later stages of osteoarthritis development when osteophytes grow.
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis according to the clinical picture
It is quite clear that arthritis and osteoarthritis have different genesis as a disease. If arthritis is the result of a breakdown of the immune system or an infectious disease, osteoarthritis is more likely to be caused by the aging process of the body. Therefore, according to this, the clinical manifestations of arthritis and osteoarthritis will also differ.
Arthritis of the fingers
Thus, a patient with arthritis of the fingers has severe pain that does not subside during rest and relaxation. In addition, the skin around the affected joints turns red.
Arthritis can affect a number of different joints, from one (monoarthritis) to several (polyarthritis). The joints swell. The reaction to joint compression can be severe pain.
As for the crisis in the joint, it may or may not be.
Osteoarthritis of the fingers
In most older women, osteoarthritis is about 10 times more common than in the stronger sex. The main location is the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.
Any movement of the fingers causes the patient uncomfortable pain. But there is practically no pain at rest. The joints are swollen and there may be redness of the skin around the affected joint. Osteoarthritis is always accompanied by a "dry" crack in the joints.
The same picture is observed in cases of arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the fingers.
Treatment with chondroprotectors
During arthritis and osteoarthritis, cartilage breaks down because it comes in contact with the rough and rough surface of the bone. As a result, the production process of synovial fluid is disrupted, the cartilage is deprived of nourishment and lubricant necessary for normal joint function.
Chondroprotector prevents these pathological processes. The active ingredients of chondroprotectors are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Dosage forms for the release of these substances are different and can be used by doctors depending on the situation.
Today, chondroprotectors are produced as follows:
- Injection solutions;
- Tablets;
- Creams, ointments and gels.
Chondroprotective treatment should begin without complete destruction of cartilage. Unfortunately, such treatment is completely useless when the cartilage is destroyed. The next thing to remember when treating with chondroprotectors is the duration of the course of treatment. The fact is that the process of cartilage regeneration is quite long and the minimum course of treatment should be six months, but practice shows that treatment with chondroprotectors lasts an average of one and a half to two years. If recovery is not complete, cartilage destruction begins again. As a rule, chondroprotectors have no side effects on the patient's body, they are the maximum mild intestinal diseases observed in practice. The only complication may occur during treatment of diabetic patients with chondroprotectors. When treating them, the insulin dose must be calculated correctly, because chondroprotectors contain glucose. The use of chondroprotectors is not recommended for the treatment of both pregnancy and children.
Today, there are a number of effective drugs in the arsenal of doctors who treat arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Start treatment with chondroprotectors under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise the treatment may be ineffective.
Treatment with folk remedies
Traditional medicine for arthritis recommends several effective recipes:
- apple cider vinegar.This substance is added to water (1 teaspoon for a glass of water). The resulting solution is drunk before meals;
- Potato compress.Take green tubers for compresses.
Wash, cut into pieces without peeling. Potatoes are heated in water at a temperature of 38 degrees. Then a compress is applied to the wound site. Potato layer should be 1, 5 - 2 centimeters. Need to bet at night. The course of treatment in this way is seven to ten days.
Ointments for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis
The use of topical ointments in the early stages of osteoarthritis, as well as osteoarthritis, can help treat the patient. A specialist will select the appropriate drug based on the results of the examination.