These two words are quite similar in listening comprehension, so many people who say the words "arthritis" and "osteoarthritis" do not even suspect that they are completely different diseases, although they are associated with joint problems. In fact, both diseases are very serious and it is worth knowing what the difference is between arthritis and osteoarthritis, if only to avoid being in an uncomfortable position in a conversation, because the subject of health is one of the "eternal" topicswhen one person communicates with another.
What is arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that affects most middle-aged people (under 40 years of age), although there may be exceptions. According to statistics, few people suffer from arthritis, no more than 2% of the total population. However, in essence, arthritis is a serious inflammatory process in which joint problems are only the visible part of the widespread inflammation.
In arthritis, the main cause of the disease hides much deeper than the swelling of the joints, as well as the pain that does not leave the patient even during the period of night rest (sometimes these pains only intensify). The cause of this inflammation can be an infection or a malfunction of the immune system. The joints are not the only organs affected by inflammation. Often times, a powerful blow falls on a person's internal organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys. If the problem of arthritis is ignored, then it is very dangerous not only for human health, but even for your life.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, in general, is an age-related change that a person experiences, usually closer to the middle of the second half of life. Most often, the mechanism of development of osteoarthritis is provoked by serious injuries in the form of fractures and joint damage in people over 45 years of age.
Medical statistics say that osteoarthritis affects one in three over the age of 50 and every second in the seventies. In general, about 10% of the inhabitants of our planet suffer from osteoarthritis. Most often, osteoarthritis affects the knees and hip joints in the elderly. Also, the joints of the fingers and ankle can be exposed to osteoarthritis.
The reasons for the development of diseases
It is clear that the causes of each of the diseases are completely different.
For arthritis, these can be:
- Injuries of various origins, to a greater extent, recurrent recurring injuries associated with professional activities can cause the disease;
- Infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infection, SARS, flu;
- Lack of vitamins and the consequent imbalance in metabolism;
- Body Overload;
- Nervous system disorders;
- Your own immune system malfunctions;
- Having a hereditary genetic tendency to arthritis.
Arthritis is a frequent companion of people in professions such as seamstress, hairdresser, masseur, porter, bricklayer.
Regarding osteoarthritis, the factors in the development of the disease are:
- Excess weight that affects the functioning of the joints;
- Poor nutrition;
- Prolonged hypothermia;
- He previously suffered (perhaps even a long time ago) various types of injuries;
- Intoxication of the body;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Past infectious diseases;
- Manifestations of autoimmune disorders;
- Perthes disease, which manifests itself in an altered blood supply to the femoral head;
- Thyroid gland disorders;
Hereditary tendency to develop osteoarthritis, transmitted at the genetic level.
Annoying arthritis symptoms
In arthritis, there is severe pain in the joints, especially when walking or other physical activity. The joint itself becomes noticeably swollen, and the skin around the joint becomes warm to the touch. Also, the skin can become red. The patient develops a feeling of weakness, it is very difficult to make movements with the affected arm or leg. It is especially difficult in the morning after a night's rest. When pressing on the joint, the patient feels severe pain. When performing movements, joints affected by arthritis can crack severely. The patient may have an elevated body temperature and the patient himself may have chills at this time. In acute arthritis, all symptoms appear simultaneously and abruptly. In chronic arthritis, symptoms increase slowly and gradually.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
With osteoarthritis, doctors distinguish four main symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the joints.The pain is intense and sharp. It begins the moment movement begins and subsides with the transition to a state of rest. At night, a person has practically no pain, and having chosen a comfortable position, the patient can sleep peacefully. Pain sensations increase as the disease progresses. The pain is also worse in cold, rainy weather;
- Crunchy joints.Due to the reduced freedom and smoothness of the bone rotation, a loud cracking sound is heard in the joint. Experts distinguish arthritic cracking by a kind of "dry" sound. The more the disease develops, the louder the creaking of the joints. A characteristic of the creaking in osteoarthritis is that it is almost always accompanied by pain;
- Restriction of the mobility of the joint itself.With osteoarthritis, in many cases the limb is immobilized. This is due to the fact that the growth of bone formations occurs and the joint space narrows, which leads first to a limitation of mobility and then to a complete immobilization of the joint;
- Deformation of the joints.As a general rule, this symptom is characteristic of the later stages of the development of osteoarthritis, when osteophytes grow.
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis according to the clinical picture
It is quite obvious that arthritis and osteoarthritis have a different genesis as diseases. If arthritis is the result of a malfunction of the immune system or an infectious disease, then osteoarthritis refers more to diseases that arise from the aging process of the body. Accordingly, based on this, the clinical picture of the manifestations of arthritis and arthrosis will also be different.
Arthritis of the fingers
So with arthritis of the fingers, the patient has severe pain that does not go away at rest and at rest. Also, the skin around the affected joints turns red.
Arthritis can affect a number of different joints, from one (monoarthritis) to several (polyarthritis). The joints are swollen. The reaction to pressing the joint can be a sharp pain.
As for the creaking in the joint, it may or may not be present.
Osteoarthritis of fingers
It occurs more frequently in the elderly and, in women, osteoarthritis appears about 10 times more often than in the stronger sex. The main site of localization is the joints between the phalanges of the fingers.
Any movement of the fingers causes uncomfortable pain for the patient. However, at rest, the pain is practically absent. The joints are swollen and there may be redness of the skin around the affected joint. Osteoarthritis is always accompanied by "dry" cracking sounds in the joints.
The same image is observed in cases of arthritis and osteoarthritis of the joints of the toes.
Treatment with chondreoprotectors
In arthritis and osteoarthritis, cartilage is destroyed due to contact with the rough, rough surface of bone. As a result, the process of producing synovial fluid is disrupted, the cartilage is deprived of nutrition, and the joint is deprived of the lubrication necessary for normal function.
The chondroprotector prevents these pathological processes. The active ingredient in chondroprotectors is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The dosage forms for the release of these substances are different and can be used by doctors depending on the situation.
Today, chondroprotectors are produced in the form:
- Injectable solutions;
- Tablets;
- Creams, ointments and gels.
Chondroprotective treatment must begin before the cartilage has completely collapsed. Unfortunately, such treatment is absolutely useless when cartilage is destroyed. The next thing to remember when dealing with chondroprotectors is the duration of the course of treatment. The fact is that the process of restoration of cartilage is quite long, and the minimum course of treatment should be six months, but practice shows that treatment with chondroprotectors takes on average one and a half to two years. If restoration is not fully completed, cartilage destruction resumes. As a rule, chondroprotectors do not have side effects on the patient's body, the most that is observed in practice is mild intestinal disorders. The only complication may arise in the treatment of chondroprotectors in people suffering from diabetes mellitus. When treating them, the insulin dose must be calculated correctly, since chondreoprotectors contain glucose. And the use of chondreoprotector is also not recommended during pregnancy, as well as for the treatment of children.
Today, in the arsenal of physicians dealing with the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis problems, there are several effective drugs for treatment.
Treatment with chondroprotectors should be started under the supervision of a physician; otherwise, the treatment may be ineffective.
Treatment with home remedies
For arthritis, traditional medicine recommends several effective recipes:
- Apple cider vinegar.This substance is added to water (1 teaspoon per glass of water). The resulting solution is drunk before meals;
- Potato compress.Take green tubers for the compress.
Wash, cut into pieces without peeling. Potatoes are heated in water at a temperature of 38 degrees. A compress is then applied to the sore spot. The potato layer should be 1. 5-2 centimeters. You 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
In the early stages of the development of arthritis, as well as osteoarthritis, the use of ointments for external use can help in the treatment of the patient. A specialist will select the appropriate medication based on the results of the examination.