Common signs and symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis: what is the difference and how to treat joint pathologies

People of different ages, especially after 40-50 years, often have joint problems, but without the help of a specialist it is difficult to determine which disease develops. Common diseases are arthritis and osteoarthritis. What is the difference, how to treat, how to prevent joint pathologies?

The advice of specialists in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system will be useful to many. It is important to know how to recognize arthritis and osteoarthritis in order for the treatment to be successful.

General signs

Joint pathologies have a common root in the name. Translated from the Greek "arthron" means "joint".

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are joint damage. The pathological process is accompanied by discomfort, soreness, damage to cartilage tissue, mobility of the problem area is limited. Both arthritis and osteoarthritis disrupt the patient's normal course of life.

When differentiating diseases, it is important to take into account all the signs, to conduct the necessary research and analysis.

Joint pathologies have many differences, incorrect diagnosis reduces the quality of treatment.

Basic information about joint pathologies

It is important to understand not only the similar and distinctive signs of osteoarthritis and arthritis, but also the causes, types and features of the course of joint pathologies. Understanding the provoking factors under the influence of which negative processes in cartilage tissue begin will help prevent disease.

> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" > Arthritis arthrosis The reasons Inflammation on the background of systemic pathology or infection of joint tissue Cartilage destruction during tissue wear, more often in old age. Improper metabolism causes loss of elasticity, changes in cartilage structure, abrasion, partial or complete destruction of cartilage tissue. Provoking factors Infectious diseases, allergies, injuries, hypothermia, metabolic disorders, heredity, stress, vitamin deficiency Aging of the body, overweight, injuries, malnutrition, autoimmune pathologies, deterioration of the blood supply to cartilage and bone tissue, inflammatory processes in the body, thyroid dysfunction, excessive stress on the joint, hypothermia, hereditary predisposition Types of pathology monoarthritis, polyarthritis Primary (cartilage damage with lack of nutrients, poor blood circulation). Secondary - the disease develops in the affected joint, more often after injury Forms of the disease Purulent, rheumatoid, juvenile, gouty Four stages: from a slight narrowing of the joint space to a noticeable deformation with complete closure of the joint space Complications Prolonged presence of an infectious agent in the joints and other organs undermines health, reduces immunity. Limb mobility is impaired, during periods of exacerbation the tissues swell, ache, it is difficult to perform many familiar movements In the absence of treatment: complete destruction of the joints, immobilization of the limb, negative changes in the intervertebral discs Forecast With timely treatment, eliminating the inflammatory process, many types of arthritis can be completely cured. The disease is difficult to treat, in most cases it becomes chronic. Osteoarthritis is an irreversible process, it is impossible to restore the quality of cartilage tissue by 100%. Competent therapy improves the condition of cartilage, maintains the functionality of the limbs, but if certain rules are violated, the disease progresses

What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis

Joint pathologies have more differences than similar signs. It is easy to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis, knowing the etiology of the disease.

Patient information:

• arthritis develops against the background of an inflammatory process in the joint, osteoarthritis is a consequence of degenerative processes, degenerative changes in cartilage tissue;
• both pathologies have acute and chronic forms, but arthritis proceeds with more pronounced symptoms, inflammation is actively spreading not only in the joint but also in other areas;
• osteoarthritis is a long-term disease, remission is longer, cartilage is destroyed gradually without severe inflammation of the tissues.

The table describes the differences in joint pathologies according to the main characteristics:

> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" > Arthritis arthrosis Cause of pathological changes An infection that provokes acute and chronic inflammation Degenerative-dystrophic changes, gradual destruction of cartilage tissue. The main reason is the negative processes against the background of aging. The nature of the pathology Acute than osteoarthritis, remission alternates with active inflammation Prolonged, more frequent, slow, with periods of exacerbation affected area The infection spreads far beyond the joint area. Develops monoarthritis (in one joint), polyarthritis (several areas are affected, such as polyarthritis of the fingers) Joint tissue in one area, such as osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Other organs are not involved in the destructive process Localization area Smaller joints: wrist, fingers, hands, ankle. The knee area is also at risk Large joints: hips, knees, big toes, less often, phalanges of the toes and ankles Age of patients More often - up to 40 years The main category is people aged 45 and over, more often aged 55-60 Risk group Young men. The development of the disease is associated with dangerous bacterial and viral infections, limb injuries. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in children and adolescents Women after 45-50 years. Degenerative processes develop against the background of menopause. In men, dystrophic changes in cartilage often develop against the background of high load on the joints during life with the difficult nature of the work associated with lifting weights, monotonous movements.

How to distinguish by symptoms

It is easier to recognize the onset of the disease with an infectious type of pathological changes.

Osteoarthritis often does not manifest itself for a long time, often patients come to the doctor with a second, moderate stage of the disease.

Pay attention to the main signs of joint pathologies. Even mild joint discomfort should arouse suspicion of the development of negative processes in cartilage tissue.

Proper and timely diagnosis helps both to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis and to prescribe the right treatment.

Arthritis symptoms:

• swelling or severe swelling of the problem area;
• the skin in the affected area turns red;
• the diseased joint becomes inflamed;
• the affected area is hot to the touch, with active inflammation, penetration of a dangerous pathogen, the overall temperature rises;
• when moving you hear sharp pain, at rest, pulsation, "twitching", the pain in the area of inflammation does not disappear;
• often the infection affects other parts of the body, health deteriorates, weakness develops, chronic pathologies become more active;
• negative processes often develop in the fingers, hands, ankles, less often in the knees.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis:

• wavy nature of the pain. At an early stage the pain is mild, the intensity does not increase for a long time;
• gradually the pain increases, in the morning there is stiffness in the problem joints;
• with the development of dystrophic changes, the mobility of the affected area decreases; in advanced cases, complete immobility is possible due to cartilage destruction;
• the main sites of localization are the hip joints (coxarthrosis), the spine (spondylarthrosis), the knees (gonarthrosis).

The main methods of treating diseases

Patients often believe that a "tested" arthritis prescription suggested by a neighbor will certainly help with osteoarthritis. Ignorance of the nature of the disease often damages the joints, worsens the condition of the body.

For example, in arthritis there is an active inflammatory process, the infection spreads over a large area of tissue. Warming up is strictly forbidden, but sufferers often warm their sore knees with arthritis in hopes of a cure. The result is exactly the opposite: the heat accelerates the development of the inflammatory process, the infection penetrates the blood and lymph into new parts of the joints, other organs, the disease progresses.

The main differences in the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis are related to the nature of the pathological processes. The scheme of therapy, the use of drugs, folk methods, a set of exercises, physiotherapy is developed by a rheumatologist, orthopedist or arthrologist. In the advanced stages of osteoarthritis (less often in arthritis) the help of an orthopedist is needed.

Patient information! In osteoarthritis, warm bandages are effective, cold compresses are recommended to relieve inflammation in arthritis.

Treatment of osteoarthritis

Basic Principles:

• the main task is to normalize the condition of cartilage tissue. The doctor prescribes chondroprotectors with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. The long course of treatment improves the elasticity of cartilage tissue, restores blood circulation, metabolism, stops degenerative-dystrophic processes;
• in severe cases, drugs from the NSAID group are needed to relieve pain, eliminate inflammation that has developed during abrasion of joint tissue. But as a major tool in the treatment of osteoarthritis, they are ineffective;
• physiotherapy procedures, special exercises are useful;
• patients successfully apply traditional methods. Homemade ointments, decoctions, compresses, baths, tinctures are made from natural ingredients. Proper use of compounds relieves pain, improves joint mobility;
• with complete destruction of cartilage tissue is performed surgical treatment - arthroplasty. Osteoarthritis cannot be completely cured, you can only maintain joint health, prevent exacerbations.

arthritis therapy

Basic Principles:

• the first stage is the fight against pathogenic bacteria, dangerous viruses, under the influence of which the inflammatory process has begun. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are needed;
• it is important not only to destroy the cause of the infection, but also to strengthen the immune system;
• recommends protein diet, vitamin therapy, dairy products. Alcohol, strong coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, black tea (preferably green) must be refused;
• physiotherapy gives an excellent effect: electrophoresis with anti-inflammatory drugs, magnetic and laser therapy, therapeutic baths. After stopping the inflammatory process, the complex of exercises, massage will help to restore the mobility of the diseased joint. Useful folk methods without the use of heat.

There is a significant difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis. Knowing the characteristics of joint diseases will help the patient to control the course of the pathological process, to use competently all available methods of treatment. Under the guidance of an experienced doctor you can deal with any joint pathology.