The names of the diseases sound as if they affect the same organ system, ie the musculoskeletal system. What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis and what are the similarities?
The disease is known to affect the musculoskeletal system, especially the joints, but the etiology of the disease is different.
Thus, arthritis occurs due to any infection: local or general, and osteoarthritis is a degenerative process that occurs in the articular cartilage due to aging of the human body.
However, any person, regardless of age, can get arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Among other things, osteoarthritis can refer to dystrophic processes, and arthritis can be a side effect of other endo and exogenous diseases.
First, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis deform joints are different, and arthritis is rheumatoid and rheumatic, specific infectious and traumatic, as well as arthritis can be accompanied by blood, respiratory, digestive and other diseases.
Basics
- Arthrosisis a chronic pathology of degenerative-dystrophic nature. The onset of the disease is not associated with an inflammatory component. The pathological process is based on the loss of ability to repair and regenerate by articular cartilage cells. Over time, painful abnormalities involve nearby anatomical structures: ligaments, bursa, synovium, muscle and bone tissue. The most susceptible to osteoarthritis are middle-aged and elderly people. According to clinical studies, 30-40% of the population between the ages of 45 and 65 experience degenerative changes in the joint elements, and after the age of 65 the number of patients increases to 70-85%.
- Arthritisaffects young people. Some diseases are found in every thousand children. The overall prevalence of arthritis is high among people of all ages. Unlike osteoarthritis, the disease is inflammatory. Inflammation develops in the synovial membrane of the articular cavity. As the pathology progresses, it turns into arthrosis and spreads to the cartilage and garden apparatus.
It can't be said which is worse: arthritis or osteoarthritis. Pathologies are interconnected. Joint elements exposed to degenerative-dystrophic changes respond to them with the development of the inflammatory process. The exact opposite can happen. Locations of pathological abnormalities after suffering from arthritis are a favorable environment for osteoarthritis.
Mechanism of pathological formation
The difference between diseases is noted from the beginning - the mechanisms of their occurrence.
Plays a key role in the development of osteoarthritis:
- age-related changes;
- climacteric period;
- disorders of metabolic processes;
- heavy physical activity;
- highly traumatic surgical interventions;
- overweight;
- frequent joint microtrauma;
- increase in uric acid levels;
- lack of blood supply;
- toxic intoxication of the body;
- micronutrient deficiency.
The starting point for arthritis is:
- transplanted extra-joint infections;
- autoimmune reactions of the body;
- hereditary preparation of a gene encoding information on deviations from the cell surface;
- Lymphatic and bloodstream transmission of the infectious agent from the primary focus;
- connective tissue inflammation;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- hypothermia.
Infection of the synovial fluid has a direct route - open wounds that penetrate the joint. The mechanism of the onset of arthritis is complex and equipped with a diverse arsenal. The reason is the ability of the joints to respond quickly to any inflammation.
Difference in accompanying symptoms
Thus, pain in arthritis occurs most often during physical exertion, and pain can also occur at night when a person is in the same position for a long time.
Pain in osteoarthritis occurs locally, ie where the inflammatory process takes place, but the pain disappears at rest.
The nature of pain is also different. For example, patients who develop arthritis suffer from sharp, severe, and convulsive pain, and dull and excruciating pain is accompanied by osteoarthritis.
Blood count is also excellent. In the first case, there is an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and an increase in C-reactive protein levels, as well as high levels of leukocytes and seromucoids. In the second case, there is no such deviation.
The symptoms that accompany these diseases will help you understand the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the knee and hip joints are mainly affected by abnormal deviations, sometimes the process is localized in the shoulder area. The pathology develops gradually. The first short-term pain does not allow to determine the exact location of the lesion.
Over time, the clinical picture is complemented by the following symptoms:
- A kind of crisp sound appears as you move;
- meteorological dependence is noted;
- against the background of increasing loads, the intensity of the pain syndrome increases, the pain passes at rest;
- range of motion gradually decreases;
- there are thickenings at the edge of the joint space;
- As the volume increases, the processes cause constant pain by squeezing the nerve endings;
- is subject to playful instability.
Any joint in the musculoskeletal system can be affected by pathological abnormalities in arthritis. The most sensitive are the small elements of the moving joints of the legs, arms, lower leg and elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symmetry of focal lesions.
The first symptomatology, as in osteoarthritis, occurs unexpectedly. The pathology clinic begins with a general concern. Pathological abnormalities grow rapidly, affecting the mobility and functional abilities of the affected joint. However, if osteoarthritis is characterized by exacerbation of pain during movement, the more you move in the case of arthritis, the less pain. The intensity of pain increases at night. In the morning, the patient has difficulty overcoming the stiffness in the joints. Palpation reveals pain on the entire surface of the joint.
The situation is getting worse:
- local hyperemia;
- formation of subcutaneous nodules;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- Peripheral nerve damage.
The pathology of the active stage is accompanied by a clear symptom complex: an increase in temperature, chills, fever and intoxication syndrome. When complications occur, other elements of the biological system are involved in the pathological condition: vision, respiration, digestion, cardiovascular, urinary and nervous systems.
Osteoarthritis, in addition to the complete destruction of cartilage, causes problems in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.
Differential research methods
A detailed study of the current clinical picture allows us to understand how arthritis is distinguished from osteoarthritis with the highest accuracy.
Differential features are determined based on the results of the following studies:
- Complete blood count.In osteoarthritis, in most cases, the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and response remains normal. Arthritis is characterized by a significant increase in indicators that confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. The analysis does not give an exact definition of the disease, but allows to distinguish degenerative-dystrophic changes from inflammation.
- Biochemical analysis of a blood sample. In the case of arthritis, research confirms the presence of inflammatory markers in the biomaterial: C-reactive protein, seromucoid. It is possible to detect rheumatoid factor - immunoglobulin antibodies, which are mistakenly produced by the body. Biochemical parameters for osteoarthritis remain normal.
- X-ray examination.There are no obvious changes in the early stages of arthritis. Uneven narrowing of the cavity with osteoarthritis, the formation of osteophytes (growths on the surface of bone tissue) are noted.
- MRI.The most reliable differential diagnosis of arthritis and osteoarthritis in the early stages. The technique allows to ensure changes in the structural structure of cartilage, compression of the synovial membrane, joint space, newly formed cysts, spontaneous growth of bone tissue.
Features of therapy
Doctors of different specialties are involved in the treatment of pathologies. A patient with osteoarthritis is referred to an orthopedist-traumatologist. In the case of arthritis, the exact cause of the pathological changes is first determined. Depending on the conditions found, a specialist is selected.
As a result, if both diseases affect the condition of the supporting apparatus, the treatment methods are similar. An important condition for recovery is a reduction in total body weight and, therefore, a reduction in the load on the organs affected by the disease. In both cases, joint replacement is used if medication and physiotherapy do not work.
Special therapy, therapeutic gymnastics, drug therapy and physiotherapy are also used. Arthroplasty is used with the most serious complications.
In addition to the same methods, there are some differences in the treatment of pathologies.
Treatment for arthritis begins immediately and with intensive therapy. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Medications with the least side effects are preferred. If the results do not live up to expectations, the medication is changed consistently.
The complex course of medicine includes the following:
- antihistamine intra-articular injections;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatic;
- sulfonamides;
- Products based on gold salts.
Prognosis is generally good with adequate and timely treatment of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis requires long-term and comprehensive treatment. The main task of therapeutic measures in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the restoration of cartilage tissue of the joint. Pharmaceutical products with this ability include chondroprotectors. The most effective are chondroitin and glucosamine.
Disorders of blood microcirculation are eliminated with the help of vasodilators. Relax muscle tone to get rid of spastic pain, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Topical application of warming ointments and creams, which are strictly prohibited in arthritis, is indicated.
In parallel, funds are used to stimulate metabolic processes, the body is nourished with vitamins and trace elements. Specially designed therapeutic gymnastics does not take the last place in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis belongs to a group of chronic diseases that cause irreversible consequences that cannot be completely eliminated. Therapeutic measures are designed to slow down the degenerative processes as much as possible.
In both cases, people who notice obvious symptoms of these diseases should immediately consult a specialist, and these diseases should not be treated alone. Take care of your health and get what you want.