Arthritis and osteoarthritis adversely affect a patient's full life. When signs of damage to the joints described appear, people make hasty conclusions. They can make mistakes, confuse specified pathologies. It is important to remember that the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint is significant. Let us consider in more detail the characteristics of each disease. We will learn about their differences as well as how osteoarthritis differs from knee joint gonarthrosis.
Extension of terminology
Arthritis and arthrosis are considered related words. Both mean damage to the joints. Because of the coincidence of terms, patients often perceive them as synonymous. This approach is wrong. To know how arthritis differs from knee joint osteoarthritis, you need to consider each of the features.
Arthrosis
Arthrosis is represented by deformation of the joints. The pathology is considered age-related. It is more common in elderly patients. It is also found in people under the age of 40. More often, its occurrence is provoked by severe damage to the joints, fractures. The risk group is represented by athletes. Read more about osteoarthritis of the knee joint.Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory pathology that develops in the joint. Usually, its occurrence is manifested by a deterioration in the functioning of the union. The whole body is inflamed. The disease can spread to any joint. It can also cover several connections at once. Learn more about knee arthritis.Difference between arthritis and arthrosis
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is represented by the nuance that immune deficiency is considered to be a provocateur of inflammation. It can show itself:
- stressful situation;
- hypothermia;
- Delayed flu.
Inflammation is caused by an infectious agent, metabolic disorders, and a malfunction of the immune system. With the enhanced function of the body's defense system, the immune system works by itself.
Signs of Arthritis
This joint pathology is manifested by major signs and additions. The main thing:
- Joint pain. Strong, worse at night;
- Redness of the dermis on the affected joint, swelling.
Additional signs of inflammatory disease are also noted:
- Night pains that manifest with complete rest;
- pain relief during movement;
- Morning strength. It passes after one hour;
- redness, swelling of the knees;
- Severe pain attacks in the knee area. They last for several days;
- presence of dense nodules under the skin;
- subfebrile temperature;
- alternate swelling of the joints;
- blisters on the dermatitis, redness. They indicate the development of a reactive form of pathology;
- Decreased appetite;
- Weight loss.
Signs of osteoarthritis
Joint damage with major and minor signs is considered. The main ones are:
- crisis of funds;
- localization in the knee area;
- Restrict connection mobility;
- Pain is more common in movement. At rest, it rarely occurs;
- Joint deformation. Changing its appearance, may change the direction of the limbs;
- Deterioration of blood supply, nourishment of joint tissues.
Specific manifestations are:
- onset of pain at night;
- Reduce pain in the rest of the condition;
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not relieve pain;
- painful crisis;
- Restriction of funds mobility; Excessive growth of osteophytes.
Differences in major joint injuries
The main difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis is that arthrosis is a pathology of the joints that destroys and deforms it. Arthritis also affects the work of internal organs. The kidneys, heart and liver suffer from this disease. When choosing a treatment, doctors pay special attention to the internal organs.
To make it easier to distinguish diseases, we bring them down.
| signs of pathology | osteoarthritis | Arthritis/ zxtr>| Pain Syndrome |
usually appears after the movement. The pain is felt even after a heavy load. People do not pay enough attention, thinking that the pain is caused by excessive workload. The disease develops and causes painful sensations during light loading on the joint. Elbows are also problematic on weekends when the joint is not working. In a comfortable position, the pain does not bother and slows down. |
With this pathology, the pain is constantly felt (with strong physical exertion, at work, at rest). The disease is characterized by nocturnal pains that are often excruciating from 3 to 5 p. m. |
Crisis |
is peculiar to the defeat of this union. Its emergence is provoked by the destruction of the cartilage layer, the friction of the bones. At the same time, a specific sound is heard (dry, rough). It increases with disease progression. |
| Decreased joint mobility |
The affected joint reduces the range of motion. |
joints, the whole body is bound. |
Joint deformation |
it gradually appears on the joints. If the disease exacerbates the type of back pain. There is usually no swelling. |
is also Warp. The affected joint area becomes red, swollen. Severe pain is felt after pressing. Possible nodes. The temperature at the site of inflammation increases. |
Blood test results |
Osteoarthritis does not affect blood test scores. Inflammatory markers remain unchanged.
This disease is characterized by an increase in ESR. An increase in leukocyte levels indicates a course of inflammation in the joint. Biochemical analysis data show an increase in inflammatory markers. |
Localization |
Most often fixed in the knee joints. Less often, the disease involves the joints of the fingers, ankles. |
| |
Is there a difference between osteoarthritis of the knee joint and gonarthrosis? Gonarthrosis is an arthrosis that develops in the area of the knee joints. This pathology can be confused with a number of diseases:
- Meniscopathy.It is represented by meniscus injury. This pathology, knee joint blockade can be observed in patients of different ages, of both sexes. Basically, one connection can be damaged. The difference from gonarthrosis is rapid development. It is manifested by joint criticism, severe pain after jogging, jumping, walking. After 10 - 15 minutes. Acute pain passes.
- Coxarthrosis(osteoarthritis of the hip joint). This diagnosis can be made because of the reflection of pain from the hip joint to the knee area. It is quite easy to differentiate such a state. With coxarthrosis, the movement of the knee joint does not change. It bends easily, without pain. Doctors notice a decrease in the ability of the foot to "twist" from the "thigh". It is also difficult to spread the legs on the sides.
- Vascular painis manifested in the knee. Pain may indicate poor circulation in the knee joint. Such sensations are observed in adolescence. Active growth is observed at this time. Vessels do not have time to develop as fast as bones. The pain is symmetrical in the pathology, it is equally felt in both limbs.
- Periarthritis. Inflammatory pain in the knee tendons is felt after carrying heavy bags, after climbing stairs. Most often, the pathology is observed in women over 40 years. The pain does not extend to the entire knee. It is felt only on the inner surface of the knees. Knee mobility is unlimited.
Differential diagnosis
With diseases of the joints described, the physician instructs the patient to make a differential diagnosis. It is important to distinguish between arthritis and osteoarthritis. There are also subtypes of arthritis. Osteoarthritis goes through several stages.To distinguish these two pathologies from each other and a number of other knee injuries, designate:
X-ray of- compounds;
- Blood biochemistry;
- rheumatic tests;
- CT;
- X-ray of the spine;
- MRI;
- Bone scan.
Treatment of joint damage
It is important to know what pathology you were diagnosed with (arthrosis or arthritis of the knee joint) and do not be confused. Different approaches are used to treat these diseases.
Medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis
Doctors use medications (painkillers, hormonal medications) to treat osteoarthritis. They also use physiotherapy procedures, healing exercises, massage. If the pathology is particularly severe, glucosamine sulfate-containing medications are used. In some cases surgery is needed.
Arthritis treatment course
Depending on the form of the pathology, doctors choose a course of treatment for arthritis. Patients should avoid strenuous physical activity. Loads, excessive alcohol intake, unhealthy diet. Therapy is carried out using medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics). Physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy are prescribed to increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Prevention of joint pathologies
To prevent the development of pathologies such as osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joint, it is worth listening to the recommendations of specialists. As a precautionary measure, you must meet the following requirements:- proper nutrition;
- Moderate physical activity.
Each of these actions will be required after treatment. Let us consider the characteristics of each of them.
Physical activity
They should be moderate. Such exercises help to lose weight, strengthen the corset of muscle fibers and increase blood circulation. Each item is very important in the prevention of joint diseases.
Heavy load on connections
Patients need to be careful. If the joints cause an increased load, they are accidentally damaged, you can get the opposite effect. Instead of improving the situation, new problems will appear. Improper performance of the exercise therapy complex is also dangerous. All classes should be conducted under the supervision of an instructor, the attending physician.
in joint gymnastics
As a preventative measure, it is enough to perform joint exercises. This is quite common. This is easy to do. In addition, no special equipment is required. Particular attention should be paid to pool exercises. The load on the joints is minimal when performing any activity in the water.
Proper nutrition
Doctors advise you to review your diet, give preference to food choices. For prevention, doctors advise to exclude many products from the daily menu. Including:
- red meat;
- alcohol;
- Foods high in fat.
You should include in your diet:
- Seafood;
- fruit;
- fish;
- gelatin (it can be used as jelly meat, jelly dessert);
- vegetables
Drink 2-3 liters of water a day. Alcohol is excluded. You need to start taking vitamins: calcium, D, B, A.
Other preventive measures are:
- weight control;
- protection of joints from hypothermia;
- Mandatory maintenance of a healthy lifestyle;
- proper sleep, rest;
- Wearing comfortable shoes. It is possible to use the shoe with orthopedic insoles, comfortable heel;
- Eliminate harmful habits such as crossing your legs while sitting;
- Eliminate stress.