Arthritis and arthrosis are complex diseases that affect the joints.Due to similar symptoms, many people think that these diseases are identical, but this is not so.Arthritis and arthrosis differ in the causes of the disease, the nature of its development, the area of damage and require completely different treatment.
Suppose two people went to the doctor complaining of joint pain.One was diagnosed with arthritis, the other with arthrosis.While both patients sat in line, they had time to briefly discuss their health concerns.
It turned out that their symptoms are very similar: the joints hurt, they don't bend/bend with all their strength, they don't rest either at night or during the day.Even the diagnosis is similar, but still different.What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis if both diseases affect the joints?
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints.It is always preceded by bone or cartilage tissue damage by some factor.
Biologically active substances are released from the destroyed cells, which causes an inflammatory reaction.In the damaged area, the blood vessels expand and fill with blood: because of this, immune cells enter the joint tissue to fight the damaging factor.
At the same time, the liquid part of the blood leaves the vascular bed and swelling occurs, limiting the area of inflammation.This is how the body protects itself from major damage from bacteria, foreign bodies, and chemicals.
After the complete or partial removal of the pathogenic agent, the healing mechanism begins.If the damage was minor, then the normal function of the tissue is restored.Deep defects heal through a scar, an area of rough connective tissue that does not perform the organ's normal function.
Arthritis goes through all of these stages:
- change – damage;
- exudation - formation of swelling;
- Reproduction - healing.
reasons
There are many causes of the disease, we will list the main ones:
- Streptococcal infection (tonsillitis, scarlet fever) often causes complications - rheumatism;
- Aggressive autoantibodies - proteins that the body produces to fight against its own tissues;This situation develops during an error in the immune defense, due to which it perceives the joints as a foreign element for the body - rheumatoid arthritis;
- Disruption of purine exchange leads to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints - gout;
- Allergic reactions can involve joint tissue with the development of an inflammatory reaction - allergic arthritis;
- Long-term use of certain drugs causes inflammation (isoniazid, D-penicillins, hydralazine, proboinam) - drug-induced arthritis;
- Bacteria enter through the bloodstream or during surgery - infectious arthritis;
- A viral or bacterial infection of any site can indirectly affect the joint tissue - this is reactive arthritis;
- Acute injury - recent injury (blow, bruise, capsule rupture).
symptoms
The disease is characterized by an acute initial stage, that is, against the background of complete health, a person develops acute pain in the joint.Autoimmune forms are characterized by symmetrical lesions of fine joints - interphalangeal joints of fingers, wrists and elbows.
In the vast majority of cases, gout begins with inflammation of the big toe and toe joint.In bacterial and reactive arthritis, large joints are usually affected on one side: knee, hip, sacrum (at the junction of the spine with the pelvic bones).
Rheumatism develops against the background of fever and general weakness, which is usually preceded by a sore throat.Severe inflammation of bone, cartilage tissue and synovium can occur with fever, general intoxication: headache, weakness, lack of appetite.
The skin of the joint becomes red and hotter to the touch than other areas.Outwardly, it looks swollen and increases in volume.If the damage occurs only on one side, then the difference between the healthy limb and the diseased one can be seen.
Limited movement is associated with swelling and pain.If the joint cavity is slightly inflamed, then it is almost fully functional.With a pronounced pathological reaction, the entire synovial cavity can be filled with fluid - in this case, mobility is severely limited.
treatment
Treatment is carried out by a general practitioner, rheumatologist or traumatologist - if the cause is a mechanical injury.Therapy aims to eliminate the provoking factor and stop inflammation.
Antibiotics are needed for bacterial and reactive arthritis, cytostatics or glucocorticoids for autoimmune arthritis, glucocorticoids and antihistamines for allergic arthritis.
During arthroscopy, inflammatory fluid is removed with a syringe or special suction.The joint is immobilized during the entire period of acute inflammation.After that, the patient is shown therapeutic exercises to restore the movement of the joints.
Doctor's advice
Based on personal practice and work experience of colleagues, compresses with gelatin worked well for joint inflammation of any etiology.Their implementation is simple and cheap.The gauze should be folded in several layers, the length and width should be such that it is enough for the painful joint.Put the folded gauze in hot water, wring it out and straighten it.Spread a thin layer of gelatin on top, roll it so that it doesn't spill from the inside, like in a bag.Place in the joint, wrap the top with a plastic bag and secure with a bandage and/or adhesive plaster.You can wear the compress for up to 3 hours, do it 2 times a day for 2 weeks.As a rule, the effect is felt on the 4-5th day of use, but to achieve the desired result, the therapy must be continued;If the course is stopped, the pain will return.
What is arthrosis?
Arthrosis (otherwise known as osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease.It is based on deterioration of articular cartilage nutrition, slow recovery and gradual thinning.
Simply put, cartilage breaks down faster than it regenerates.Bony articular surfaces are exposed.They are not as smooth as cartilage and rub against each other as they move.Bone plates are partially destroyed and mild chronic inflammation develops.
As the disease progresses, bony spines grow in the joint - a protective response of the tissue to permanent damage.They prevent the sliding of the surfaces relative to each other and the mobility of the joint is disturbed.
Arthrosis begins to progress in the majority of people after 30-40 years, continues for years, its symptoms are mild or moderate.
Osteoarthritis of the spinal joints is usually called osteochondrosis.
reasons
There are predisposing factors that cause the development of pathology at an early age and complicate its course:
- heavy physical load in athletes;
- obesity;
- history of joint damage;
- vascular diseases;
- lifeless lifestyle;
- violation of the normal configuration of the joint, for example, with flat feet;
- long exposure to vibration;
- In women - hormonal imbalance or menopause.
symptoms
Large joints are usually affected on one side: knee, hip, sacrum.The disease begins imperceptibly.Initially, the pain is infrequent and associated with significant physical activity.
Discomfort disappears on the same day or after a few days if the person manages to rest.As the disease progresses, the intensity of pain increases and occurs even with normal daily activities.
The mobility of the joint gradually decreases and as a result of the disease it is completely lost.Movements in the affected limb cause severe pain.Osteoarthritis can worsen depending on the type of arthritis - fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, the skin over it becomes red and hot.After the inflammatory reaction subsides, the course of the disease returns to its previous course.
treatment
Arthrosis is treated by a traumatologist, orthopedist and sometimes a surgeon.The therapy is aimed at restoring metabolic processes in the cartilage, improving the nutrition of the joints and eliminating the inflammatory reaction.Treatment is continuous, can be continuous or drug courses.
In the interictal period, chondroprotectors are prescribed in the form of tablets and ointments, therapeutic exercises and massage.In case of exacerbation, chondroprotectors are administered intravenously or intramuscularly along with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.A traumatologist can inject protective agents directly into the joint every few months.
Advanced stages of the disease require surgical intervention, during which the diseased joint is replaced by an artificial one.
Differences between diseases
| Sign it | Arthritis | arthrosis |
| cause of illness | inflammation | Cartilage tissue degeneration |
| Current | With acute, chronic exacerbation | chronic |
| pain | Intense from the beginning, more pronounced in the morning | It is weak at the beginning of the disease, but gradually increases.It increases in the evening and after exercise |
| movements | It is necessary to "disintegrate" - in the morning after sleep, the joints are the least mobile | Mobility gradually decreases, there is no morning stiffness |
| affected joints | Small joints of hands and feet are affected symmetrically.Big ones suffer from bacterial infection | One or more large joints on different sides of the body |
| blood test | Marked inflammatory changes in general blood analysis, rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, antibodies against pathogens | There are no characteristic changes |
| X-ray | Gradual changes, osteoporosis - loss of bone tissue, cysts in bones | Gradual changes, deformation of the joint space, the appearance of bone ridges and protrusions. |
| basic treatment | Anti-inflammatory drugs | Chondroprotectors |
A similar feature of both diseases is a progressive course with gradual loss of mobility.Autoimmune arthritis often appears at a young age, when a person is still careless about his health.
It should be remembered that any pain in the joints that lasts for a long time appears under certain conditions - this is a serious reason for consulting a doctor.It is important to diagnose the disease in time and start its treatment in order to slow down the development of the pathological process.