These two words are quite similar in auditory comprehension, so many people who pronounce the words "arthritis" and "osteoarthritis" do not even suspect that they are completely different diseases, although they are associated withjoint problems. In fact, these two diseases are very serious and it is worth knowing what the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is, if only to not put yourself in an awkward position in a conversation, because the subjecthealth is one of the “eternal” topics when one person communicates with another.
What is arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that affects most middle-aged people (under 40), although there may be exceptions. According to statistics, few people have arthritis, no more than 2% of the total population. However, in essence, arthritis is a severe inflammatory process in which joint problems are only the visible part of generalized inflammation.
In arthritis, the main cause of the disease is hidden much deeper than the swelling of the joints, as well as the pains that do not leave the patient even during the period of nightly rest (sometimes these pains are only s'intensify). The cause of this inflammation may be an infection or a dysfunction of the immune system. Joints are not the only organs affected by inflammation. Often a powerful blow falls on a person's internal organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys. If the problem of arthritis is ignored, it is very dangerous not only to human health, but even to his life.
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, on the whole, is an age-related change that a person experiences, most often closer to the middle of the second half of their life. Very often the mechanism of development of osteoarthritis is provoked by severe injuries in the form of fractures and joint damage in people over 45 years of age.
Medical statistics indicate that one in three people over the age of 50 and one in two over the age of 70 suffers from osteoarthritis. In general, about 10% of the inhabitants of our planet suffer from osteoarthritis. Most often, osteoarthritis affects the knees and hip joints in older people. In addition, 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, it can be:
- Injuries of various origins, to a greater extent, recurrent recurrent injuries associated with professional activities can cause illness;
- Infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infection, SARS, influenza;
- Lack of vitamins and the resulting imbalance in metabolism;
- Body overload;
- Nervous system disorders;
- Dysfunctions of your own immune system;
- Have an inherited genetic tendency to arthritis.
Arthritis is a frequent companion of people in such professions as seamstress, hairdresser, masseuse, loader, construction worker.
As for osteoarthritis, the factors in the development of the disease are:
- Excess weight which affects the functioning of the joints;
- Poor nutrition;
- Prolonged hypothermia;
- Has suffered (possibly a long time ago) various types of injuries;
- Intoxication of the body;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Past infectious diseases;
- Manifestations of autoimmune disturbances;
- Perthes disease, manifested by impaired blood supply to the femoral head;
- Disorders of the thyroid gland;
Hereditary tendency to develop osteoarthritis, transmitted at the genetic level.
Bothersome symptoms of arthritis
With arthritis there is severe joint pain, especially when walking or doing other physical activity. The joint itself swells noticeably and the skin around the joint becomes hot to the touch. In addition, the skin may turn red. The patient develops a feeling of weakness, it is very difficult for him 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 severely crack. 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 suddenly. In chronic arthritis, symptoms increase slowly and gradually.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
With osteoarthritis, doctors distinguish four main symptoms of the disease:
- Joint pain.The pain is intense and sharp. It begins when movement begins and subsides with the transition to a state of rest. At night the person feels almost 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;
- Crunching joints.Due to the reduced freedom and smoothness of bone rotation, a loud crunch is heard in the joint. Experts distinguish arthritis crunch by a sort of "dry" sound. The more the disease develops, the stronger the tightening of the joints. A feature of the tightening in osteoarthritis is that the tightening 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 limitation of mobility, and then to complete immobilization of the joint;
- Deformation of the joints.As a rule, this symptom is characteristic of the late stages of the development of osteoarthritis, when osteophytes develop.
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis according to the clinical picture
It is quite clear that arthritis and osteoarthritis have a different genesis as diseases. If arthritis is the result of a dysfunction of the immune system or an infectious disease, osteoarthritis refers more to diseases resulting from the aging processes of the body. Accordingly, on this basis, the clinical picture of manifestations of arthritis and osteoarthritis will also be different.
Arthritis of the fingers
So, with arthritis of the fingers, the patient has severe pain which does not go away with rest and rest. In addition, the skin around the affected joints turns red.
Arthritis can affect a number of joints that are different from one (monoarthritis) to several (polyarthritis). The joints are swollen. The reaction to pressure on the joint can be sharp pain.
As for the crunch in the joint, it may or may not be present.
Osteoarthritis of the fingers
It occurs most often in older people, and in women osteoarthritis occurs 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 in the patient. However, at rest, 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" crunches of the joints.
The same picture is seen in cases of arthritis and osteoarthritis of the toe joints.
Treatment with chondreoprotectors
In arthritis and osteoarthritis, the cartilage is destroyed due to contact with the rough, rough surface of the 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 its normal functioning.
Chondroprotector prevents these pathological processes. The active substance of chondoprotectors is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The dosage forms of the release of these substances are different and can be used by doctors depending on the situation.
Today, chondroprotectors are produced in the form:
- Solutions for injection;
- tablets;
- Creams, ointments and gels.
Chondroprotective treatment should begin before the cartilage has completely collapsed. Unfortunately, such treatment is absolutely unnecessary when the cartilage is destroyed. The next thing to remember when treating with chondroprotectors is the duration of treatment. The fact is that the process of restoring cartilage is quite long, and the minimum duration of treatment should be six months, but practice shows that treatment with chondroprotectors takes an average of one and a half to two years. If the restoration is not completed in its entirety, destruction of the cartilage resumes. As a rule, chondroprotectors have no side effects on the patient's body, the maximum observed in practice is mild intestinal disturbances. The only complication can occur in the treatment of chondroprotectors in people with diabetes mellitus. During their treatment, the insulin dose should be correctly calculated, since chondreoprotectors contain glucose. And it is also not recommended to use the chondreoprotector during pregnancy, as well as for the treatment of children.
Today in the arsenal of physicians dealing with arthritis and osteoarthritis problems there are a number of effective drugs for treatment.
Begin treatment with chondroprotectors under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise treatment may be ineffective.
Treatment with folk remedies
For arthritis, traditional medicine recommends several effective recipes:
- Apple cider vinegar.This substance is added to water (1 teaspoon for a glass of water). The resulting solution is drunk before meals;
- Compression of potatoes.Take green tubers for the compress.
Wash, cut into pieces without peeling. Potatoes are heated in water to a temperature of 38 degrees. Then a compress is applied to the sore spot. The potato layer should be 1. 5-2 centimeters. You have to bet at night. The duration of treatment in this way is seven to ten days.
Ointments for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis
In the initial 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 drug based on the results of the examination.