What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis, what is the difference between pathologies

Arthritis and arthrosis are called the most dangerous enemies of the joints that impede their work.However, despite the similarity of the name and one place of deployment, these diseases differ significantly from each other.Various joint pathologies are quite common in the calculations of doctors, every third person over 35 years old is faced with one of them.With age, the number of patients increases.In this article, we will figure out how arthrosis is different.

Causes and distinctive features

Already based on the names of pathologies, the difference between arthritis and arthrosis is immediately noticeable.In medicine, the suffix "-it" indicates that this disease is associated with the inflammatory process.The suffix "-OZ" is used to refer to diseases, as a result of which the destruction of tissues or organs occurs.Based on this, we can say what arthrosis is and what arthritis is and distinguish them from each other.

Arthrosis is called degenerative-dystrophic pathology of the joints, as a result of which they are destroyed.

If we talk about arthritis, then it is more often diagnosed in women aged 17 to 50 years.As a result of its development, the pathological process occurs in the area of the synovial bag.Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint, which also has a negative impact on the condition of the liver, kidneys, light and cardiovascular system.

Women over 30 years old are more susceptible to arthrosis.After 50 years, the risk of its occurrence increases significantly.Both diseases that affect joints can lead to disability, if you do not start treating them at the initial stage of development.At the same time, there is a difference - arthritis requires exclusively drug methods of therapy, while the treatment of arthrosis is necessary to combine drug and surgical methods.

If the treatment of arthritis does not have a long period of time, then the disease can go into arthrosis, when destructive changes begin to occur in the synovial bag of cartilage and tissues that surround it.In this case, arthroso-arthritis is diagnosed.

General causes of pathologies

There are general causes that can cause both of these diseases.These include:

• Genetic predisposition.
• Pathologies of bones and connective tissue of a congenital nature.
• Overweight.
• Injuries.
• Violation in nutrition.
• Automobile hypothermia.
• Lack or, conversely, excessive physical activity.
• Violation of metabolic processes in the body.
• Infections in the body.

Considering what is the difference in arthrosis with arthritis, it is necessary to highlight the reasons that are characteristic of each specific disease.

The reasons characteristic of arthritis

Such reasons include:

1. Weakened immunity and irrational nutrition with insufficient vitamins and minerals in the diet.This leads to the fact that a person becomes subject to various infectious diseases.Thus, the infection can fall into the articular region, which will lead to inflammation in it.
2. Injuries of ligaments or joints (stretching, bruise, etc.).
3. Affection of the joint area.

If several factors are combined at once (for example, excess body weight, the presence of bad habits and suffered acute respiratory infections), then the risk of getting inflammation of the joint increases significantly.

The reasons characteristic of arthrosis

Arthrosis differs in that its development in most cases is associated with heredity, acquired injuries and a violation of metabolic processes in the body.Unbearable arthritis can also lead to its development, since as a result of inflammation metabolic processes in the joint, which leads to its destruction.

Symptoms

Arthritis and arthrosis have a number of common features, among which: pain in the joint, swelling of the tissues surrounding it, change of contours and limitation of mobility.But, there are manifestations that distinguish these two diseases.

Arthritis is diagnosed on the basis of such symptoms:

1. Acute or aching pain, which in no way depends on the movement and can bother even at rest.
2. The stiffness of the joint in the morning or after a long holiday.
3. Hyperemia.
4. Increase in body temperature due to inflammation in the joint.
5. Swelling of the articular region.
6. Limiting mobility due to constant pain.

Arthrosis is more characteristic of the following manifestations:

• Dumb pain that occurs during movement.
• When moving in the joint, you can hear a characteristic click.
• The joint is deformed.
• Due to growths on bones, joint movements become limited.

Considering how arthrosis differs from arthrosis, this difference can be distinguished: with arthritis, the patient is tormented by the general weakness of the body, frequent headaches, chronic fatigue, and weight loss is possible, which is not during arthrosis.Arthrosis always affects a specific joint (right or left) and does not develop in parallel in another limb.Basically, the disease affects large joints (hip or knee).In this case, the difference between pathologies is that even the smallest joints of the body are subject to arthritis.

Detailization of symptoms

Considering the symptoms that are characterized by arthritis and arthrosis, one can distinguish some features that help identify the pathology and make an accurate diagnosis.

Pain syndrome

Both pathologies cause pain.The only difference is that for arthritis, the pain becomes a constant companion due to inflammation in the joint.It can occur not only during movement, but also to appear at night.

In the case of arthrosis, pain is caused by degenerative processes in cartilage.As a result of this, a bone apparatus begins to suffer, which has lost its depreciation properties.In this case, painful sensations are of real and are associated with the movement or load of the joint.

At the initial stage of the development of the disease, the pain is small, but over time it progresses and intensifies.

Clicks and crunch

The characteristic sounds (clicks or crunch) in the affected joint help to determine arthrosis.They occur when the cartilage and friction of bones arise.

Deformation

Arthritis and arthrosis lead to deformation of the affected joint.But in the first case, they are more noticeable.The difference is that with arthritis it can be noted:

• Redness of the skin around the sore joint.
• Swelling.
• An increase in temperature in the affected area.
• The appearance of nodules.

In addition, arthritis is accompanied by the general weakness of the body, increased sweating and psoriasis.

In the case of arthrosis, the joint practically does not differ visually from a healthy one.However, degenerative processes already occur inside it, in which the exhaustion of cartilage tissue begins.

Mobility

Both diseases lead to certain restrictions in the mobility of the joint.But at the same time there are some differences.Arthrose pathology leads to a decrease in motor activity gradually.The difference in arthritis is that inflammation and pain immediately fetter the joint, interfering with its work.

Inflammation

With arthritic joint damage, its swelling is clearly noticeable, the cause of which becomes inflammation in the joint capsule.As a result of a blood test, an increased amount of leukocytes turns out to be.

In the case of arthrosis, there is no inflammation, so the level of leukocytes will be normal.Degenerative changes often occur imperceptibly for the patient himself.

Risk zone

A person at any age may encounter arthritis.The disease is diagnosed even in young children after infectious diseases.Arthrosis is diagnosed mainly in the elderly, since changes in the tissues of cartilage are long and are associated with metabolic disorders and other age -related factors.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of these pathologies is always aimed at finding out at what stage of development the disease is and what led to their development.The list of diagnostic measures includes laboratory, bacteriological, microscopic and instrumental studies, x -rays.

The difference in the results of the examination makes it possible to make a specific diagnosis and draw up a plan for further treatment:

1. Clinical blood test shows the amount of leukocytes, which indicates the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
2. X -ray examination allows you to visually see changes in the articular tissues.

3. MRI makes it possible to detect inflammation in the joint bag.This method is used infrequently.
4. Arthroscopy is prescribed in difficult cases to determine further therapy.

Treatment

The difference between arthrosis and arthritis also applies to the methods of treating pathologies.Therapy of diseases should be complex and includes:

• Using drugs.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.
• Diet.
• The course of exercise therapy and therapeutic gymnastics.
• Preventive measures.

Drug therapy

Effective traditional therapy will be if you begin to treat arthrosis or arthritis at the initial stage of their development, when you can limit yourself to taking medications.Treatment of arthrosis consists in prescribing to the patient:

1. Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs.They make it possible to save the patient from inflammation and reduce pain.Such drugs are prescribed in the form of ointments, tablets or injections.
2. Corticosteroids are used in the case of acute development of the disease.
3.  Chondroprotectors for joints are necessary to restore cartilage tissue and synovial fluid.Take such drugs for a long time (at least 5-6 months in a row).
4. Hyaluronic acid medical products that have a positive effect on the cell membranes, contributing to the restoration of damaged cartilage.
5. Significant drugs with analgesics effect.

Choosing a cure for arthritis, the doctor will recommend the following drugs:

1. Nonsteroidal anti -inflammatory drugs necessary for symptomatic therapy.
2. Glucocorticoid agents are prescribed in case of 3-4 stages of acute arthritis.
3. Modified drugs are necessary to eliminate the focus of inflammation and prevent its further development.
4. Immunosuppressants help to accelerate the recovery process and are introduced directly into the joint capsule.
5. Drugs for stopping pain.
6. Antispasmodics.
7. Desensitizans.
8. Vitamin-mineral complexes.

Diet

In order to prevent complications that are often accompanied by arthritis and arthrosis, a certain diet must be observed.There are no differences in what disease is to be treated.During this period, it is necessary to exclude from your diet:

• Salt.
• Fatty varieties of meat and fish.
• Sausage products.
• Smoked meats.
• Confectionery.
• Alcohol.
• Legumes.
• Strong coffee and tea.

The difference in nutrition is only that with arthritis it is worth abandoning saturated meat broths.While for patients with arthrosis, on the contrary, they will be very useful, since they positively affect the condition of bone and cartilage.

The diet of patients with a diagnosis of arthroso-arthritis should be based on:

• Low -fat varieties of meat and fish that need to be cooked or baked without spices.
• Fresh vegetables and fruits.
• A sufficient amount of clean water without gas.

Physiotherapy

The selected methods for treating these diseases can vary in that for arthritis, the primary process is the removal of the inflammatory process, while with arthrosis it is necessary to exclude all the factors that led to the destruction of articular tissues.The methods of physiotherapy give a good result:

• Laser treatment.
• Ozonotherapy.

• Magnetotherapy.
• Phonophoresis using glucocorticoid.
• Paraffin applications and baths.

Operation

The best option for the treatment of arthrosis, especially in an advanced stage, is surgical intervention.The operation makes it possible to eliminate the existing destructive components and artificially increase damaged cartilage tissue.If the changes in the joint are significant and this prevents a person from moving, then endoprosthetics is carried out.Depending on the cause and degree of defeat, one of these operations is prescribed:

1. Arthroscopy - removal of osteophytes and other pathological formations.
2. Arthrodesis is an artificial creation of a joint surface.Today, such an intervention is extremely rare.
3. Artroplasty - the restoration of the destroyed joint by creating new structures.
4. Endoprosthetics - replacing the damaged by the disease of the knee joint with a new, made of inert materials.

Exercise therapy

A special complex of gymnastic exercises, which is used for arthritis or arthrosis, does not differ significantly.At the same time, gymnastics should be aimed at warming up and slight kneading the affected area, without a significant load on it.Before starting to perform exercises, you need to warm up well.

The choice of exercise depends on which area the disease is developing.It can be patting or pinching the joint, its rotation, bending or abduction to the side.

The treatment of arthrosis is always long and phased.At the initial stage, the use of medicines for arthrosis, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage and gymnastics is shown.If all this did not have the proper effect, the operation is performed.

The treatment of arthritis is also complex.The difference is that its duration depends on the form of pathology.A good effect is given by the use of drugs and physiotherapy, which stop pain and relieve inflammation.Massage in this case is not used.It is extremely rare to prescribe physiotherapy exercises.With the ineffectiveness of drug therapy, prosthetics are carried out.

The treatment of any disease should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor who understands well what is the difference in arthrosis and arthritis.Self -medication can only aggravate the situation and lead to the development of complications.

Prevention

In order to keep the joints healthy without allowing arthritis or arthrosis, it is important throughout life to adhere to certain preventive rules:

1. Regularly play sports, avoiding such types that are associated with weight lifting and the possibility of injury.A good result is given by cardio loading and swimming.
2. Avoid hypothermia.
3. Ensure proper nutrition with a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements in food.

4. Follow the weight and prevent its increase in excess of the norm.
5. Avoid injuries.
6. Wear high -quality and comfortable shoes.

Additionally, for the prevention of arthritis, you need to treat any infectious diseases in time.

Arthrosis and arthritis are very similar to each other and are not amenable to complete cure.But paying attention to them in time and starting competent treatment, the patient has a chance for a full life without disability.