Joints have two main "enemies" that oppose full-fledged work. These are arthritis and osteoarthritis, despite the similar names, the essence of the ongoing pathological processes are different. The area affected by these diseases is cartilage.
Cartilage plays an important role in joint health. It has no blood vessels or nerve endings, so it can be strong and resistant to heavy loads. This softens the effect on the tissues where the nerve fibers or blood capillaries are.
It reduces friction damage to zero by allowing the cartilage and bone heads to rotate smoothly and painlessly in the joints as the body moves. When jumping, the cartilage tissue absorbs the inertial load and acts as a shock absorber.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis "closes" the work of the joints and prevents full movement. Some of the symptoms of these diseases are similar, others are radically different.
Physiological processes in arthritis
When a person begins to feel pain in a certain joint, it may indicate the appearance of a disease such as arthritis. This disease means inflammation of the cartilage.
The disease can affect all components of the joint:
- synovial membrane located along the edges;
- synovial fluid that nourishes tissues and acts as a lubricant;
- articular capsule.
Patients with arthritis complain of acute pain, such as in the knees, limitation of mobility of the extremities. Fever and fever are characteristic of the inflamed area. The pain can be "steamy", affecting a similar joint in the other extremity.
A constant symptom of the disease is external tissue edema.
Despite the decrease in the functionality of the joint, its internal structure does not change. It is only an inflammation of the cartilage caused by metabolic disorders, infection or trauma, and with proper treatment can be eliminated without further damage to the joint.
Physiological processes in osteoarthritis
This disease is more often associated with internal changes in the joint. Because there are no blood vessels in the cartilage, it is nourished and rebuilt with synovial fluid, which is a useful chemical.
With age, metabolic processes slow down and less nourished cartilage tissue begins to deplete faster than it heals. This causes it to thin.
Decaying thin cartilage can no longer cushion well under stress, so patients with osteoarthritis experience pain when walking or working with the affected joint.
Inflammatory processes are not observed. The disease is only age-related and is related to individual lifestyle characteristics (proper nutrition and intake of additional supportive substances can serve as a good prophylaxis and delay the onset of the disease for a long time).
Degradation of cartilage tissue causes excruciating pain in nature. No swelling or redness.
Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects a particular joint. There is no parallel development in the same place in the adjacent extremity. The disease often chooses a large "junction" in anatomy. It can be the hip or knee joint.
Similar and different features - briefly about the main thing
Arthritis and osteoarthritis have similarities in the manifestation of some symptoms. They are:
- stiffness after waking up, a feeling of numbness in the joint;
- complete loss of motor function in the extremity;
- pain syndrome that makes primary movements unpleasant.
Regardless of the general symptoms and the nature, number, and location of the sensations, they can tell which disease they belong to. Differences in the manifestations of the disease will help to determine the diagnosis more accurately.
So what is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis:
- First, there is a clear increase in body temperature against the background of inflammation. In the second disease, it is not associated with the gradual and imperceptible development of degenerative processes.
- Arthritis has a clear tissue edema. In the case of osteoarthritis, this symptom does not exist.
- Inflammation of cartilage tissue can lead to the formation of subcutaneous nodules. The second disease does not cause this anomaly.
- Arthritis does not cause anatomical deformities. Osteoarthritis, in fact, weakens the joint (in the extreme stage).
- There is redness of the skin around the joint affected by arthritis. Osteoarthritis is not distinguished by changes in skin pigmentation.
Explain the differences and similarities in detail
By taking a closer look at the symptoms, you can highlight the nuances that help you pinpoint the "enemy" that is hitting the joint. The following are the main symptoms of diseases with similar and individual manifestations.
Pain syndrome
Painful feelings are characteristic of both diseases. However, because arthritis is associated with joint inflammation, pain is an integral part of the course of the disease. He has a sharp character. Sometimes patients may feel it at night or in the morning. Painful feelings cause suffering, regardless of the type of person's actions.
Pain in osteoarthritis is associated with cartilage damage and inability to fully perform its purpose. The bone apparatus is damaged due to insufficient cushioning and friction reduction.
Severe aches and pains appear more often after a long walk or other load on the affected joint. In the initial stage, the pain may be mild, but the picture changes as the disease progresses.
Deformation
Both diseases affect the structure of the joint apparatus. Physiological changes in arthritis are more visual. O:
- swelling;
- formation of knots;
- redness of the skin;
- temperature.
Arthritis may be accompanied by: psoriasis, sweating and weakness. Only some diseases (traumatic and osteoarthritis) can change the structural structure of the anatomical node.
With the manifestations of arthritis, the joint appears as usual, but irreversible processes occur inside. The cartilage layer becomes thinner, which increases the load on the bone tissue.
Inflammatory process
Manifestations of arthritis are characterized by swelling in the affected joint area.
This is due to the inflammation of the synovial film itself inside the joint capsule. A blood test shows an increase in leukocytes in such patients.
Inflammation can cause injury or infection.
Leukocyte mass is normal because there is no inflammatory process in osteoarthritis. Degenerative changes occur smoothly and are often not noticed by the patient.
Wrinkle and click
A crackling sound in the joint is a sure sign of osteoarthritis. This is due to the deterioration of cartilage and the painful interaction of bone tissue. In healthy people, sometimes all the joints are broken. The difference between the affected area is that the sound is "dry" and "rough".
Arthritis does not crack because the swollen joint is limited in movement, and cartilage still protects bone tissue from painful interactions.
Joint mobility
Limitation of joint work combines the symptoms of these diseases. However, there is a significant difference in the nature of the violation.
In arthritis pathology, the range of motion is reduced, but this occurs gradually as the cartilage wears out. Arthritis is characterized by a wide range of stiffness that paralyzes the joint. This is due to swelling and inflammation.
Common and various developmental causes
These diseases can develop as a result of injuries received during jumping or running. Joint disease can cause a strong and long-lasting load. This is the "professional" legacy of many athletes. Delayed hypothermia is another factor that contributes to the development of both diseases.
The difference between the diseases is that arthritis can be caused by an infection that is not characteristic of osteoarthritis. This is a common inflammation that will be only a consequence of the manifestation of arthritis, the main source for treatment must be found and eliminated. Another cause of arthritis can be overweight, which is an overload of the joints on a daily basis.
Osteoarthritis is a separate disease that is not related to general health conditions. It can develop due to poor nutrition and lack of nutrients in the cartilage tissue. This can be facilitated by hormonal disorders and circulatory diseases that disrupt the supply of other tissues. More often the disease "accompanies" the elderly.
Risk zone
A person of any age can develop arthritis. The infection can affect the joints of even small children. Often, at the age of 35-55, the beautiful half of humanity suffers from it.
Osteoarthritis is just an "old" disease. Structural changes in cartilage tissue occur after 60 years. This is due to the deterioration of metabolic processes and other aging factors. People with arthritis are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
Excess weight, improper diet and strenuous exercise increase the likelihood of developing both diseases.
Treatment approach
When these diseases are diagnosed, a partially similar treatment is prescribed:
- establishing a economical regime that eliminates stress in the affected joints;
- to take drugs that nourish and restore the volume of cartilage tissue;
- massage in combination with physiotherapy exercises that improve blood flow and natural metabolism to the painful area;
- painkillers with painkillers;
- intraarticular blockade;
- oxygenation of the joint;
- special complex dishes.
The difference between treatments is a course of antibiotics in the case of infectious arthritis to eliminate the root cause of the disease.
For the manifestations of arthritis, surgery is a separate way to eliminate the disease. This is necessary if the cartilage is completely destroyed. In this case, the prosthesis is replaced with a joint.
Disease prevention
The following can be distinguished for the prevention of both diseases:
- Moderate stress. Take time to train from the heart group several times a week. This promotes joint mobility without unnecessary stress, as in lifting a hoop.
- Don't get too cold.
- Eat right. Food should be rich in trace elements and vitamins.
- Maintain a healthy weight to prevent premature wear of your joints.
- Avoid joint injuries. Avoid jumping from great heights and lifting weights.
- In old age, walking with a stick reduces the load on the foot, which can develop a disease.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
Additional prevention for arthritis will be rapid diagnosis and treatment of any infectious disease that will prevent the spread of inflammation to other areas.