The names of the diseases sound as if they affect the same organ system, namely the musculoskeletal system. What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis and what are their similarities?
It is known for sure that the disease affects the musculoskeletal system, especially the joints, but the etiology of the disease is different.
Therefore, arthritis occurs due to some type of infection: local or general, and osteoarthritis are degenerative processes occurring in the articular cartilage due to the aging of the human body.
However, anyone, no matter how old they are, can get arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Among other things, osteoarthritis can be a dystrophic process, while arthritis can be a side effect of other endogenous and exogenous diseases.
Among the first are osteoarthritis and arthrosis deforming joints, and arthritis is rheumatoid and rheumatic, specific infectious and post-traumatic, and arthritis can accompany concomitant diseases of the blood, respiratory organs, digestion and others.
Basics
- Osteoarthritisis a chronic pathology of degenerative-dystrophic nature. The onset of the disease is not associated with an inflammatory component. The pathological process is based on the loss of the ability to regenerate and recover from the cells of the articular cartilage. Over time, painful abnormalities involve nearby anatomical structures: ligaments, bursa, synovium, muscle and bone tissue. Middle-aged and older people are most susceptible to osteoarthritis. According to the results of clinical studies up to 45 - 65 years, 30% - 40% of the population undergoes degenerative changes in the joint elements, and after 65 years the number of cases increases to 70% - 85%.
- Arthritisaffects the younger sections of the population. Some types of disease occur in every thousand children. The overall prevalence of arthritis is high among people of all ages. Unlike osteoarthritis, the disease is inflammatory. Inflammation develops in the synovial membrane of the joint cavity. With the development of the pathology, it spreads in the cartilage and ligament apparatus, turning into arthrosis.
You can't say which is worse: arthritis or osteoarthritis. The pathologies are interrelated. The joint elements undergoing degenerative-dystrophic changes react to them with the development of the inflammatory process. The same situation can happen just the opposite. Places with pathological abnormalities after arthritis are a favorable environment for osteoarthritis.
Mechanism of pathology formation
The difference between diseases is noted from the very beginning - the mechanisms of their origin.
The main role in the development of osteoarthritis is played by:
- age-related changes;
- menopause;
- metabolic disorders;
- heavy physical activity;
- highly traumatic surgery;
- overweight;
- frequent joint microtraumas;
- elevated uric acid levels;
- lack of blood supply;
- toxic intoxication of the body;
- micronutrient deficiency.
Factors that cause the development of osteoarthritis are early pathologies: protrusion of the acetabulum, osteochondropathy of the femoral head, endocrine diseases, hemophilia, diseases that provoke increased instability of the joints, weakness of the ligament apparatus. At a young age, degenerative changes develop against the background of congenital inferiority of the hip joint and traumatic lesions: subluxation and dislocation of the femoral head, fractures of the femoral neck and pelvis.
The starting point in the formation of arthritis are:
- transferred extra-articular infections;
- autoimmune reactions of the body;
- inherited readiness of the gene encoding information from the cell surface to abnormalities;
- spread of the infectious agent in the lymphatic and bloodstream from the primary focus;
- inflammation of the connective tissue;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- hypothermia.
Synovial fluid infection has a direct route - open injuries that penetrate the joint. The mechanism of the onset of arthritis is equipped with a complex and diverse arsenal. The reason lies in the ability of the joints to respond quickly to any inflammation.
Difference in accompanying symptoms
So, in arthritis, the pain most often occurs during exercise, and the pain can also occur at night when a person is in the same position for a long time.
In osteoarthritis, the pain appears locally in every place, namely where the inflammatory process takes place, but at rest the pain disappears.
The nature of the pain is also different. For example, patients with arthritis suffer from sharp, severe, and trembling pain, and dull and aching pain accompanies osteoarthritis.
The blood count is also excellent. In the first case, there is an increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and an increase in the level of C-reactive protein, as well as a high level of leukocytes and seromucoids. In the second case there are no such deviations.
The signs that accompany these diseases will help to understand the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the knee and hip joints are mainly affected by abnormalities, sometimes the process is localized in the shoulder area. The pathology develops gradually. The first short-term pain does not allow to determine the exact location of the lesion.
Over time, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following signs:
- a crunchy sound appears when moving; meteorological dependence is noted
- ;
- the intensity of the pain syndrome increases against the background of increased loads, at rest the pain passes;
- range of motion gradually decreases;
- has thickenings along the edge of the joint space;
- increasing its volume, the processes compress the nerve endings, causing severe continuous pain;
- The joint is exposed to instability.
Any joint of the musculoskeletal system can be affected by pathological abnormalities in arthritis. The most vulnerable are the small elements of the legs, arms, movable joints of the lower leg and elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symmetry of focal lesions.
The first symptoms, as in osteoarthritis, appear unexpectedly. The pathology clinic begins with general malaise. Pathological abnormalities increase rapidly, affecting the mobility and functional abilities of the affected joint. But if osteoarthritis is characterized by an exacerbation of pain during movement, then in the case of arthritis, the more you move, the less pain. The intensity of the painful sensations increases at night. In the morning, the patient finds it difficult to overcome joint stiffness. On palpation, the pain is determined over the entire surface of the joint.
The condition is deteriorating:
- local hyperemia;
- formation of subcutaneous nodules;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- damage to the peripheral nerve.
The pathology in the active phase is accompanied by a pronounced general symptomatic complex: fever, chills, fever and intoxication syndrome. In case of complications in the pathological condition involved other elements of the biological system: the organs of vision, respiration, digestion, cardiovascular, urinary and nervous systems.
Osteoarthritis, in addition to the complete destruction of cartilage, causes disorders in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.
Differential test methods
A detailed study of the current clinical picture allows us to understand how to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis with the greatest accuracy.
Differential characteristics are identified based on the results of the following studies:
- Complete blood count.In osteoarthritis, in most cases, the sedimentation rate and the reaction of erythrocytes in the blood remain normal. Arthritis is characterized by a significant increase in performance, which confirms the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. The analysis does not give a clear definition of the disease, but allows to distinguish between degenerative-dystrophic changes from inflammation.
- Biochemical analysis of blood sampling. In arthritis, the study confirms the presence of inflammatory markers in the biomaterial: C-reactive protein, seromucoid. It is possible to detect rheumatoid factor - immunoglobulin antibodies that are incorrectly produced by the body. Biochemical parameters for osteoarthritis remain normal.
- X-ray examination.In the initial stage of the development of arthritis no pronounced changes are detected. In osteoarthritis, an uneven narrowing of the joint space, the formation of osteophytes (growths on the surface of the bone tissue) is registered.
- NMR.The most reliable differential diagnosis of arthritis and osteoarthritis in the early stages. The technique allows the detection of changes in the structural structure of cartilage, thickening of the synovial membrane, joint effusion in the cavity, newly formed cysts, self-growth of bone tissue.
Characteristics of the therapy
Doctors with different qualifications are involved in the treatment of pathologies. In case of arthrosis, the patient is referred to an orthopedist-traumatologist. In the case of arthritis, the exact cause of the pathological changes is initially established. Depending on the revealed circumstances, a specialist is chosen.
As a result of the fact that both diseases affect the condition of the supporting apparatus, then their methods of treatment are identical to each other. An important condition for recovery is the reduction of total body weight and therefore the reduction of the load on the organs affected by the disease. In both cases, if medications and physiotherapy courses do not bring positive results, joint replacement is used.
Specific therapy, therapeutic gymnastics, medical treatment and physiotherapy are also used. Arthroplasty is used for the most severe complications.
In addition to identical methods, there is some difference in the treatment of pathologies.
In arthritis, treatment begins with immediate and vigorous therapy. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Preference is given to drugs with the least pronounced side effects. If the result does not meet expectations, the drugs are successively replaced.
A comprehensive course of treatment includes:
- antihistamine intra-articular injections;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatics; sulfonamides;
- products based on gold salts.
The prognosis with adequate and timely treatment of arthritis is usually good.
Osteoarthritis requires long-term and thorough treatment. The main task of therapeutic measures in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the restoration of cartilage in the joint. Pharmaceutical products with this ability include chondroprotectors. Chondroitin and glucosamine are the most effective.
Impaired blood microcirculation is eliminated with the help of vasodilators. To get rid of spastic pain, relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Topical application of warming ointments and creams is shown, which is strictly forbidden in case of arthritis.
At the same time, means are used to stimulate metabolic processes, the body is nourished with vitamins and trace elements. Not the last place in the therapy of arthrosis is occupied by specially developed therapeutic gymnastics.Osteoarthritis belongs to the group of chronic diseases that cause irreversible consequences that cannot be completely eliminated. Therapeutic measures are designed to slow down the degenerative processes as much as possible.
In both cases, people who have any obvious signs of these diseases should consult a specialist immediately and it is not worth treating on their own. Take care of your health and get what you want.