What is the difference between arthritis from arthrosis, it is necessary to know not only doctors.Often engaged in the car -marization, people expose themselves to a great risk, taking a disease for another.This error can lead to serious complications, therefore in the article we thoroughly analyze the differences in the symptoms, the characteristics of the treatment and the prevention of pathologies.Knowing the symptoms will help to take the necessary measures in a timely manner.With arthritis or arthrosis, all our mobile compounds on the site of the joint of the bones, the cartilage, i.e. the joints of the skeleton.Often, diseases are confused with each other due to consonant names, but the difference between them is not only in the symptoms, but in the causes of the occurrence, the characteristics of the course, the specifications of the therapy.
What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis: a general concept
In the names there is a common root of "Artro", translated by Greek means an articulation that is subjected to basic disorders.However, arthrosis does not have an inflammatory nature, the basis are degenerative processes, namely usury, and the correct designation of the disease is osteoarthritis, since bone formations are subject to changes.
Arthosis is a chronic disease in which the "cancellation" of surfaces and joint capsules occurs, due to which the deformation begins.In advanced cases: the complete immobilization of the limb.The changes influence the entire complex: bone surfaces, ligaments, meniscus, cartilage, synovial shell, all the structures located nearby.
Pathologies are subject to the elderly.Furthermore, the older, the greater the prevalence of the disease.In rare cases, young people can affect young people with hereditary signs or after an injury.According to statistics, about 10% of the population suffers and the main threshold is observed in people over the age of 65 (85% of all patients).
On the contrary, arthritis is an acute disease, which is based on inflammation.Often, the disorder is only a symptom of the underlying disease (rheumatism), but can proceed as a single violation.The neglected phases are transferred to a chronic flow.Unlike arthrosis, young people often undergo inflammatory damage.It can occur after 40 if a person has undergone a cold or infection.The prevalence between the population of the globe is only 2%.
Reasons
Due to various etiologies, different causes and factors lead to the occurrence of diseases.In addition, arthrosis often occurs against the background of purulent arthritis or rheumatism.
The main arthritis factors.
- Trauma and surgical joints.
- Congenital dysplasia (underdevelopment) of the joints.
- Dostrifying depth processes.
- Excess weight.
- Elderly.
- Inheritance.
- Klimax.
With this disorder, the joints suffer exclusively, while with arthritis there is a general inflammatory process.It is often accompanied by damage to the kidneys, heart and liver.
Different types of diseases are distinguished:
- rheumatoid;
- reactive;
- infectious;
- gout.
Very often, arthritis stands against the background of the transfers transferred, frequent sore throat.The development of tuberculosis, gonorrhea, dysentery, psoriasis is not excluded.
Arthritis rarely affects individual joints, usually an entire group is subject to inflammation, which depends on etiology - with rheumatism, small compounds of the hands and feet suffer, with psoriasis - phalanges of the fingers.
Symptoms
Despite similar signs: pain, restriction in movement, deformation, there are a series of symptoms that help to distinguish between the name of the disease.
- Pain is a main sign of arthrosis, but does not occur immediately.Initially, this is a creaking and a cracking of the joints, so the pain is united, which increase as they advance.Usually they appear with physical effort, the change of time, at night (initial pain - immediately after awakening and attempts to get out of bed).The arthritis is characterized by a constant pain, which can intensify at night, as well as in the morning.Often, with inflammation, there is a decrease in unpleasant symptoms during active movements.
- Cryr is a specific sign of arthrosis.It has a special sound: dry and rough, it is often accompanied by severe pain.
- Deformation: with degenerative changes, the joints change in the subsequent stages, when adjacent bone surfaces are included in the process.With inflammation, the deformation begins in the early stages, while they increase in size due to swelling.
- Rossor, an increase in the local temperature - is characteristic only for arthritis, since degenerative diseases proceeds based on the type of aseptic necrosis (without infection).
- MOVEMENT LIMITATION - The arthrosis often "blocks" the joint when, when it moves, an acute crisis is distributed, followed by severe pain and a joint block.Arthritis has the tendency to morning rigidity, not only in the joints, but throughout the body.
- Malaise General - Inflammation, it always proceeds with a change in the state of the whole organism, there is an increase in body temperature, of weakness.
Almost all joints can affect the location of disorders, however the damage to the knee and the hip is more characteristic of the degenerative processes.Arthritis has a tendency to involve small joints of arms and legs in inflammation, often symmetrically.
IMPORTANT: Do not confuse the creaking of healthy joints with arthrose.In the first case, it is absolutely painless and are associated with the characteristics of the binding apparatus (excessive mobility, weak ligaments).So, as with arthrosis, the creaking is accompanied by severe pain and restriction.
Diagnostics
An important diagnostic criterion is an examination of general blood.The inflammation of the joints always gives an increase in the ESR (more than 25 mm/h) and, in the case of infectious arthritis, leukocytes are still.For arthrosis, the change in the blood is not characteristic.
By the way, there is a special protein, it belongs to the immunoglobuline class, reacts to the damage of any factor in its rheumatoid factor of cells, which allows you to determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis.C-reactive protein is also determined, which is a sign of inflammation.Gotta is characterized by an increase in blood acid in the blood, in the urine.
For both diseases, first of all, it is necessary to pass not only a blood test, always a X -ray image of the articulation.With arthrosis, there are a narrowing of the gap between joints, osteophytes (bone growths), deformations and osteoporosis.It is possible to appoint CT, magnetic resonance imaging to clarify changes in soft tissues and bone structures.
Arthosis is also characterized by a narrowing of the gap and periarticular osteoporosis, however, they occur in the early stages (therefore, as for degeneration, these changes start only at 3 and 4 phases).If the process has an infectious character, seizures are often formed: areas of necrosis surrounded by a healthy tissue.In a chronic path, dislocations are observed, subluxation of the hinged structures.
It is recommended to conduct an ultrasound in order to determine the presence of a liquid or pus in the joint bag (most of the characteristics of arthritis), as well as diagnostic punctuation - allows to identify the pathogen and the nature of the payment.
Make sure to prescribe general exams: ECG, urine analysis, blood biochemistry, to know their possible inclusion in inflammation.
Treatment
IMPORTANT: the most dangerous for both diseases is the car -mediation.Without an accurate diagnosis, this approach to its health worsens only the situation, leading to a significant destruction of the joints, damage to the heart and kidneys.
How arthritis differs from arthrosis in therapy.The basis for the first is the destruction stop, the degeneration of the cartilage tissue and in the treatment of arthritis, the main role is dedicated to removing the inflammation and blocking the infectious process.
The approach to the elimination of the manifestations of pathologies should include not only medicines, but also a change in lifestyle: healthy nutrition, weight loss, physical activity control.
Pharmacological therapy includes non -pounded anti -inflammatory anti -inflammatory (necessary for both diseases), muscle relaxants and chondroprotectors (more often with arthrosis).
The treatment of arthritis often requires the introduction of glucocorticosteroids in the intersection space, the use of antibiotic therapy and plasma function (blood purification) to eliminate self -acts (the body's reaction to its cells, as regards a foreign agent).In serious cases, the introduction of stem cells is performed: it relieves inflammation, reduces the susceptibility to infection, improves metabolism and tissue nutrition.
Important: with arthritis, it is not possible to apply the heating compresses and the ointments, only the spread of infection and inflammation will increase, in particular with the purulent course of the disease.
All physiotherapy is prescribed only after removing acute pain and inflammation.
Despite all innovations and rapid development of medicine, arthrosis is an incurable disease.It is simply not possible to correct the degenerative changes started.Arthritis gives way well to therapy, especially when looking for a doctor.
Conclusion in the table
| Differences |
Arthritis |
Arthrosis |
| Age | Unlimited | Mainly after 45 |
| The development of pathology | Suddenly | Gradually |
| Reasons | Infectious | Degenerative (age, menopause, injuries, genetics) |
| Flow | Acute, with moments of remission | Chronic, with periods of exacerbations |
| Defeat | From children to adults.Symmetry is characteristic. Ligaments are involved, meniscus with severe inflammation, swelling. The internal organs suffer. |
More often a large single.The risk of the thumb phalanx.It spreads to cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, but without edema. |
| Deformation | External increase due to swelling. | In the late phases, the formation of necrotic fragments, subsequently destroyed |
| Signs | In the acute period - malaise with temperature, an acute crisis with pain and block, a hot surface swollen, a difficulty pronounced in the movements. | It's a dull pain.Heaviness, rigidity after loading the retreats. |
| Diagnostics | General blood test, urine.Biochemical - Blood. The testimony of X -rays is a strong change in the structures at the beginning of the disease. |
Small changes in the blood.X -Ray shows the pathology in the following stages. |
| Treatment | Anthmammators, painkillers.It is treated with timely management. | Anesthetization, ointments, compositions, physiotherapy, operating therapy, chondroprotectors. With exacerbation - Anti -inflammatory. |
What is worse than arthritis or arthrosis cannot be said with certainty, but inflammation is well blocked by medicines, which cannot be said about degenerative processes.Often, both diseases must be treated for a lifetime, with the possibility of obtaining long -term remission.Arthosis often needs an operational correction to return the function of the joint and remove the restriction in the movements.
Arthritis can be accompanied by the development of heart defects (rheumatoid damage to the valves) and diseases of other organs and systems, since the inflammation of the joints is only the "tip of the iceberg".Successful treatment begins precisely with the definition of etiology.
It is important to prevent late phases from the destruction of the bone tissue and the chronic inflammatory process.The timely appeal to a specialist will help to carefully learn his diagnosis, as well as obtaining the assistance necessary in treatment and rehabilitation.Now you know what the differences between arthrosis and arthritis are.