Osteoarthritis and arthritis are diseases characterized by pathological changes in the joints, however, the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is significant. To understand the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis, it is necessary to consider the etiological factors, pathogenesis, symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis. The treatment of osteoarthritis and arthritis also has different approaches.
What is arthritis, osteoarthritis? How do joint injuries manifest in arthritis and osteoarthritis, what is the difference? In osteoarthritis and arthritis, the differences are due to the mechanism of appearance of pathological changes.
The treatment of osteoarthritis and arthritis is long-term, multicomponent. Often, as a result of untimely treatment, arthritis and arthrosis can be considered successive stages of the pathological process. Having understood what arthritis and osteoarthritis is, we will determine the differences between osteoarthritis and arthritis.
Arthritis, classification
Arthritis - due to inflammatory changes, combines both the pathology of the joints and a symptom of other diseases that occur with their defeat. How to treat arthritis depends on establishing the cause that provoked the inflammatory process.
Depending on the etiological factor, there are:
- Primary: rheumatoid, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Still's disease, others.
- Secondary - complications of an infectious, non-infectious process (reactive with chlamydial infection, hepatitis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, septic lesions).
By the number of affected joints:
- Monoarthritis - with the defeat of a single joint.
- Polyarthritis: when a group of joints is affected.
By the nature of the course of the disease:
- Acute arthritis - with a vivid clinical picture of inflammatory changes in the connective tissue of the joint.
- Subacute - an intermediate option, the stage of resolution of an acute condition.
- Chronic arthritis - with an erased clinical picture, a slow course, periods of attenuation and exacerbation.
Osteoarthritis, classification
Deforming osteoarthritis, rheumatoid osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis is a disease based on degenerative changes associated with the destruction of all joint structures, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, tendons and bones. This is the main difference between arthrosis of the joints and arthritis, which leads to irreversible deformities of the affected joint surfaces, dysfunction and disability of the patient.
- Idiopathic: no known cause. The pathological process is based on an autoimmune damage mechanism (primary rheumatoid osteoarthritis in young patients).
- Secondary osteoarthritis is the result of metabolic disorders, trauma and inflammation. For example, rheumatoid arthritis that arose after suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
arthritis causes
Risk factors are:
- Violation of metabolic processes in the body.
- Hereditary predisposing factor.
- Infectious diseases.
- Immunodeficiency states, presence of autoimmune diseases, allergic manifestations.
- Increased load on the musculoskeletal system due to professional activity, traumatic component.
Osteoarthritis, causes
Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis are:
- Years. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the elderly, with the exception of rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs in adolescence. According to WHO statistics, about 10% of the world's population suffers from arthropathies.
- Physical overload, injuries, excess weight, which increases the load on the joint. Large joints suffer more than others: hip - coxarthrosis, knee - gonarthrosis.
- Hereditary factor: features of metabolic processes, structure of cartilage tissue.
- Precedent inflammatory processes without adequate therapy.
arthritis symptoms
Regardless of the cause of the disease, the signs of the disease have a similar clinical picture in the acute phase of the process and during the period of exacerbation of the chronic course of the disease.
- Pain is the first symptom. It has a different intensity, more often it is permanent, it does not depend on physical activity.
- Hyperemia of the skin of the joint area, increased local temperature (the joint area warms to the touch), pronounced edema.
- The presence of effusion (fluid) in the cavity of the articular bag. Microbiological and cytological examination of fluid from the inflamed cavity is important for diagnosis and establishes the causative factor. The knee joints are the most commonly affected. The presence of an inflammatory nature of the fluid within the joint capsule is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
- Extra-articular manifestations of the underlying disease: fever, vascular damage - vasculitis, heart valves, lung disease - alveolitis, pulmonitis, kidney damage - nephritis, skin manifestations, hematological changes - anemia, increased number of platelets in peripheral blood.
- Limitation of range of motion in the joint, dysfunction.
osteoarthritis symptoms
Symptoms of arthrosis are caused by prolonged malnutrition, blood supply to the cartilaginous plate. The cartilage loses its elasticity, becomes thinner, while growths (osteophytes) form from the bone tissue inside the joint cavity, irreversibly deforming the joint surface, disrupting functionality, causing pain and significantly limiting mobility.
- Pain. The onset of the disease is characterized by moderate intensity, pain, constant pain. Strengthening pain syndrome is associated with increased dystrophic changes in cartilage and deformities. The pain can vary, be temporary: from morning stiffness, to constant and subside during the day. A rapid and intense increase in pain is a poor prognostic sign.
- visible deformation.
- Functional alterations: flexion, extension.
- Characteristic creak when moving.
- The development of immobility of the joint leads to the disability of patients.
Osteochondrosis is a common pathological condition of the spine, based on the same changes in cartilage as in arthrosis.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of arthritis and arthrosis is aimed at identifying the underlying cause of the disease, determining the degree of activity of the process, evaluating the prognosis and effectiveness of treatment, and timely diagnosing complications of the disease.
The complex of diagnostic tests includes general clinical laboratory tests, instrumental studies of the liver, kidneys, X-ray diagnostic measures, microscopic and bacteriological studies.
- Distinctive features of arthritis of various etiologies are: an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, an increase in the level of leukocytes in the peripheral blood, which makes it possible to determine the severity of inflammatory changes, an increase in protein C reactive in blood plasma - an important laboratory diagnostic test.
- X-ray examination allows you to see a characteristic image of inflammatory joint surfaces.
- Magnetic resonance imaging is the most informative method for detecting inflammatory changes within the joint capsule.
- Doppler ultrasound is used.
- In difficult cases, arthroscopy may be performed for differential diagnosis and treatment.
A fairly informative method that allows you to establish a diagnosis, differentiate arthrosis or arthritis, is an X-ray examination. Depending on the identified changes, the degree of deformation of intra-articular cartilage and the width of the joint space, four degrees of changes are distinguished pathology in osteoarthritis.
Arthritis, principles of treatment.
Arthritis treatment is long-term, the main goal is to cure the disease that caused inflammatory changes in the joint capsule or to achieve a long-term course without relapse of the disease, prevent the development of irreversible changes, deformities, improve the quality and life expectancy of patients.
For treatment are widely used:
- Medical methods of influence. Depending on the etiological factor, the following are used: antibacterials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, the introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs directly into the joint cavity, in severe forms of a rheumatic disease, chemotherapeutic drugs are prescribed.
- Non-pharmacological treatment. An important role is played by physical therapy exercises, adherence to a diet, a healthy lifestyle - smoking cessation, alcohol, physical therapy, timely orthopedic care and correction of existing disorders, prevention of exacerbations of concomitant diseases.
- The surgical method is not the method of choice in treatment. This is a means of helping patients in particularly difficult cases: with the development of serious complications, severe pain syndrome, ineffectiveness of the first two methods of treatment. It has limitations and certain indications for the appointment.
osteoarthritis treatment
Rheumatoid arthrosis is treated in a complex, it includes:
- Non-pharmacological therapy. In rheumatoid arthrosis, treatment includes physical therapy exercises, physiotherapy, protective regimen, load reduction, diet, weight loss.
- Medical treatment is associated with pain relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs are most often prescribed.
- Surgical methods of treatment: plastic, arthrodesis, prosthetics of large joints (knee, hip).
Prevention of exacerbations
Due to the possibility of a prolonged and chronic course of the disease, the development of complications, regardless of the cause of their occurrence, patients are subject to constant or long-term observation, rehabilitation measures designed taking into account individual characteristics and the nature of the disease.
Important preventive value are:
- Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system, a complex of rehabilitation measures after injuries.
- Restriction of loads, a healthy lifestyle, proper rational nutrition as a factor in the fight against excess weight.
- Timely orthopedic correction of bone deformities acquired in the course of life.
Remember, at the first sign of trouble, it is important to contact a specialist in a timely manner. Late initiation of treatment increases the risk of possible negative consequences of the disease.