People who first discover joint illnesses often ask: arthritis and arthrosis - what is the difference.These pathologies have the same names and symptoms, so they are often confused.With self -medication, this confusion can cause negative consequences, as what helps with arthrosis with arthritis can be harmful.
Both of these diseases are serious, leading to defects, so the treatment of joint disease should be done by a specialist.
What is the nature of the disease?
The difference between arthrosis and arthritis is clear by their name.The suffix "It" in the name of the disease indicates the nature of the inflammation of the disease, and "oz" - the presence of pathological changes in the tissue.
Therefore, arthritis is an inflammation of the joint tissue, which can be caused by different causes.And arthrosis is a degenerative change in the cartilage together, developing after injury or from age -related actions.We will think more details what arthritis and arthrosis are.
Arthrosis - what is it?
The bone -articated surface is covered with smooth cartilage tissue and is always lubricated with synovial fluid for sliding light.Arthrosis is characterized by the pathological process, leading to the fact that the cartilage surface loses smoothness, is ulcer and sophisticated.
Therefore, during the friction of the cartilage surface, they scratch each other, as a result, the degenerative process is aggravated until the full destruction of the cartilage.Growth appears along the edge of the bone - osteophytes that cause joint mobility.
With timely detection of arthrosis, the process of cartilage destruction can be slowed down for decades, using modern treatment and prevention methods.But, as a rule, in the end, arthrosis leads to the destruction of cartilage and immobilization of the affected joints.
The only way to return to missing function is the operation to replace the joints with artificial endoprosthesis.
Arthritis - what is it?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints.It is known that the process of inflammation is nothing more than the struggle of the blood cells (leukocytes) with foreign formation in the body.Often, immune cells are suspended against fallen infections.
In this place, inflammation occurs, characterized by redness, increased local temperature, pain and swelling.Leukocytes that die during body protection are no more than pus, are often formed in the process of inflammation.
Arthritis can have different properties.Sometimes it occurs when the infection enters the articular cavity.Such types of arthritis are good for treating antibiotics and often passes without consequences.
The types of these diseases are worse for treatment and usually cause defects.In particular, it is rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease in which immune cells lose their landmarks and begin to fight their own body tissues.
Gotric arthritis occurs in the elderly for violating metabolism and deposits in the salt joints.
Psoriatic arthritis, which is about 10% of patients with psoriasis, as well as many types of these dangerous diseases.
Is there a relationship between these diseases?
Uncovering how arthrosis is different from arthrosis, one cannot but mention that these diseases often accompany each other.So, for example, with rheumatoid arthritis, the articular tissue is subject to degenerative changes of the arthrosis.Over time, joints affected by defective rheumatoid arthritis and loss of function, such as arthrosis.
Likewise, it can be said about gouty arthritis.The sharp crystals of salt, which are stored in the articular cartilage, on the one hand, cause their inflammation, and on the other hand, they scratch the cartilage surface, causing their abrasion and the characteristics of degeneration.
As you can see, the form of chronic arthritis negatively affects the cartilage and over time leads to the development of the properties of arthrosis - deformation and loss of joint function.
This rule works in another way.Arthrosis courses are rarely complete without equal arthritis.When the surface of the articular cartilage, destroys due to the degenerative process, rubbing each other, microtraumas appear on it, the cartilage pieces can be left.This causes inflammation, and we already know that inflammation in the joints is arthritis.
Therefore, arthrosis occurs with periodic severity, which is often accompanied by arthritis.
Because these two diseases are very related, sometimes difficult to understand: arthritis and arthrosis-what is the difference.To make a decision, you need to see the main cause of the disease, in the pathological process.If the impulse of the disease has become a degenerative change in the cartilage, then this is arthrosis, and if the cause of inflammation is caused by infection, problems with hormone background, immunity or metabolism, then this is arthritis.
What is the cause of this pathology?
Arthrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic change in the cartilage that develops on the grounds:
- Inadequate tissue nutrition;
- Traumatic nature.
Nutrition deficiency occurs, as a rule, due to age -related changes in the body.Therefore, arthrosis often appears in people over 50-60 years old.During this time, tissue regeneration slows down, infringement in metabolic processes arises, which leads to problems with the joints.
Traumatic arthrosis can develop at a younger age.The cause is congenital and defects that are obtained in the cartilage together, which injures the surface of the cartilage, which causes their destruction.
Primordials of traumatic arthrosis can be:
- Congenital defects of articular cartilage;
- Injury received;
- Joint surgical operation;
- Excess weight loss.
Arthritis, unlike arthrosis, except gouty, is more often found in young people.The reason is:
- Genetic predisposition to autoimmune and systemic diseases;
- Infection;
- Hormone disorders.
What are the similarities and differences in symptoms?
Arthrosis is characterized by slow and slow symptom increases.The early stages of the disease can be years, without showing itself.Lack of joints can be felt, pain that occurs periodically at the usual load.
Often, doctors are dealt with when the disease has reached stage II.Symptoms of arthrosis:
- Joint pain under load, decreases;
- Click when moving the problem joint;
- Morning stiffness, when, after waking up for the normal operation of the joints, it is necessary to "develop" it;
- Usually, brush joints, stops, spine, knees and hips are exposed to arthrosis;less frequent - shoulders and ankles;
- The appearance of pain in rest, night pain indicates arthritis-inflammation attached to the ongoing microtrauma of the cartilage;
- In later stages, progressive decreases in the amplitude of movement combine, until complete immobilization of the joints, or, in turn, the appearance of "rot", improper mobility.
Not an example of arthrosis, arthritis begins with the symptoms mentioned features of the inflammatory process:
- Severe pain in the joints, nor does it deteriorate at rest, feeling pulse, wrinkles;
- Painful nights that do not allow sleep;
- Redness, swelling in defeat zone;
- High temperatures at the site of inflammation, often increasing the entire body temperature;
- Small joints are more vulnerable to arthritis - wrists, fingers, sometimes ankles, knees;
- Some joints (polyarthritis) are often affected simultaneously;
- Usually arthritis is a complication of diseases caused by bacterial and viral infections.
The rest of the symptoms of arthritis are different -depending on the species, which are many.Many types of arthritis are serious diseases that affect other body systems besides joints.
Diagnostics
For doctors, the difference between arthritis and arthrosis is clear by the clinical picture.Often, to diagnose arthrosis and establish the stage, it is sufficient to make x -ray joint problem in two projections.The image will show the value of the articular gap, the presence or absence of bone growth - osteophytes, the degree of deformation of the bone.
Diagnosis of arthritis requires more studies, because for successful treatment it is necessary to establish a pathological type - whether systemic disease is the system, whether inflammation is caused by infection or severity of arthrosis.
To create accurate diagnosis, modern diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, CT, MRI, arthroscopy, joint puncture for synovial fluid studies can be used.Very important in the diagnosis of arthritis is a blood test for rheumen.
The similarity and difference of therapy
Treatment of arthritis and arthrosis has more difference than the equation.Almost, the only thing that unites it is the use of anti -non -Ssteroids (NSAIDs) to eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the diagnosis and condition of the patient, these drugs can be used for local applications, orally, or in the form of injections, including the articular cavity.
With ineffective NSAID treatment, hormone drugs are used - corticosteroids that have strong side effects, so they are only prescribed in extreme cases.
Otherwise, arthritis and arthrosis therapy are different.Each type of arthritis has its own treatment regimen that takes into account the nature of the disease.In each type of therapy, in addition to NSAIDs, antibiotics, hormones, immunobiological drugs and many other specialized drugs, including physiotherapy, can be used.
The main goal of arthritis treatment is to relieve inflammation, joint disease therapy and to ensure long remission periods.In the case of severe damage to the joints, surgery is indicated.
In the treatment of arthrosis, the main task is to delay the pathological process of the destruction of cartilage.For this, chondroprotectors are actively used - medicines that contribute to the regeneration of cartilage, as well as vitamins and minerals.In the remission stage, the patient is shown physiotherapy procedures, physiotherapy training.
Which is very important is attached to the steps -Preventive Steps:
- Heavy normalization;
- Proper nutrition;
- Rejection of bad habits;
- Refusal to burden the joints;
- Motor activity can be implemented.
When reaching severe levels of arthrosis due to joint immobility or verse-non-natural mobility-non-natural can be lost to the function of the limbs.In such cases, the patient will help return to full life operation to replace damaged joints with endoprosthesis.
Unfortunately, no therapeutic agent can restore joints destroyed by arthrosis and arthritis.It is only possible to stretch this pathological process as much as possible in time, and after joint failure, using surgical intervention.Therefore, it is very important not to delay a visit to the doctor, by recording the first signs of the disease.
As you can see, the difference between arthritis and arthrosis determines the difference in their treatment.Arthritis therapy is focused on eliminating the process of inflammation and treatment of the disease, and in the treatment of arthrosis, pain relief and the prevention of further destruction comes first in the treatment of arthrosis.
In this context, it becomes clear how to associate it by heating the joints into the disease.Heating the problem area helps activate blood circulation in nearby tissues.
With degenerative-dystrophic processes in cartilage tissue, blood flow increases oxygen and nutrients, accelerating metabolic processes.This helps to increase tissue regeneration.So, with arthrosis, joint heating is useful.
Heating and heating pads for arthritis have a completely different effect.In the inflammatory process zone, the temperature has increased.Heating only worsens the inflammation process and promotes the spread of infection outside the joints.Therefore, with arthritis, heating joints with heating pads, compression and baths are strictly prohibited.
Conclusion
Many people are interested: what is worse than arthritis or arthrosis.This question may look strange, as it is impossible to choose an easier disease.Both of these diseases are associated with severe pain, restrictions on motor activity.Arthrosis and various types of arthritis lead to defects.
But if only the joints are affected by arthrosis, for example, with rheumatoid arthritis, not only the joints suffer, but, practically, all cardiovascular systems, nerves, respiratory, kidneys, skin, hematopoies, vision organs.
Wherever the disease is, it is important to get to know them early and start treatment as soon as possible to slow down the development of this pathology, while the damage caused by the joints is not too large.