The disease names seem to affect the same organ system, that is, the musculoskeletal system. What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis and what are their similarities?
It is known that the disease affects the musculoskeletal system, in particular the joints, but the etiology of the diseases is different.
So arthritis occurs due to some type of infection: local or general, and arthrosis are degenerative processes that occur in the articular cartilage, due to the aging of the human body.
However, anyone, regardless of age, may have arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Among other things, arthrosis can refer to dystrophic processes, while arthritis can be a side effect of other endo and exogenous diseases.
Among the first, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritic joints are distinguished, and arthritis is rheumatoid and rheumatic, specific infectious and post-traumatic, as well as arthritis can accompany concomitant diseases of the blood, respiratory system, digestion andothers.
Basics
- Arthrosisis a chronic pathology of degenerative dystrophic nature. The appearance of the disease is not associated with an inflammatory component. The pathological process is based on the loss of the capacity for regeneration and restoration by the cells of the articular cartilage. Over time, painful abnormalities cover nearby anatomical structures: ligaments, bursa, synovium, muscle and bone tissue. Middle and older people are more susceptible to osteoarthritis. According to the results of clinical studies, around 45 - 65 years old, 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 younger segments of the population. Some types of diseases are found in every thousand children. The general prevalence of arthritis is high among people of all ages. Unlike arthrosis, the disease is inflammatory. Inflammation develops in the synovial membrane of the joint cavity. As the pathology develops, it spreads to the cartilage and ligamentous apparatus, becoming arthrosis.
You can't say what's worse: arthritis or arthrosis. Pathologies are interconnected. The articular elements, undergoing degenerative-dystrophic changes, respond to them with the development of an inflammatory process. The same situation can happen just the opposite. Sites of pathological abnormalities after suffering arthritis are a favorable environment for arthrosis.
Mechanism of pathology formation
The difference between diseases is observed from the beginning - the mechanisms of their origin.
A key role in the development of arthrosis is played by:
- age-related changes;
- climatic period;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- intense physical activity;
- highly traumatic surgical interventions;
- overweight;
- frequent common microtrauma;
- increased levels of uric acid;
- lack of blood supply;
- toxic intoxication of the body; micronutrient deficiency of
- .
The factors that cause the development of osteoarthritis are early pathologies: protrusion of the acetabulum, osteochondropathy of the femoral head, endocrine diseases, hemophilia, diseases that cause increased joint instability, weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. At a young age, degenerative changes develop in the context of congenital inferiority of the hip joint and traumatic injuries: 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;
- readiness inherited from the gene that encodes cell surface information for deviations;
- the spread of the infectious agent through the lymphatic and blood pathways from the primary focus;
- inflammation of connective tissue;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- hypothermia.
Synovial fluid infection has a direct path - open lesions that penetrate the joint. The arthritis onset mechanism is equipped with a complex and varied arsenal. The reason is the ability of the joints to respond quickly to any inflammation.
Difference in associated symptoms
Therefore, in arthritis, pain occurs more frequently during physical exertion, and pain can also occur at night, when the person is in the same position for a long time.
In arthrosis, pain occurs locally in one place, namely, where the inflammatory process occurs, but at rest the pain disappears.
The nature of pain is also different. For example, patients who develop arthritis suffer from acute, severe, and spasmodic pain, and dull and aching pain accompany arthrosis.
CBCs are also excellent. In the first case, there is an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and an increase in the level of C-reactive protein, in addition to a high level of leukocytes and seromucoid. In the second case, there are no such deviations.
The signs that accompany these diseases will help you understand the difference between arthrosis and arthritis.
In arthrosis, the knee and hip joints are mainly affected by abnormal deviations; sometimes the process is located in the shoulder area. The pathology develops gradually. The first short-term pains do not allow the exact location of the lesion to be determined.
Over time, the clinical picture is complemented by the following signs:
- a kind of crunchy sound appears when moving;
- weather dependency is observed;
- the intensity of the pain syndrome increases in the context of increased loads, at rest the pain passes;
- the range of motion gradually decreases;
- there are thickening along the edge of the joint space;
- increasing in volume, the processes compress the nerve endings, causing intense and incessant pain;
- the joint is exposed to instability.
Any joint in the musculoskeletal system can be affected by pathological abnormalities in arthritis. The most vulnerable are small elements in the movable joints of the legs, hands, leg and elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the symmetry of focal lesions.
The first symptoms, as in arthrosis, appear unexpectedly. The pathology clinic begins with a general malaise. Pathological abnormalities grow rapidly, affecting mobility and functional abilities of the affected joint. But if arthrosis 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 painful sensations increases at night. In the morning, the patient finds it difficult to overcome stiff joints. Upon palpation, pain is determined across the joint surface.
The condition is getting worse:
- local hyperemia;
- formation of subcutaneous nodules;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- peripheral nerve injury.
Pathology in the active phase is accompanied by a pronounced complex of general symptoms: an increase in temperature indicators, chills, fever and intoxication syndrome. In case of complications, other elements of the biological system are involved in the pathological state: organs of vision, breathing, digestion, cardiovascular system, urinary system, nervous system.
Osteoarthritis, in addition to the complete destruction of cartilage, causes disturbances in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.
Differential search methods
A detailed study of the current clinical picture allows us to understand how to distinguish arthritis from arthrosis with the greatest precision.
Differential characteristics are identified based on the results of the following studies:
- Complete blood count.In arthrosis, in most cases, the rate of sedimentation and the reaction of erythrocytes in the blood remain normal. Arthritis is characterized by a significant increase in indicators, 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 and inflammatory dystrophic changes.
- Biochemical analysis of blood samples. In arthritis, the study confirms the presence of inflammatory markers in the biomaterial: C-reactive protein, seromucoid. It is possible to detect the rheumatoid factor - immunoglobulin antibodies that are produced wrongly by the body. Biochemical parameters for arthrosis remain normal.
- X-ray examination.In the early stage of the development of arthritis, no pronounced changes are detected. With arthrosis, an irregular narrowing of the joint space, the formation of osteophytes (growths on the surface of bone tissue) is recorded.
- MRI.The most reliable differential diagnosis of arthritis and osteoarthritis in the early stages. The technique allows to detect changes in the structural structure of the cartilage, compaction of the synovial membrane, joint effusion in the cavity, neoformed cysts, self-growth of bone tissue.
Therapy resources
Doctors of various qualifications are involved in the treatment of pathologies. With 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, an expert is selected.
As a result, both diseases affect the state of the support device, so their treatment methods are identical to each other. An important condition for recovery is the decrease in total body weight and, therefore, the decrease in the burden on the organs affected by the disease. In both cases, if the medications and physiotherapy courses do not bring positive results, joint replacement is used.
Specific therapy, therapeutic gymnastics, drug treatment and physical therapy are also used. In the most serious complications, arthroplasty is used.
In addition to identical methods, there are some differences in the treatment of pathologies.
For arthritis, treatment begins with immediate and vigorous therapy. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Preference is given to drugs with less pronounced side effects. If the result does not meet expectations, the drugs are replaced successively.
A comprehensive medication course includes:
- intra-articular injections of antihistamines;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatics;
- sulfonamides;
- products based on gold salts.
The prognosis with adequate and timely treatment of arthritis is generally good.
Osteoarthritis requires complete and long-term treatment. The main task of therapeutic measures in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the restoration of cartilage tissue in the joint. Pharmaceutical products with this capability include chondroprotectors. The most effective are chondroitin and glucosamine.
Impaired blood microcirculation is eliminated with the help of vasodilators. To get rid of spastic pain, relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. The local application of ointments and heating creams is shown, which is strictly prohibited for arthritis.
In parallel, funds are used to stimulate metabolic processes, the body is nourished with vitamins and microelements. Nor is the last place in osteoarthritis therapy occupied by specially developed therapeutic exercises.
Arthrosis belongs to the group of chronic diseases that cause irreversible consequences and cannot be completely eliminated. Therapeutic measures are designed to slow down degenerative processes as much as possible.
In both cases, people who see any obvious signs of these diseases should immediately see a specialist, and it is not worth treating these diseases on their own. Take care of your health and get what you want.