The most common joint pathologies are arthritis and osteoarthritis. Two diseases have many differences, in which the result of the disease depends largely.
The correct determination of the disease by a medical specialist serves as a guarantee of an effective treatment for the complete restoration of the affected joints. Under the influence of age -related changes, each person has the risk of pathological changes in the joints. The joints are especially affected, which throughout life are subject to a greater burden.
Diseases can be a direct cause of joint changes. To prevent the undesirable consequences of joint diseases, it is necessary not to give diseases to develop, adhered to prevention and treatment measures.
What is arthritis and osteoarthritis and how do they differ?
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are frequent diagnoses in older patients. To understand the differences between these two pathologies, we will consider what arthritis and osteoarthritis are and what is the difference between them.
Many people confuse osteoarthritis and arthritis, because they have many similar symptoms:
- Dolores;
- pain during movement;
- bone deformation;
- swelling;
- redness of the inflamed area;
- a source of burning in an affected place;
- SEASON.
That is why it is necessary to understand these diseases in more detail to understand their details, to distinguish between symptoms and types of disease manifestations.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints, when the enzymes that destroy the connective tissue begin to occur in the body. The synovial cover is affected, where the vessels and nerve endings are located, the composition of the liquid and the cartilage is altered does not receive the correct nutrition. Long -term arthritis is poured into osteoarthritis.
Consider the difference in the symptoms between arthritis and osteoarthritis:
- Synovitis appears: swelling in a painful point, strong sensitivity, the limitation of mobility is characteristic.
- Any joint is affected, both small and large. Even in the plural, polyartitis will be diagnosed.
- Most of the time it manifests itself in women.
- Pain: pain, acute, regardless of the rest or loads. It can "swim" from one place to another.
- In the morning, the stiffness in the articulation manifests, poor mobility. It disappears half an hour after a person begins to move.
- In an inflamed place, the temperature increases, the skin becomes red.
- Edema in the area of the sore joint.
- The extremities can freeze, flow, numbness is observed in the morning.
- The articulation is deformed, which is immediately visible in the x line.
- It begins to affect the dependence of the weather, the painful joints are very complaining "for the weather. "
- The nature of pain similar to wave. At an early stage, pain is weak, intensity does not increase for a long time;
- Gradually, pain is improved, in the morning, stiffness in problematic joints is heard;
- As distributing changes develop, the mobility of the affected area decreases, in advanced cases, complete immobility is possible due to the destruction of the cartilage;
- The main location places are hip joints (co -karstrosis), the spine (spondilartrosis), knees (gonarrosis).
Pay attention to the main signs of joint pathologies. Even a slight discomfort in the joints should cause a suspicion of the development of negative processes in the cartilage.
Causes
Arthritis is an inflammatory reaction in the joint, which occurs in response to the action of a variety of harmful factors.
Arthrosis, or rather, osteoarthrosis, is not a separate disease, but a group of completely different states, which are based on a change in all joint components: cartilage, bones, ligaments, joint capsule and periarticular muscles.
- Injury. The most famous mechanism for the development of arthritis. Horrims, fractures, hemorrhages in the joint cavity lead to damage to cells and inflammation formation.
- Hypothermia. The blood supply to the joints, especially the small ones, can worsen abruptly. Connective tissue cells, devoid of nutrition, die. Arthritis occurs.
- Infection. It can fall into the joint compound for injuries or with a blood flow for infectious diseases, for example, tuberculosis, leather, lime disease.
- Systemic connective tissue diseases. This is a group of diseases in which immunity begins to perceive their own body tissues as strangers and attack them. This is a systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and some other diseases.
- Since bones, cartilage and ligaments consist of most of the connective tissue, it is the joints that respond to such inflammation in the first place.
- The reason for the development of arthritis can also be serious diseases such as psoriasis, crohn disease, ulcerative colitis.
- The action of professional factors and sports load. Gymnasts and skaters have a greater frequency of damage to hip joints, ballet dancers (ankle, soccer players and basketball players, knee, boxers, hand joints.
- Excess body weight. The obesity of people often has an increased load in intervertebral joints and discs. As a result of constant microtherumatization, these structures are wearing, which is the basis of diseases known as osteochondrosis and spondilartrosis.
- The consequences of joint injuries. Not always after an acute injury and the development of arthritis, the joint is completely restored. Sometimes, its blood supply remains disturbed, as a result, joint functions under insufficient nutrient and oxygen intake conditions. After a while, osteoarthritis develops.
- Systemic diseases that violate the nutrition of the joint cartilage. These include, for example, diabetes mellitus, insufficient thyroid function, as well as some diseases, accompanied by a deteriorated calcium metabolism. In addition, bone perestroika can cause hormonal disorders in menopause.
- Chronic inflammatory processes that occur in the joints. Protective inflammation can take place in connective tissue diseases, Behterev disease and other conditions.
However, despite the differences in symptoms and causes of occurrence, in some cases, arthritis and osteoarthritis may exist together. For example, with rheumatoid arthritis, frequent exacerbations of the disease are observed in which the articulation does not have time to recover. Another example: the joint fused incorrectly after the fracture, which is constantly in trauma. Doctors call these states "arthroso-artritis. "
Diagnosis
To begin the treatment of the disease, the correct diagnosis of arthritis or osteoarthritis is important. It can be carried out using several research methods. Not all patients know which doctor is dedicated to joint pathologies, so in the initial stage he can communicate with a rheumatologist or therapist, and then he will need a consultation of an orthopedist, a surgeon.
Patients should receive a blood test that demonstrates general changes in the body. If the results of the blood analysis do not show deviations, then doctors are inclined towards osteoarthritis as a preliminary diagnosis.
With an increase in the red blood cell settlement rate in blood plasma, rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, since there is a clear indication of the inflammatory process. Typically, the indicator increases above 25 mm/h. Joint pain, which intensifies at night, will also be an additional confirmation feature. To be fair, we observe that an increase in the ESR is possible with osteoarthritis, if inflammation has joined.
An additional argument in favor of rheumatoid arthritis will be a greater amount of leukocytes. They also take blood from the vein to rheumatological samples: the appearance of a special brand reactive protein that speaks of inflammation. However, it should not only trust the blood test, since one of the diseases cannot be determined by this analysis. It is necessary to carry out additional studies, constantly taking into account the presence of an inflammatory factor in the blood.
As additional studies, doctors recipe the patient:
- X -Rayos of the problematic area;
- Magnetic resonance tomography;
- computerized tomography;
- Radioisotopic scan.
Doctors take into account the tests, a carefully collected history and the results of a blood test, after which a particular disease is diagnosed.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis: How to treat?
Both ailments imply special therapy, without which arthritis goes to a chronic form, and osteoarthritis deprives performance.
The general principles of treatment are similar, but the tasks are different:
- With arthritis, the main objective is to relieve inflammation, eliminate painful symptoms, prevent complications for other organs;
- With osteoarthritis, due to the inability to completely cure the disease, the main therapeutic emphasis is in the relief of pain and detention of distribution processes in the cartilage.
The medical measurement complex necessarily includes medications in the form of tablets, ointments, creams, solutions, powders, injections. As auxiliary methods, popular recipes, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are used. In advanced cases, it cannot do without the surgical intervention.
- The first stage is the fight against pathogenic bacteria, dangerous viruses, under the influence of which the inflammatory process began. The use of non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs is required;
- It is important not only to destroy the pathogen of infection, but also strengthen immunity.
- Recommended protein diet, vitamin therapy, dairy products. Alcohol rejection, strong coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, black tea (best green) is required.
- Physiotherapists give a good effect: electrophoresis with inflammation drugs, magneto and laser therapy and therapeutic baths. After stopping the inflammatory process, to restore the mobility of the sore joint, the LFK complex, massage. The rich methods are useful without the use of heat.
- The main task is to normalize the condition of the cartilage fabric. The doctor prescribes condoprotectors with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. A long course of treatment improves the elasticity of the cartilage, restores blood circulation, metabolism and stops degenerative-dystophical processes.
- In severe cases, the Aine group medications are necessary to relieve pain, eliminate inflammation, which was developed during the abrasion of the joint tissue. But as the main remedy for osteoarthritis therapy, they are ineffective.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures, special exercises are useful. Many patients and doctors talk positively about Bubnovsky's articular gymnastics.
- Patients successfully use popular methods. Ointments, decoctions, compresses, bathrooms, household dyns are made of natural components.
- With the complete destruction of the cartilage tissue, surgical treatment is performed: endoprothetic. Arthosis cannot be completely cured, it can only maintain the health of the joints, prevent exacerbations.
The treatment of osteoarthritis is prolonged and complex, in a hospital, clinical and sanatorium institution. Use of physiotherapy exercises, massages, physiotherapeutic procedures. There is an orthopedic correction. With the ineffectiveness of the above, surgical manipulations are carried out: arthrodesis (immobile bone compound fixing in a given position) or arthroplasty (restoration of joint capabilities).
Arthritis therapy is also carried out in an integral way, depending on the seriousness of the disease. Physiotherapeutic methods and spa complex treatment are prescribed. Massage is not recommended here, exercise therapy is very rare. In case of complications (inflammation of the Perioset bag, rupture of tendons, complex joint deformations), with severe pain and the lack of the effect of pharmacological therapy, surgery is performed. This is the prosthesis of the bone joint, the complete or partial elimination of the joint bag and arthrodesis.
Arthritis treatment and popular osteoarthritis remedies
Popular methods are a good assistant in the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis at home. These recipes based on natural components have a predominantly symptomatic effect, used as an additional tool.
- Compresses at night from Burdock leaves, white cabbage, aloe, washing in advance and slightly detained to secrete juice;
- Hot pine needles, smoking joints in a healing decoction;
- Grinding of an affected place of the egg yolk, apple vinegar spoon and fatiga grass;
- A decoction based on herbs from Sage, grass and braids of San Juan, making 2 tablespoons of the collection in a boiling water to half -line, taking 0. 5 cups before meals.
- A compress of the ginger root, grated in a grater and attached to a painful joint to stimulate blood circulation and a heating effect;
- Rubika for the night of 50 g of honey and 1 teaspoon. Curative mom;
- pepper patch or mustard compress as thermal procedure;
- Bathrooms based on a decoction of mint leaves or Soda salt solution.
All recipes can be used for both diseases, but only after consulting with the treating doctor. Home treatment can help, eliminating unpleasant sensations and damage, causing an allergic reaction and exacerbation.
Result
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is significant. Knowing the characteristics of joint diseases will help the patient control the course of the pathological process, to competently use all available treatment methods. Under the guidance of an experienced doctor, you can deal with any joint pathology.
To prevent diseases, attention should be paid to a healthy lifestyle. A balanced meal and systematic physical exercises will increase the useful life of the joints, and this is necessary to strengthen all health.