People who met joint diseases for the first time often ask: arthritis and arthrosis: what is the difference.These pathologies have similar names and symptoms, therefore they are often confused.With the car -marization, this confusion can cause negative consequences, since what helps with arthrosis with arthritis can damage.
Both of these diseases are serious, they lead to disability, therefore the treatment of joint diseases should be performed by a specialist.
What is the nature of these diseases?
The difference between arthrosis and arthritis is already clear with their names.The "It" suffix in the name of the disease indicates the inflammatory nature of the disease and "OZ" - the presence of pathological changes in the tissues.
Consequently, arthritis is an inflammation of the joint tissue, which can be caused by different causes.And arthrosis are degenerative changes in the joint cartilage, which develop after injuries or from the action of age -related factors.We will discover in more detailed way what arthritis and arthrosis are.
Arthrosis - What is it?
The articulated surfaces of the bones are covered with smooth and constantly lubricated cartilage fabric with synovial fluid for the sliding of the light.Arthosis is characterized by pathological processes, leading to the fact that the cartilage surface loses softness, is ulcerated and sophisticated.
For this reason, during the friction of the surfaces of the mating cartilage, consequently, degenerative processes are aggravated until the full destruction of the cartilage are scratched.The growths appear along the edges of the bone - osteophytes that chain the mobility of the joint.
With the timely detection of osteoarthritis, the process of destruction of the cartilage can be slowed down for decades, using modern treatment and prevention methods.But, as a rule, in the end, arthrosis leads to the complete destruction of the cartilage and the immobilization of the affected articulation.
The only way to return to it features is the operation to replace the artificial endoprotesis joint.
Arthritis - What is it?
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.It is known that the inflammatory process is nothing more than the struggle of immune blood cells (leukocytes) with foreign formations in the body.Very often, immune cells are hanging on the infection that has fallen.
Instead of this struggle, inflammation occurs, characterized by redness, an increase in local temperature, pain and swelling.The leukocytes who died during the protection of the body are nothing more than PUS, often trained in the inflammation process.
Arthritis can have a different nature.Sometimes it occurs when an infection enters the joint cavity.These types of arthritis are good to treat antibiotics and often pass without consequences.
Other types of this disease are worse for treatment and usually lead to disability.In particular, it is rheumatoid arthritis - an autoimmune disease in which immune cells lose their reference points and begin to fight against the tissues of their body.
Gotric arthritis occurs in the elderly due to a violation of the metabolism and deposits in the joints of the salts.
Psoriatic arthritis, which is located in about 10% of patients with psoriasis, as well as many other types of this dangerous disease.
Is there a relationship between these diseases?
By dismantling the way arthrosis differs from osteoarthritis, it can only be mentioned that these diseases often accompany each other.Therefore, for example, with rheumatoid arthritis, joint tissues are subjected to characteristic degenerative changes of arthrosis.Over time, the joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis are deformed and lose functions, as with arthrosis.
Similar can be said about Gottosa arthritis.Shakes of salts, which have been deposited in the joint cartilage, on the one hand, cause their inflammation and on the other, scratch the surfaces of the cartilage, which causes its abrasion and gradual degeneration characteristic of osteoarthritis.
As you can see, the chronic forms of arthritis negatively affect the condition of joint cartilage and over time lead to the progression of the characteristic processes of arthrosis - deformation and loss of joint functions.
This rule works on the other side.The course of osteoarthritis is rarely complete without concomitant arthritis.When the surfaces of the joint cartilage, destroying due to degenerative processes, rub each other, microtrauma on them appear, the pieces of cartilage can be abandoned.This causes inflammatory processes and we already know that inflammation in the joints is arthritis.
Therefore, arthrosis occurs with periodic exacerbations, which are often accompanied by united arthritis.
Due to the fact that these two diseases are so interconnected, sometimes it is difficult to understand: arthritis and arthrosis, what is the difference.To decide, it is necessary to examine the main cause of the disease, to what the pathological process is launched.If the impetus of the disease has become degenerative changes in the cartilage, then this is arthrosis and if the cause in inflammations caused by infections, problems with hormonal background, immunity or metabolism, then this is arthritis.
What are the causes of these pathologies?
Arthosis is a degenerative dystrophic change in the cartilage that develops for reasons:
- Insufficient tissue nutrition;
- Traumatic nature.
The lack of nutrition occurs, as a rule, due to age -related changes in the body.Therefore, arthrosis often appears in people over the age of 50-60.At this age, the regeneration of the tissues slows down, violations appear in metabolic processes, which many lead to problems with the joints.
Traumatic osteoarthritis can develop at a young age.Its cause is congenital and defects acquired on the joint cartilage, which damage the surface of the coupling cartilage, which causes their further destruction.
The primordial of traumatic arthrosis can become:
- Congenital defects of joint cartilage;
- Injuries received;
- Surgical operations on the joints;
- A great excess of body weight.
Arthritis, unlike illegal, with the exception of Gotty, is found more often in young people.His reasons are:
- Genetic predisposition to autoimmune and systemic diseases;
- Infections;
- Hormonal disorders.
What is the similarity and the difference in symptoms?
Arthosis is characterized by a gradual and slow increase in symptoms.The initial phase of the disease can last years, without presenting itself.You can hear a crunch in the joints, which occur periodically a load above the usual.
Very often, the doctor is addressed when the disease has already reached phase II.Characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Joint pain under load, attenuates itself to rest;
- Click when you move the coming to the problem;
- Morning rigidity, when, after waking up for the normal operation of the joint, it is necessary to "develop" it;
- Very often, the joints of the brushes, the stop, the spine, the knee and the hip are susceptible to osteoarthritis;Less often - shoulder and ankle;
- The aspect of pain in rest, night pain indicates an inflammation of arthritis attached due to the constant cartilage microtrauma;
- In the subsequent stages, a progressive reduction of the amplitude of the movements is joined, up to the complete immobilization of the joint or, on the contrary, the appearance of the "decay", unnatural mobility.
It is not an example of arthrosis, arthritis begins with pronounced symptoms characteristic of the inflammation processes:
- Serious pain in the joint, not even at rest, feels pulsation, contractions;
- Night pains that do not allow you to fall asleep;
- Redness, swelling in the defeat area;
- High temperature on the inflammation site, often an increase in the temperature of the whole body;
- The small joints are more susceptible to arthritis: wrists, fingers, sometimes ankle, knees;
- Different joints (Poliartrosi) are often influenced simultaneously;
- Often arthritis becomes a complication of diseases caused by bacterial and viral infections.
The rest of the symptoms of arthritis varies according to its species, of which there are many.Many types of arthritis are serious diseases that affect other body systems in addition to the joints.
Diagnostics
For the doctor, the difference between arthritis and arthrosis is evident from the clinical picture.Often, in order to diagnose arthrosis and establish its stadium, it is sufficient to create a radius X of the problematic joint in two projections.The image will show the value of the joint gap, the presence or absence of bone growth - osteophytes, the degree of bone deformation.
The diagnosis of arthritis requires more studies, because for successful treatment it is necessary to establish a type of pathology, if a systemic disease is a system, if inflammation is caused by the infection or exacerbation of arthrosis.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, modern diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, coach, magnetic resonance imaging, arthroscopy, joint drilling for the study of the synovial fluid can be used.Of great importance in the diagnosis of arthritis is a blood test for the reumen.
Similarity and difference in therapy
The treatment of arthritis and arthrosis has more differences than similarities.Almost, the only thing that unites them is the use of non -steering anti -inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to eliminate pain and inflammation.Depending on the diagnosis and conditions of the patient, these drugs can be used for the local application, orally or in the form of injections, including the joint cavity.
With the ineffectiveness of the treatment of fans, hormonal drugs are used: corticosteroids that have strong side effects, therefore they are prescribed only in extreme cases.
Otherwise, arthritis and arthrosis therapy varies.Each type of arthritis has its own treatment regime that takes into account the nature of the disease.In therapy of all kinds, in addition to fans, antibiotics, hormonal, immunobiological drugs and many other specific drugs, including physiotherapy ones, can be used.
The main objective of arthritis treatment is to relieve inflammation, the therapy of concomitant diseases and guarantee a long period of remission.In case of serious damage to the joints, surgical operations are indicated.
In the treatment of arthrosis, the main task is to slow down the pathological processes of destruction of the joint cartilage.For this, the chondroprotectors are actively used: drugs that contribute to the regeneration of joint cartilage, as well as vitamins and minerals.In the remission phase, patients show physiotherapy procedures, physiotherapy exercises.
Of great importance is attributed to prevention measures:
- Weight normalization;
- Correct complete nutrition;
- Refusal of bad habits;
- Refusal to overload the painful joints;
- Feasible motor activity.
Upon reaching serious stages of arthrosis due to the immobility of the articulation or the verses-unnatural mobility, it can be lost for the functionality of the limb.In such cases, the patient will help to return to a full life operation to replace the damaged articulation with an endoprotesis.
Unfortunately, there are no therapeutic agents capable of restoring the joints destroyed by arthrosis and arthritis.It is only possible to extend this pathological process as much as possible over time and after the failure of the joint, they resort to surgery.Therefore, it is very important not to delay the visit to the doctor, noting the first signs of these diseases.
As you can see, the difference between arthritis and arthrosis determines the differences in their treatment.Arthritis therapy focuses on the elimination of the inflammatory process and on the treatment of concomitant diseases and in the treatment of arthrosis, pain relief and the prevention of further destruction of the joints come first in the treatment of arthrosis.
In this context, it becomes clear how to relate to the heating of the joints in these diseases.Heating the problem of the problem helps to activate blood circulation in nearby fabrics.
With degenerative dystrophic processes in the cartilage tissue, the blood flow improves the articulation of oxygen and nutrients, accelerates metabolic processes.This helps to improve the regeneration of joint tissues.Therefore, with arthrosis, the heating of the joints is useful.
Heating bearings and heating compresses for arthritis have a completely different effect.In the area of the inflammatory process, the temperature has already increased.Heating only aggravates the inflammatory process and promotes the spread of the infection outside the joint.Therefore, with arthritis, the heating of painful joints with heating bearings, compressions and bathrooms is strictly prohibited.
Conclusion
Many people are interested: what is worse than arthritis or arthrosis.This question may seem strange, because it is impossible to choose an easier disease.Both the disease is associated with severe pain, restrictions on motor activity.Arthosis and many types of arthritis lead to disability.
But if only the joints are influenced by osteoarthritis, therefore, for example, with rheumatoid arthritis, not only the joints suffer, but, practically, all the systems of the body-cardediovascular, nervous, respiratory, kidneys, skin, hematopoiesis, vision organs.
With one of these diseases, it is important to recognize them in the initial phases and start treatment as soon as possible to slow down the progression of these pathologies, while the damage caused by the joints is not too large.