The names of the diseases sound as if they affect the same organ system, that is, the musculoskeletal system. What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis and what are their similarities?
It is known with certainty that the disease affects the musculoskeletal system, particularly the joints, but the etiology of the diseases is different.
So, arthritis is caused by some type of infection: local or general, and osteoarthritis are degenerative processes that occur in the articular cartilage, due to the aging of the human body.
However, anyone, regardless of age, can get arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Among other things, osteoarthritis can refer to dystrophic processes, while arthritis can be secondary effects of other endogenous and exogenous diseases.
Among the first, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis that deform the 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 and others.
Basics
- Osteoarthritisis a chronic pathology of a 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, the painful abnormalities cover nearby anatomical structures: ligaments, bursa, synovium, muscle tissue, and bone. Middle-aged and older people are the most susceptible to osteoarthritis. According to the results of clinical studies, at the age of 45 to 65 years, 30% to 40% of residents experience degenerative changes in 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 thousandth child. The overall prevalence of arthritis is high among people of all ages. Unlike osteoarthritis, the disease is inflammatory. Inflammation develops in the synovium of the joint cavity. As the pathology develops, it spreads to the cartilage and the ligamentous apparatus, transforming into osteoarthritis.
You can't say which is worse: arthritis or osteoarthritis. Pathologies are interconnected. The articular elements, which undergo degenerative-dystrophic changes, respond to them with the development of the inflammatory process. The same situation can happen exactly the opposite. The sites of pathological abnormalities after suffering from arthritis are a favorable environment for osteoarthritis.
Pathology formation mechanism
The difference between diseases is noted from the beginning: the mechanisms of their origin.
A fundamental role in the development of osteoarthritis is played by:
- age-related changes;
- climacteric period;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- intense physical activity;
- very traumatic surgical procedures;
- overweight;
- frequent joint microtrauma;
- increased uric acid levels;
- lack of blood supply;
- toxic intoxication of the body;
- micronutrient deficiency.
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 caused increased joint instability, weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. At an early age, degenerative changes develop against the background 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;
- inherited the gene preparation that encodes the cell surface information to the deviations;
- spread of the infectious agent through the lymphatic and blood routes from the primary focus;
- inflammation of the connective tissue;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- hypothermia.
Synovial fluid infection has a direct pathway: open lesions that penetrate the joint. The mechanism of onset of arthritis is equipped with a complex and varied arsenal. The reason lies in the ability of the joints to respond quickly to any inflammation.
Difference in accompanying symptoms
So, with arthritis, pain occurs more often during physical exertion, and pain can also occur at night, when a person is in the same position for a long time.
In osteoarthritis, pain occurs locally in any place, that is, where the inflammatory process takes place, but at rest the pain disappears.
The nature of pain is also different. For example, arthritis patients experience sharp, severe, spasmodic pain, and dull, aching pains accompany osteoarthritis.
Blood counts are excellent too. In the first case, there is an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and an increase in the level of C-reactive protein, as well as a high level of leukocytes and seromucoid. In the second case, there are no such deviations.
The signs that accompany these diseases will help to understand the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the knee and hip joints are mainly affected by abnormal deviations, sometimes the process is localized in the shoulder area. Pathology develops gradually. The first pains of short duration do not allow to determine the exact location of the injury.
Over time, the clinical picture is complemented by the following signs:
- a kind of cracking sound appears when moving;
- meteorological dependence is observed;
- the intensity of the pain syndrome increases against the background of increased loads, at rest the pain passes;
- range of motion gradually decreases;
- there are thickenings 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 of the musculoskeletal system can be affected by pathological abnormalities in arthritis. The most vulnerable are the small elements of the legs, hands, lower leg and mobile joints of the elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the symmetry of the focal lesions.
The first symptomatology, as in osteoarthritis, appears unexpectedly. The pathology clinic begins with a general malaise. Pathological abnormalities grow rapidly and affect the mobility and functional capabilities of the affected joint. But, if osteoarthritis 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 the painful sensations increases at night. In the morning, the patient has difficulty overcoming the stiffness of the joints. On palpation, pain is determined over the entire surface of the joint.
The condition is getting worse:
- local hyperemia;
- the formation of subcutaneous nodules;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- peripheral nerve damage.
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, respiration, digestion, cardiovascular, urinary and nervous systems.
Osteoarthritis, in addition to the complete destruction of cartilage, causes alterations in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.
Differential Research Methods
A detailed study of the current clinical picture allows us to understand how to distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis with the greatest precision.
Differential characteristics are identified based on the results of the following studies:
- Complete blood count.In osteoarthritis, in most cases, the sedimentation rate 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 it allows to distinguish between degenerative-dystrophic changes in inflammation.
- Biochemical analysis of blood samples. In the case of arthritis, the study confirms the presence of inflammatory markers in the biomaterial: C-reactive protein, seromucoid. Rheumatoid factor can be detected - immunoglobulin antibodies that the body makes by mistake. The biochemical parameters of osteoarthritis remain normal.
- X-ray examination.In the early stage of the development of arthritis, no pronounced changes are detected. With osteoarthritis, uneven narrowing of the joint space, the formation of osteophytes (growths on the surface of bone tissue) is recorded.
- IRM.The most reliable differential diagnosis of arthritis and osteoarthritis in the early stages. The technique allows to reveal changes in the structural structure of the cartilage, compaction of the synovial membrane, joint effusion in the cavity, newly formed cysts, own growth of the bone tissue.
Characteristics of the therapy
Doctors of various qualifications participate in the treatment of pathologies. With osteoarthritis, the patient is referred to an orthopedic traumatologist. In the case of arthritis, the exact cause of the pathological changes is initially established. Depending on the revealed circumstances, a specialist is selected.
As a result, both diseases affect the state of the supporting apparatus, so their treatment methods are identical to each other. An important condition for recovery is a decrease in total body weight and, therefore, a decrease in the load on the organs affected by the disease. In both cases, if drugs and physiotherapy courses do not give positive results, joint replacement is used.
Specific therapies, recovery gymnastics, pharmacological treatment and physiotherapy are also used. With the most serious complications, arthroplasty is used.
In addition to identical methods, there is some difference 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 the least pronounced side effects. If the result is not up to expectations, the drugs are successively replaced.
A comprehensive medication course includes:
- intra-articular injections of antihistamine;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatics;
- sulfonamides;
- products based on gold salts.
The prognosis with proper and timely arthritis treatment is usually good.
Osteoarthritis requires comprehensive and long-term treatment. The main task of therapeutic measures in the treatment of osteoarthritis is the restoration of the cartilaginous tissue of the joint. Pharmaceuticals with this ability include chondroprotectants. The most effective are chondroitin and glucosamine.
The disturbance of blood microcirculation is eliminated with the help of vasodilators. To get rid of spastic pains, relax muscle tone, muscle relaxants are prescribed. The local application of hot ointments and creams is shown, which is strictly prohibited for arthritis.
In parallel, funds are used that stimulate metabolic processes, the body is nourished with vitamins and microelements. Not the last place in the therapy of arthrosis is occupied by a specially developed therapeutic gymnastics.
Osteoarthritis belongs to the group of chronic diseases that cause irreversible consequences that cannot be completely eliminated. Therapeutic measures are designed to slow down degenerative processes as much as possible.
In any case, people with obvious signs of these diseases should immediately consult a specialist, and it is not worth treating these diseases on their own. Take care of your health and get what you want.