Arthritis and arthrosis are diseases of the musculoskeletal system having common features.Each of these diseases causes irreparable damage to health, and if you do not seek medical help in time, irreversible consequences may occur, entailing disability and disability.
In this article, we consider what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis, the causes and mechanism of their development, as well as symptoms and treatment.
Causes of arthritis and arthrosis
Among the main causes of arthritis, they distinguish:
- The rheumatoid causes of an autoimmune nature in which the cells of the body begin to attack their own tissues, taking them as foreign.The reasons for this process have not yet been clarified;
- infectious (tuberculosis, tick -borne borreliosis);
- secondary, in which arthritis develops against the background of other diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis);
- Violation of metabolism (gout).
The reasons for arthrosis are as follows:
- congenital developmental abnormalities (joint dysplasia);
- injuries;
- natural processes of aging of the body;
- metabolic violation, hormonal changes (menopause in women);
- excessive physical activity, including professional sports, monotonous work (by seamstresses);
- Secondary (arthrosis can develop due to arthritis).
Physiological processes
Both pathologies affect the joints, but differ in the nature of the changes.
With arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the connective tissue - a synovial membrane that contains many vessels and provides lymph flow.The inflammatory process leads to a violation of the nutrition of articular tissues, as a result of which the production of articular lubrication - synovial fluid is limited.
With arthrosis
Arthrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic process associated with the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joint.The cartilage is gradually destroyed, dry, the distance between the bones of the joint decreases, which is the cause of pain.In severe forms, destruction affects bones.They become more porous, lose their density, become fragile.
What is the difference
For example, what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint?With arthritis, the synovial shell of articular tissues occurs.This causes an increase in temperature in the joint.
The joint swells, a persistent pain syndrome develops, intensifying during movement.With arthrosis, the pain occurs only after physical activity, you can hear a characteristic crunch or clicks in the joint, gradually the joint is deformed and loses mobility.
The difference between arthritis and arthrosis of the fingers and hands of the hands is that the first disease is cured and the second is not.With arthritis, the synovial shell and the capsule of the joint is touched.
The defeat of the cartilage and bone tissue occurs only in the late stages in a neglected state.With arthrosis, the cartilage tissue is first affected, and then bone, inflammation of the synovial membrane is of secondary origin, that is, it develops against their background.
Symptoms: what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Arthritis is accompanied by symptoms that are characteristic of inflammation:
- The body temperature rises, chills appear, weakness occurs throughout the body;
- the local temperature of the affected joint, its soft tissues rises;
- The joint swells, the skin around it blushes;
- joint deformation occurs;
- its mobility is reduced;
- In the morning, stiffness is observed, which takes place within an hour after physical activity;
- Pain syndrome is present both when moving and at rest;
- complications are observed in the form of lesions of internal organs (heart, lungs);
- increased sweating occurs;
- The body weight is reduced.
Arthrosis develops gradually and is not noticeable in the early stages.Often it is taken for physical fatigue.The chronic form of arthrosis is also called osteoarthrosis.To the question of what is worse - arthrosis or osteoarthrosis, the answer is obvious.The last option is a consequence of the development of arthrosis and its acute form.
Among the symptoms of arthrosis, the following are distinguished:
- pains appear after physical activity, with sudden movements, turns, inclinations, after rest, pain passes;
- a characteristic crunch in the joints is noted;
- The pain after prolonged rest, which passes within 15-20 minutes of mobility (this is associated with the stagnant phenomena occurring in the joint);
- worried about night dull aching pain that occurs due to venous stagnation;
- The inflammatory form of pathology is accompanied by edema and pain;
- The joint is deformed, its mobility decreases.
As you can see, the differences in the symptoms are insignificant: in both cases there is pain, stiffness and fatigue.Arthritis and arthrosis can affect different joints in the human body.With damage to the spine and intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis develops - it is similar to arthrosis.Depending on the place of the disease, arthrosis of the ankle, shoulder, hip joints and so on is distinguished.
Details of symptoms and differential diagnostics will help accurately determine the pathology - arthritis or arthrosis.
The difference in treatment
The treatment of arthritis is aimed at restoring the immune system, the elimination of inflammation.With arthrosis, the main task is to prevent tissue destruction and relief of symptoms.
The treatment of arthrosis is engaged in an orthopedic doctor, arthritis-a rheumatologist and a number of other doctors, depending on the origin of the disease.
The main therapy for arthritis includes the use of anti -inflammatory non -hormonal agents, antibiotic therapy, and in severe cases - hormonal therapy and taking immunosuppressants.
With arthrosis, anti -inflammatory, painkillers, hormonal drugs, venotonics and chondroprotectors are used.
In both cases, the diseased joint is provided with rest, reduce the load, and therapeutic gymnastics and physiotherapy are used to restore.
Therapeutic gymnastics affects the improvement of the state of ligaments and joints, develops their flexibility and mobility.It must be borne in mind that exercises can only be done during the period of remission and in the absence of inflammation.A complex of orthopedic or a physiotherapy specialist can choose a set of exercises, depending on which joint was injured.
It is very important to observe the correct implementation technique so as not to harm the joints.All movements should be slow and smooth.Performing the exercises should not cause discomfort and bring pain, otherwise the lesson should be stopped or moved to another type of exercise.Initially, it is better to perform exercises under the supervision of a doctor, and then include them in daily practice at home.
To facilitate the mobility of the joints, special orthopedic means are used: compression knee pads, corsets, cervical collars and other accessories, depending on the damage zone.
Physiotherapy is useful in both cases, with arthritis, it is carried out only during the period of remission.It has a minimum of contraindications and side effects, does not cause allergic reactions and is suitable for most patients.
The methods of electrophoresis, ultrasound, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy, shock wave therapy, cryotherapy are used.
All of them favorably affect the process of recovery, contribute to a deeper penetration of drugs into tissues, improve blood circulation, lymph flow, metabolic processes, and start natural regeneration processes.
In severe cases, when the joints are completely destroyed, an endoprosthetics surgery or complete replacement of the joint is performed.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis
When using folk remedies in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis, the stage of the disease and the risks of allergic reactions should be taken into account, therefore, before their use, it is necessary to consult a doctor.With arthritis, the use of additional non -traditional treatment products is permissible only during the remission, this is due to the autoimmune nature of the disease.
As therapeutic agents, decoctions and tinctures are used that relieve inflammation, applications and baths that relieve swelling, rubbish and ointments.Prevention and treatment with folk remedies should play an auxiliary rather than the main role.This should always be taken into account with such serious diseases.
With arthrosis, snow with salt is used.A glass of snow is mixed with 1 tablespoon of salt, a sore joint is rubbed with a mixture for 5 minutes.
To restore cartilage tissue for arthritis and arthrosis, tinctures of chamomile, needles and aloe are used.The mixture can be added to the baths for hand or do applications.
Animal fats are mixed as ointments: duffed pork lard, badger fat, chipworm.They are mixed with a calendula or trench.They contribute to pain relief, improving nutrition and reducing inflammation.
Compress from fresh leaves.A sheet of burdock or cabbage is lubricated with honey, applied to the sore joint, covered with polyethylene and warm tissue and left overnight.
Clay is mixed with water to the density of sour cream, applied gauze impregnated with a mixture, and left for an hour.It is necessary to repeat the application within two weeks daily.
In equal proportions, you can mix aloe juice, vodka and honey.To impregnate a gauze with this mixture and attach to a sore spot for 1 hour.
As an ointment, chamomile, hops, St. John's wort and petroleum jelly are mixed.Apply daily for a month.
Two tablespoons of crushed celandine are added to 150 ml of vegetable oil (olive, sesame, hemp and any other), allowed to brew for a week and used as an ointment.
Freshly squeezed aloe juice is taken inside 2 teaspoons 4 times a day.
Two tablespoons of St. John's wort and wormwood pour 1 liter of boiling water, let it brew for 10-15 minutes and take 1 tablespoon.
Dandelion flowers are poured with vodka in a ratio of 1 part of a dandelion + 2 parts of the liquid, insisted for 2 weeks and used for rubbish.
What is the difference between osteochondrosis and osteoarthritis
These concepts are similar.Both osteochondrosis and osteoarthrosis are accompanied by the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joints.With osteochondrosis, the joints of the spine, intervertebral discs are affected, and with osteoarthritis - the joints of the limbs.
Prevention
To prevent the development of joint diseases, you need to know about risk factors.These include:
- the processes of aging of the body, exhaustion and deterioration of tissue nutrition;
- A sedentary lifestyle provokes the appearance of stagnant phenomena, a violation of blood circulation, lymph flow, curvature of the spine;
- Excess weight is accompanied by a violation of metabolism in hormonal and endocrine systems, an excess load on the spine, joints and heart.
For prevention, it is necessary to introduce the following recommendations into everyday affairs.Glorious sports and soft types of fitness have a good effect on the condition and maintenance of joints, ligaments and spine.
Two to three times a week enough to prevent the development of stagnant phenomena and improve overall well-being.
To nutrition cells of the body, it is necessary to diversify your diet with products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins B and PP.It is necessary to consume cereals, vegetables and fruits, whole grains, low -fat meat, as well as reduce the use of products containing harmful carcinogenic substances, fried, rawcoped, salty and acute dishes.
To form the right food habits and diets, you can consult a dietitian.
The psychosomatic nature of the described diseases suggests that it is necessary to avoid stress, solve conflict situations in constructive ways, and not succumb to despondency and depression.
Conclusion
Arthritis and arthrosis are quite serious human diseases, leading to severe irreversible consequences.The hidden nature of the development of arthrosis does not allow it to identify it in the early stages.Therefore, it is very important to be attentive to your health, not to wait until the pain “passes” and seek medical help in a timely manner.