Arthritis and arthrosis: what's the difference?
Arthritis and arthrosis are the names of two different joint diseases .They differ among themselves the causes of development, peculiarities of pathological changes occurring in the joints, symptoms and treatment.
Table of contents: What is arthritis?What is arthrosis?Symptoms of Arthrosis and Arthritis: Differences Differential Diagnosis of Arthrosis and Arthritis Differences in the Treatment of Arthritis and ArthrosisWhat is Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints of , which is most often a manifestation of more extensive and serious pathological changes in the body, for example, autoimmune or infectious processes or metabolic disorders.Less often arthritis occurs due to injuries, in such cases the injured joint is inflamed, while others remain intact.
Diseases accompanied by the development of arthritis:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Rheumatism.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Gout.
- Still's disease.
- Psoriasis.
- Hemochromatosis.
- Purple.In addition, reactive arthritis, emerging as a complication of infectious diseases : intestinal infections, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, mycoplasmosis, influenza and other viral infections, is singled out as a separate group.
Inflammatory changes in arthritis primarily affect the synovial membrane( develops synovitis) and synovial fluid.The amount of the latter increases, which explains the swelling of the inflamed joints.The cartilaginous tissue lining the articular surfaces of the bones also suffers - on it erosive defects that bare the bone are gradually formed.
What is arthrosis?
Osteoarthritis is a noninflammatory disease, the pathological changes in the joint with it are caused by the dystrophy of the cartilages covering the articular surfaces of the bones. Although it is often the long-lasting inflammatory process contributes to the thinning and damage of the cartilaginous tissue.
Arthrosis develops mainly in the elderly, which is associated with age-related cartilage wear and osteoporosis, which is reflected negatively on the condition of the entire musculoskeletal system.However, the disease can occur at a young age, for example, athletes, workers in occupations associated with the impact on the joints of excessive loads, in obese people.
All manifestations of arthrosis disturbing patients develop due to the thinning and dystrophic changes in the cartilage, their inability to fully perform the depreciation function, exposure and friction against each other of the bones forming the joint, the proliferation of bone tissue( such growths are called osteophytes), reducing the number of synovialA liquid that must wash the joint surfaces.
Symptoms of arthrosis and arthritis: differences
Arthritis and arthrosis can develop in any joint, however, in most cases, a certain pattern is observed in the localization of the pathological process for each of these diseases:
- Arthrosis most often affects largeJoints of the legs ( hip, knee, ankle), less joints at the bases of the toes and distal joints of the fingers.In addition, arthrosis can develop in the intervertebral articulations.All these joints experience the greatest stress throughout life, which explains the frequent occurrence of destructive processes in them.
- For arthritis, on the contrary, the "volatility" of joint damage is characteristic.Today the wrist is inflamed, tomorrow knee, etc.In addition, several asymmetric joints can immediately become inflamed, which is not typical for arthrosis.
In addition to the localization of the pathological process, arthrosis and arthritis have serious differences in symptoms:
- Arthritis is characterized by pain in the joint, arising mainly at rest and at night. In the morning, such patients, as a rule, feel a marked stiffness in the hands and feet.After the development of the affected joints, pain and stiffness are reduced. With arthrosis, pain, on the contrary, increases with movement, and after rest almost completely disappears.
- The appearance of patients also differs.With arthritis, they increase in size( swell), blush, become hot to the touch.With arthrosis at the initial stages of the development of the disease, the affected joint looks perfectly normal, in the following it is possible to deform it due to the growth of osteophytes and the modification of the bones that articulate in the joint.Another feature of arthrosis is a crunch in the affected joint, with arthritis it is not observed.
It is also worth noting that in arthritis patients notice a significant deterioration in well-being, weight loss, a periodic increase in body temperature and the appearance of other symptoms of the underlying disease.Patients with arthrosis are concerned only with a poorly working and very painful joint.
Differential diagnosis of arthrosis and arthritis
To give an accurate diagnosis( arthrosis or arthritis in a patient) and to prescribe the right treatment, doctors send the patient for a checkup, which usually includes:
- General analysis of blood and urine.Biochemical analysis of blood.
- .
- Revmoproby.
- X-ray of the affected joint.
- In controversial cases, MRI and synovial fluid examination.
Differences in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis
Because arthrosis and arthritis have different causes and mechanisms of development, the approach to their treatment is fundamentally different.
When arthritis, doctors need to identify the cause of joint inflammation and, if possible, eliminate it. All medical measures are directed to this.So, with arthritis of infectious nature, patients are prescribed antibiotics.If the inflammation of the joint is caused by an autoimmune process, hormones and cytotoxic agents.When gout is used specific drugs that affect the formation of uric acid, etc.
In arthrosis, the main goals of treatment are to restore cartilaginous tissue and restore mobility to the joint. Therefore, patients are prescribed chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid, physiotherapy and manual therapy sessions, and physical therapy courses.
For anesthetics, both with arthrosis and arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used inside and externally( in the form of ointments).With inflammation of joints, these drugs not only well anesthetize, but also contribute to reducing signs of inflammation( puffiness, stiffness, redness, etc.).
Both with arthrosis and arthritis, both conservative therapy and surgical treatment( minimally invasive operations, joint replacement) can be carried out-all depends on the degree of disruption of the function of the affected joint and the patient's financial capabilities.
Zubkova Olga Sergeevna, medical reviewer, epidemiologist