Let's explain it simply and clearly!
After reading this article, you will learn:
Many people do not differentiate between arthrosis and arthritis, even some doctors confuse these concepts.
In this article we will try to show the difference between arthrosis and arthritis, so you can determine for yourself what disease you have.
The causes of arthrosis and arthritis are completely different, and therefore the treatment for these diseases is also different.
ARTHRITIS is an inflammatory disease of the whole body , joint pain is only a symptom of this disease.
ARTHROSIS is a non-inflammatory disease of the joint itself, associated with metabolic disorders, which causes degeneration of cartilage tissue in some joints. Instead of cartilage tissue, to compensate for its functions, bone formations, the so-called “spikes” or “salt deposits,” grow in the joints.
Signs and symptoms of arthritis:
Arthritis is much less common than arthrosis. It most often affects people under 40 years of age. There are many types of arthritis, and joint inflammation is just one of the symptoms of a disease throughout the body. The cause of arthritis is an inflammatory process. The main task in treatment is to reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
Every third person after 50 years, and every second after 70 years have arthrosis The cause of arthrosis is a metabolic disorder. The main task in treatment is to restore metabolism in the joint (through exercise), restore cartilage tissue, dissolve thorns - remove salt deposits from the joints.
The diagnosis can be confirmed using a blood test and x-ray.
Blood test for arthritis: ESR is increased, there is also an increased content of leukocytes in the blood, and an increased content of inflammatory markers.
Blood test for arthrosis: all indicators are normal. X-rays reveal changes in the shape of the joint; by the nature of the changes, you can understand what kind of disease you have.
Posted By: Tormodg Posted date: 12/10/2014, 03:32 in: Peeling
Probably, every person who has had a “cracked” joint has heard phrases from people on the other side, like: “It’s all salt!” However, many ordinary people do not even understand what exactly is hidden under these words, and that in most cases their use is simply inappropriate. Firstly, the “crispy” sound itself appears due to bursting air bubbles, and secondly, even a healthy person with normal metabolic processes can experience this nonspecific manifestation.
However, salt deposition in joints and even the spine is still a reality that has to be combated using medical and orthopedic methods. Although salts are not the main cause of arthritis, arthrosis and other ailments of the musculoskeletal system, they put a person at risk and significantly accelerate the development of these diseases.
The only disease characterized by actual deposition of salts in the joints is gout. In arthrosis and arthritis, salts mean the growth of osteophytes (bone formations).
Thus, if we are not talking about gout, the question should be: why do osteophytes occur, and how to treat them? The reasons for the appearance of bone spurs are very different - from inflammatory processes to damage to the central nervous system. Although at the initial stage the growth of these neoplasms is almost imperceptible, in the future they can cause tissue damage. For example, when the articular capsule in the ankle joint is pinched, trauma to nearby anatomical structures occurs.
Arthritis is a symptom of some other, more serious disease. This condition requires immediate medical attention. With arthrosis, pain occurs in the joint, not as severe as with arthritis, but still interfering with free movement.
The root of both diseases is the same: “Arthrus” translated from Greek means “joint”. But the ending is different. In medicine, the ending –itis is usually used in terms that have the meaning of an acute inflammatory process. The ending -oz indicates a chronic phenomenon.
Then what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis in general? The difference is the presence of inflammation in arthritis, as well as the severity of the disease. And arthrosis is a chronic disease.
Arthritis occurs either due to infections, or due to aggression of one’s own immunity, or due to skin or metabolic diseases. The first sign of arthritis is inflammation. Redness, swelling, sharp, “tugging” pain appear, the temperature rises where inflammation occurs, and the skin becomes dry, and this joint also ceases to function normally.
But how does arthritis differ from arthrosis in terms of symptoms? How can you tell what you are sick with?
Arthritis pain can “jump” from one place to another, and the temperature may rise for several weeks. With arthrosis, the pain is local, only the damaged joint will hurt.
If you have had acute arthritis before, then arthrosis may now occur. It can also appear with age or as a result of obesity. The pain with arthrosis is dull, aching. Patients with arthrosis often complain of clicking and crunching in the affected joint.
For prevention, first of all, you need to eat right and move a lot, which helps fight obesity. In addition, it is necessary to avoid injuries, because they can cause arthritis, as a result of which arthrosis can develop.
Causes of joint pain: rheumatoid arthritis,
gouty arthritis, joint arthrosis.
Hand joints hurt, pain in a finger joint, what to do for joint pain, salt deposition in joints, how gouty arthritis differs from rheumatoid arthritis. rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms. Read on.
Material from the site http://spinet.ru/arthritis/
Joints: you need to know this
Joints are a kind of “hinges” of our skeleton, making it mobile, allowing us to control our body without thinking. But sometimes, especially in the off-season, joints fail. And this is what trouble can happen to them.
Rheumatoid arthritis can occur from hypothermia, as well as from physical and mental trauma. This disease usually affects women and, unfortunately, often occurs at a young age. Once it occurs, the disease quickly becomes chronic, affecting the joints and causing their deformation. It starts with the hands and feet and then spreads to other joints of the limbs. During an exacerbation, they swell and noticeable redness appears. But we must take into account that sometimes the disease develops without visible exacerbations. And yet it progresses, depriving women of their health for many years. An important symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is a feeling of morning stiffness in the joints.
To prevent such a dangerous disease, doctors advise promptly treating chronic foci of infection in the body, especially in the oral cavity - on the teeth or tonsils.
Microcrystalline arthritis (gout) can also affect our joints . unlike rheumatic, it does not cause pronounced deformation of the joints and does not disrupt their function. Because of this, the diagnosis is sometimes not made immediately, but only when the disease has already taken a chronic course. Therefore, do not ignore some deviations in your health. Keep in mind that during an acute attack of this type of arthritis, the affected area usually experiences sharp pain (such as the big toe), redness, and swelling.
Arthritis and arthrosis. or osteoarthritis are completely different groups of ailments. They are different even though they may seem very similar to each other, and their symptoms in some cases may overlap. The main differences between arthritis and arthrosis are discussed further in the article.
In arthritis, the cause of the lesion is inflammation of the joints, which can occur as a result of reasons such as:
allergic and other lesions.
Arthritis also manifests itself against the background of various injuries or destabilization of metabolic processes (for example, gout). Arthritis can be part of some other ailments (for example, systemic inflammatory diseases, connective tissue problems or vasculitis and much more).
Arthrosis is not characterized by inflammatory origin. Its occurrence is associated with negative changes in the joint itself, as well as in the cartilage tissue. The most common causes of arthrosis include excessive load on the joint (most often it is excess weight). It can also be caused by injuries, destabilization of blood supply and metabolism in the joint.
Arthrosis is divided into primary arthrosis, which is characterized by impaired restoration of cartilage cells due to poor blood supply, and secondary arthrosis, which forms against the background of an existing lesion, such as injury.
Arthrosis is a disease of both middle and older age. This explains the fact that by the age of 60, almost any person can detect, albeit minimal, dystrophic changes in the area of articular tissue.
The special risk category includes:
people whose work is directly related to constant overload of the joints, for example, prolonged work in an almost motionless position standing or sitting, as well as professional athletes;
those who are overweight or have various metabolic disorders.
A sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy food, poor diet and inactivity all contribute to the deposition of salts in the joints. However, the main reason is caused by metabolic disorders and poor removal of uric acid salts from the body.
Salt deposition occurs not only in joints, but also in blood vessels, nervous tissue, kidneys and other internal organs.
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Only a specialist will make the correct diagnosis
Many of us have heard a specific crunching sound in our joints at least once in our lives. People who know nothing about medicine often claim that these are all “salts” (not understanding where they come from and what they lead to) and that they should not pay attention to it.
Firstly . this pseudo-crunch occurs as a result of the rupture of air bubbles, and secondly, these manifestations are not always associated with the disease and even healthy people experience similar symptoms. And the inflammatory process, be it metabolic or infectious, can take place in complete silence.
In order to finally understand everything, it is necessary to find out the difference between arthrosis and gout.
The cause of gout is a metabolic disorder, which leads to an increased concentration of uric acid in the body. As a result, salt crystals are deposited not only in joints, but also in tissues.
This condition often affects the big toe, but can also occur in the ankle joint. It manifests itself in the form of night pain, severe swelling, hyperemia and reduced mobility in the affected area.
This is how uric acid crystals damage
But arthrosis is the destruction of cartilage tissue as a result of degenerative changes. It is characterized by symptoms such as pain that occurs when moving, crunching, but in essence it is more reminiscent of the sound of dry friction, deformation and limitation of movements in the joint.
A problem identified in time will not interfere with your active rhythm
Therefore, you should not listen to pseudo-experts, but it is better to seek advice from an experienced specialist in time. After all, it is he who will be able to finally distinguish such similar symptoms of these diseases by prescribing the appropriate diagnosis. After all, incorrectly prescribed treatment will only worsen the situation.
Home • Surgery • Joint diseases • Gout: changes in joints, signs, difference from other arthritis
Gout is a crystalline arthritis caused by the deposition of sodium urate crystals in soft tissue, synovium, cartilage, and joint capsule. Gouty arthritis is characterized by soft tissue damage followed by bone remodeling.
Gout manifests itself as follows. During the first attacks of gouty arthritis, there are no radiological changes in the joint. Usually, at first only soft tissue swelling is found; There is no such thing as osteoporosis. Bone changes are found in less than 50% of patients with confirmed gouty arthritis. Usually they appear no earlier than after 5 years; this is a sign of chronic gout.
The first metatarsophalangeal joint is most often affected. In addition, the hands, ankles, knees and elbows may be affected. A characteristic clinical and radiological sign of gouty arthritis is bilateral ulnar bursitis. Tophi appear in tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and synovial bursae, on the helix of the auricle, palms, soles, and fingertips. Sometimes they resemble tumor-like formations in amyloidosis (for example, hyalis). Periarticular tophi can put pressure on the bones and cause erosion. Damage to the axial skeleton is not typical. Sacroiliitis is rare; the changes in it are the same as in other joints: there is asymmetric or unilateral damage to the sacroiliac joints with the formation of large cysts and erosions.
The following symptoms are characteristic of the early stages of gouty arthritis.
Over time, other changes appear.
Gout is a disease that affects the joints and is caused by the deposition of uric acid salts (urates) in the tissues of the body.
Gout is translated from ancient Greek as “foot trap.” In ancient times, this disease was called “the disease of pirates, aristocrats and kings”, since only rich people who ate well and nutritiously suffered from it. Among the gouty people there were many composers, artists, and scientists. Famous people who suffered from this disease include Michelangelo, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin. The average portrait of a gout person looks something like this: they are cheerful, cheerful people with high sexual activity, which is associated with the characteristics of their hormonal levels. As a rule, people with gout are not thin - they are usually overweight or even obese.
Gout is a disease that affects the joints and is caused by the deposition of uric acid salts (urates) in the tissues of the body. It is most common in men after forty years of age, but women also suffer from gout. With gout, the kidneys stop removing uric acid from the body in the required quantities, resulting in an increase in the concentration of this acid in the blood. This condition is called hyperurecemia. Uric acid is a breakdown product of purines that enter our body along with food. Violation of the metabolism of this acid leads to acute attacks of arthritis (gout attacks), the formation of kidney stones and renal failure. Gout manifests itself in the form of worsening painful attacks of arthritis with the formation of gouty nodes and cones - tophi. The disease affects the joints of the hands, elbows, knees, and feet, but the joints of the toes most often suffer from gout.
Arthritis and Arthrosis, joint diseases, gout, rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis is usually called inflammation of a joint (the name “arthritis” comes from the Greek word arthron, which means “joint”). Arthritis can be of traumatic, infectious and dystrophic origin.
Damage to one (arthritis) or several joints (polyarthritis) can be a symptom of other diseases. Arthritis often occurs due to repeated minor injuries, open or closed injuries to the joints. Arthritis can develop with frequent physical overexertion and hypothermia. Various infections (for example, intestinal or urinary) can also cause arthritis, called reactive arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis also occurs, in which progressive inflammation of several joints (most often small) occurs, with the limbs affected symmetrically. Older people often suffer from this. The cause of arthritis can also be a metabolic disorder, as a result of which the nutrition of the joints deteriorates.
Arthritis in its various forms can be characterized by different combinations of symptoms. Arthritis usually causes swelling in the affected joints. In the initial stages of the disease, pain can occur both during movement and physical activity, and at certain times of the day (for example, at night or in the form of morning stiffness). If arthritis becomes chronic, the pain may become constant. In addition, the inflamed joint usually becomes red, swollen and even deformed, its function is disrupted, and in severe cases of arthritis it becomes completely immobile.
Depending on the nature of the lesion, the main types of arthritis are divided into two classes: inflammatory arthritis and degenerative arthritis.
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Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. Lima, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis - these diseases affect the joints to varying degrees. In healthy joints, the synovium is thin; the cartilage that covers the bones is smooth; a thin layer of synovial fluid covers the surface of the bone. The unfavorable condition of at least one of these components of the joint leads to arthritis. Symptoms: pain, swelling, limitation of movement, deformation and/or decreased mobility of the joint. Arthritis can occur suddenly or develop gradually. Some people experience a sharp, aching or dull pain. This pain is comparable to toothache. Movement in this joint is usually impaired, although stiffness is sometimes observed. There are many types of arthritis. The most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the pathological process involves the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones. Degenerative joint diseases are sometimes caused by a defect in the protein that makes up cartilage. As a result of friction, the smooth surface of the cartilage can become rough. The cartilage begins to deteriorate, and the easy sliding of bone surfaces becomes difficult. Tendons, ligaments and muscles that work in concert in the joint weaken, the joint becomes deformed, pain appears, and flexibility is lost. There is usually pain with or without swelling. The risk of fractures increases because osteoarthritis develops bone deposits called osteophytes. These formations are well defined by X-ray examination and develop near the back. Osteoarthritis is rarely seen in people under 40 years of age, but after 60 years of age the risk of developing it increases significantly.
Rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are typical inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Inflammation causes the cartilage and tissue around the joint to become damaged and destroyed. Often the surfaces of the bone are also destroyed. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to stiffness of the joint, swelling is observed, and the patient experiences a feeling of fatigue. The disease may be accompanied by anemia, weight loss, fever and often severe pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in people under 40 years of age, including children. An attack of rheumatoid arthritis can be associated with physical or emotional stress, along with these factors, poor diet and bacterial infection can play a negative role. It has been established that the blood of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis contains antibodies, the so-called rheumatoid factors, which provide additional confirmation of the diagnosis. Arthritis can be caused by bacterial, viral or fungal infections of the joints. Microorganisms that are the causative agents of the disease known as infectarthritis are streptococci, gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and tuberculous albicans. Typically, infection enters the joints through the circulatory system from another part of the body; this can occur during injury or surgery. Symptoms of infectious arthritis are redness, swelling, pain when pressed, and common symptoms of an infectious disease are often observed - fever, chills, pain throughout the body.
Spondyloarthritis is a group of rheumatic diseases that cause pain in the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is the most common of these. With this disease, inflammatory phenomena are observed in certain joints of the spine: the mobility of the vertebrae is impaired, they become rigid and then they seem to fuse together. If the restriction is in the lower back, ankylosing spondylitis does not cause restriction of movement. In some cases, however, in the absence of lesions of the spine, its rigidity and tilted position may be observed. If the joints between the ribs and the spine are affected, respiratory dysfunction may develop due to limited mobility of the chest. A common symptom is deformation of body position.
Gout and acute forms of inflammatory arthritis are most often observed in people who are overweight and/or who regularly overeat and drink alcohol. Very typical are periodic pains in the small joints of the feet and bones, especially the big toes. The deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints causes swelling, redness, sensitivity and severe pain. Unlike most forms of arthritis, gout primarily affects men.
arthrosis (deforming osteoarthritis) is a concept that includes a group of joint diseases of a degenerative-inflammatory nature, having different origins and similar development mechanisms. Arthrosis is the most common joint disease, and its incidence increases with age. But this disease occurs not only in older people, which determines its social significance. A significant part of arthrosis is asymptomatic. Depending on the absence or presence of previous joint pathology, arthrosis is divided into primary and secondary. Primary forms include those that begin without a noticeable cause in cartilage that has remained unchanged until then. Secondary arthrosis develops at any age due to trauma, vascular disorders, arthritis, aseptic bone necrosis, congenital dysplasia and affects only one or several joints. But this division of osteoarthritis should be considered conditional, since the development of both forms is based on the same genetic factors in different combinations. In most cases, it is difficult to determine which of the pathogenic factors is leading and which is secondary. Most patients with osteoarthritis, when visiting a doctor, indicate a number of signs that make one think about arthritis: pain, limitation of movement, and often a slight increase in ESR. However, a detailed study of the medical history (daily rhythm of pain, duration of swelling in the joints, and so on) allows, without resorting to complex analyzes and instrumental studies, to establish a reliable diagnosis. Primary arthrosis is often accompanied by impaired fat metabolism, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis and other diseases. A very important feature of osteoarthritis is the discrepancy between the morphological changes in the joints observed on radiographs and the clinical manifestations of the disease. Sometimes, with minor radiological changes, severe pain and limited mobility are noted. In other cases, with significant radiological changes, clinical symptoms are very mild. This depends on several reasons. Firstly, articular cartilage is completely devoid of blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, its damage does not produce symptoms until the pathological process goes beyond the boundaries of the cartilage itself. Secondly, the synovial membrane, joint capsule, tendons and muscles, which have numerous nerve receptors that perceive pain, are not affected in all joints at the same time and to the same extent. Thirdly, not all patients develop arthrosis equally quickly: the slower it begins and progresses, the less pronounced the clinical symptoms are, since the body manages to use all compensatory devices. Joint symptoms of arthrosis consist of pain, a feeling of stiffness, rapid fatigue, stiffness, deformation, crepitus, and others. The pain is usually dull. They are unstable, intensifying in damp, cold weather, after prolonged exercise and during initial movements after a state of rest (“starting pain”). In the hip joints, pain radiates to the groin or sciatic region (at the same time, tension in the abductor muscles and hip flexors is noted). Very often, especially with senile arthrosis, instead of pain there is only aching and a feeling of heaviness in the bones and joints. This sensation is very close to the feeling of stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis, but is short-lived and of low intensity. True limitation of mobility with arthrosis is rarely observed; more often we are talking about stiffness and rapid fatigue of the joints. All these symptoms are caused by a violation of the congruence of the articular surfaces, changes (fatigue, calcification, sclerosis) in the joint capsule, tendons and other soft tissues and muscle spasm. Joint deformities are most noticeable in the interphalangeal joints of the hands, in the hip joint, in the knee joints and are caused by bone growths, and not by swelling of soft tissues, as in arthritis. The cause of cracking joints is unevenness of the articular surfaces, calcareous deposits and sclerosis of soft tissues. In contrast to the small, crepitating crunch with synovitis, arthrosis is characterized by a rough crunch.
Rheumatoid polyarthritis is a disease in which destruction of articular cartilage and bone occurs. The causes of the disease are infectious-allergic (viruses, streptococci and staphylococci, impaired immune mechanisms in the body).
The disease begins with joint pain, swelling, inflammation of the joint area, general phenomena - fever, weakness, etc. Several joints may be affected, or individual joints may be affected. In the chronic course of rheumatoid polyarthritis, the inflammatory and general symptoms of the disease are less pronounced. The disease can lead to severe limitation of joint (joint) function. With ankylosing spondylitis (a type of polyarthritis), the joints of the spine and sacroiliac joints are affected; Sometimes large joints are also affected - hip, shoulder.
Arthropathy is a secondary damage to the joints against the background of various pathological processes. It can be either inflammatory or degenerative-dystrophic in nature. Common distinctive features of arthropathy are: asymmetry of the lesion; dependence of the clinical picture of articular syndrome on the clinical picture of the underlying disease; positive dynamics during treatment of the underlying disease; scant X-ray picture (absence of urination, narrowing of the joint space, signs of ankylosis). Arthropathy can accompany many diseases; let’s look at the main ones. Periarteritis nodosa, in addition to articular syndrome, is characterized by the presence of superficial peripheral asymmetric necrosis on the skin of the fingers and soles of the feet, and dry gangrene of the fingers. Damage to the kidneys, muscles, and dense limited swelling of the hands and feet are often observed. Kawasaki disease or mucocutaneous lymphoglandular syndrome most often affects young children. Signs of illness: fever; enlarged cervical lymph nodes; the appearance of red spots on the skin; damage to the mucous membranes in the form of conjunctivitis and stomatitis; hardening and swelling of the hands and feet, with the underlying tissues acquiring a woody density with subsequent peeling of the skin; arthritis or arthralgia; cracks on the lips, in the corners of the mouth; raspberry tongue. An increase in ESR, pronounced leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis are observed in the blood. The ECG reveals ST segment changes characteristic of carditis. Ultrasound of the heart reveals aneurysms of the coronary vessels.
Osteochondrosis of the spine, this disease is based on degeneration (which means “degeneration”) of the disc with subsequent involvement of adjacent vertebral bodies, intervertebral joints, and ligaments. The problem of degenerative lesions of the spine has been studied for a century, but scientists have still not reached a consensus on many issues.
Until now, science does not give an exact answer as to what is the main cause of the development of osteochondrosis. Osteochondrosis of the spine is considered a polyetiological disease, that is, the result of the influence of many, many factors. Let's look at some theories that explain the cause of this disease.
INFECTION THEORY. At the beginning of the century, the cause of root damage was considered to be various acute and chronic infections (influenza, tuberculosis, syphilis, rheumatism). And still in some countries it is believed that spinal osteochondrosis develops after the occurrence of an infectious lesion in the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues. However, firstly, an infectious disease or hypothermia can simply lead to the manifestation of existing spinal osteochondrosis. Secondly, they can cause local spasm of the arteries and disruption of the blood supply to the spine, which leads to swelling of the nerve roots and pain. Thirdly, surgeons who operated on tens of thousands of patients with spinal osteochondrosis did not find infectious and inflammatory changes in the intervertebral discs. With osteochondrosis, there are no inflammatory changes in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and there is also no increase in body temperature in patients.
IMMUNE-ALLERGIC THEORY. Nowadays, people are increasingly experiencing allergic reactions. Our age is called the “age of allergies.” Allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body in response to the intake of various foreign substances called allergens. Allergens are normally absent in the body and have no connection with the body's immune system.
When allergens first enter the bloodstream, specific antibodies are formed that remain in the body for a long time. Antibodies are human blood proteins, immunoglobulins, that have the ability to specifically bind to antigens, substances that are perceived by the body as foreign and cause a specific immune response. The repeated entry of allergens (antigens) is accompanied by their combination with existing, previously formed antibodies, which can occur in the form of a violent response of the body with tissue damage. Antibodies are not produced by normally functioning cells and tissues. But when cells or tissues are damaged, the latter modify their chemical properties and become foreign to the body. Antibodies formed against modified body tissues are called autoantibodies (Greek autos - itself), and the antigens that generated them are called autoantigens. Autoallergic, or autoimmune, reactions occur, that is, reactions of the immune system directed against the tissues of one’s own body. This process is especially rapid in children.
Bursitis (bursitis; late Latin bursa bursa + -itis) is an inflammation of the synovial bursa with accumulation of exudate in its cavity. The causes of bursitis are often injuries (bruises and chronic microtrauma), less often infections, metabolic disorders, intoxications, allergic reactions, autoimmune processes. Exudate accumulating in the cavity of the synovial bursa may be serous, purulent or hemorrhagic in nature. Sometimes bursitis is accompanied by deposition of calcium salts, urates, and hydroxyapatites into the thickened wall of the synovial bursa. The leading symptom of bursitis is the appearance of a local, round, fluctuating swelling, often painful on palpation and movement, in the area of which the temperature is usually elevated. Inflammation of the bursa can impair limb function. According to the course, acute and chronic bursitis are distinguished. The symptoms of bursitis are determined by the structure and function of the joint around which the bursae are located. In the area of the shoulder joint, the subacromial and subdeltoid bursae are most often affected. With this localization, bursitis is accompanied by pain, which intensifies with abduction and rotation of the shoulder, for example, when placing your hands behind your head. Sometimes these bags become calcified. The diagnosis in such cases is confirmed by x-ray examination. Bursitis of the shoulder joint can be one of the manifestations of glenohumeral periarthrosis. Bursitis in the elbow joint most often develops as a result of chronic trauma during professional activities or sports. The subcutaneous synovial bursa of the olecranon process is mainly affected, and less commonly the radiobrachial bursa at the lateral epicondyle. In the area of the hip joint, the superficial and deep bursa of the greater trochanter become inflamed most often. It is difficult to diagnose iliopectineal bursitis, because... this synovial bursa often connects to the joint cavity and its inflammation resembles coxitis. Swelling and tenderness are determined along the anterior inner surface of the thigh below the inguinal ligament. Increased pain is noted when the hip is extended. When the ischial bursa, located at the site of muscle attachment to the ischial tuberosity, is inflamed, the pain intensifies when the hip is flexed. In the knee joint, the superior patella and anterior subcutaneous prepatellar bursae are most often affected. Synovial bursae are often connected to the joint cavity or to each other, and their inflammation is accompanied by symptoms of arthritis. When the synovial bursae become inflamed in the area of the posterior internal surface of the joint, a Baker's cyst sometimes forms, which can fill the entire popliteal fossa and part of the posterior surface of the lower leg. In this case, compression of the tibial nerve is possible with the development of paresis of the lower leg muscles. In the foot area, inflammation of the heel tendon bursa (Achilles bursitis) and also the heel bursa (heel bursitis) are most common. Inflammation and degenerative process in this area lead to the formation of heel bone spurs.
Joint diseases are divided into hundreds of types, but the most common of them are arthritis and arthrosis. But, despite the consonance in the name, these are two completely different pathologies with different symptoms, course and approach to treatment. The main differences between the diseases arthritis and arthrosis can be divided into groups: signs of diseases, localization of the disease, causes of occurrence, methods of treatment.
As a rule, arthrosis affects the joints that bear the maximum load - the knee joints, spine, hip joints. Arthritis can also be on the fingers, elbows, feet, and almost any joints of the body. Moreover, arthritis can spread from one joint to another.
This is perhaps the main difference, which allows us to understand why these diseases are difficult to confuse. Arthrosis most often occurs due to a large and improper load on the joints, as well as a lack of nutrition to the joints due to blood stagnation. Arthritis can be caused by decreased immunity, stress, flu and other colds and inflammatory diseases. Read more about other joint diseases and their treatment in the article: “Joint diseases: everyone should know this”
Diagnosis of arthritis and arthrosis includes several stages. But an experienced orthopedic doctor, as a rule, will be able to immediately determine the cause of the pain by external signs of changes in the joints and the type of pain. Diagnosis of joint diseases involves:
The results of these studies provide the doctor with a complete clinical picture of the condition of the joints and allow them to make a diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
In the case of arthrosis, the treatment will be long-term and aimed at restoring cartilage tissue; here, at the first stage, several courses of chondroprotectors are required to start the regeneration process. A new nutrition system, physiotherapy and exercise therapy are also being gradually introduced. With arthritis, the main thing is to promptly relieve pain and inflammation and prevent the disease from spreading to other joints. Anti-inflammatory and painkillers and physical therapy for arthritis are most effective. The Healthy Joints complex from LifeBox combines anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors for joints. It is recommended for the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis, tested in Russia and has lasting clinical results.
Let's consider the main difference between these pathologies, highlighting the main groups. Arthritis, or osteoarthritis, is an inflammatory process in the joints, which has the following causes:
The age of the patient plays a big role. Osteoarthritis, unlike arthritis, appears after 60 years of age and affects the joints mainly of older people. But the disease can also affect younger people who have suffered knee injuries or played professional sports. Arthritis affects middle-aged people under the age of 40. However, the disease cannot be excluded in older people who have suffered from colds and stress. Pathological features of the disease. Arthrosis damages the hip joints and cartilage tissue of the knees. And with arthritis, in addition to inflammation of the joints, processes in the internal organs are disrupted. Consequences of the disease. With arthrosis, a person may lose the ability to move independently, which can lead to disability. And arthritis can lead to the patient's premature death.
The symptoms of arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint manifest themselves in different ways, which makes it possible to correctly determine the diagnosis and begin treatment.
Losing weight and strengthening muscles during light exercise, for example during fitness, helps in the prevention of these diseases. It is very important to know a sense of proportion. Increased stress on joints, injuries and failure to perform certain exercises correctly can cause the development of diseases. Therefore, when choosing a training regimen, consultation with a trainer is essential. For prevention, it is quite enough to perform joint exercises or go swimming, since water reduces the pressure on the joints.
All this is only suitable for preventing arthritis or arthrosis. If the disease is confirmed, training is recommended only after consulting a doctor and instructor, and during the period of exacerbation in the treatment of the disease, they are completely contraindicated. To prevent the disease, you should review your diet. It is necessary to include fish and seafood, dietary varieties of meat and milk, and increase the intake of vegetables and fruits. Be sure to exclude strong coffee and alcohol. It is necessary to reconsider your diet. Eating carbohydrates after lunch is not advisable. The last meal should be moved to an earlier time: until 19 hours.
Elements such as zinc and magnesium are important for the prevention of joint disease. They slow down the deformation of the bone structures of the knees and hip joints. To this end, it is necessary to diversify your diet by including foods rich in these microelements: seaweed, pumpkin seeds, liver, walnuts, etc.
To prevent arthrosis and arthritis of the knee joint, it is necessary to take vitamin complexes with vitamins B and D. Along with this, it is recommended to take chondroprotectors.
When treating ailments, the most popular form for knee pain is ointment. It helps relieve pain, swelling and redness. Medicines prescribed include Diclofenac and painkillers in the form of tablets or injections. Sometimes, in order to speed up the process, the solution is injected directly into the knee joint. An important method of treating knee arthritis is massage and physical therapy. There is also a surgical method for replacing such a joint.
In addition to traditional methods, knee arthritis can be treated with folk remedies:
There are many methods for preventing and treating arthritis and arthrosis of the knee joint, but consultation with a specialist is required before choosing the necessary treatment.
Bibliography
1. Russian Medical Journal - http://www.rmj.ru/;
2. Journal “Concilium Medicum” - http://con-med.ru/;
3. Magazine “Attending Physician” - http://www.lvrach.ru/;
4. Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry named after. S. S. Korsakova;
5. Journal “Scientific and Practical Rheumatology”;
6. Electronic journal “Angiology” - http://www.angiologia.ru/;
7. JOURNAL “ANGIOLOGY AND VASCULAR SURGERY”;
8. Journal "Phlebology";
9. Vidal Directory of Medicines - http://www.vidal.ru/;
10. Directory of RLS drugs - http://www.rlsnet.ru/;
Over the past two decades, the number of patients suffering from ailments of the musculoskeletal system has increased significantly. Today, diseases of bones and joints occupy one of the leading places in terms of frequency of occurrence. It’s safe to say that each of us has heard words such as “arthritis” or “arthrosis” at least once in our lives. Due to a certain consonance, one gets the impression that these are synonymous words denoting the same disease, but this is not the case. Let's try to figure out what the difference is between these two terms.
Arthritis is a collective name for joint diseases accompanied by inflammation. These include: rheumatoid, septic, psoriatic, reactive, juvenile arthritis, gout, spondylitis and other types of damage to bones and joints. Arthritis can affect one or more joints (polyarthritis). The main cause is considered to be infection. For example, people suffering from tuberculosis are much more susceptible to this disease. Another cause of the disease is a metabolic disorder in the human body (injuries, gout). Genetic predisposition to the disease is of great importance.
This disease often affects people at a young age from 20 to 40 years, and the total incidence rate is more than 2% of the total population of the planet. The following are symptoms typical of arthritis:
A feature of arthritis is constant, persistent pain that gets worse at night. Inflammation in a joint is just the tip of the iceberg, behind which lies much more complex processes in the human body.
Arthrosis is a non-infectious disease characterized by degenerative processes in the joint and its cartilage tissue. The pathological process can also affect ligaments, synovium, and periarticular soft tissues. This disease affects more than 10% of the total population, and among the elderly (after 65 years) - 65-80%. The fact is that arthrosis is an age-related disease that manifests itself after 50-60 years. Of course, there are exceptions, but they are extremely rare. Arthrosis can be primary and secondary. In the first case, the cause of the disease is unknown, and in the second, it indicates an additional pathology: trauma, inflammation, dysplasia. By the way, neglected arthritis can eventually turn into arthrosis. Symptoms of the disease include:
Based on all of the above, we can say with confidence that these joint diseases are very similar to each other, not only in names, but also in the main symptoms and manifestations. So how are they different from each other?
The difference between the ailments lies in the following features:
Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis. Of course, after a thorough diagnosis. In addition to external signs of the disease, the following research methods are used: radiography of the diseased joint, radioisotope scanning, computer and magnetic resonance imaging (CT or MRI), biochemical blood test.
Now you know the difference between these two ailments. Whatever the first signs of the disease worry you, the only right decision is to visit a specialist. Only he can refute or confirm your suspicions. After a thorough diagnosis, a diagnosis will be made and treatment will be prescribed. Only with timely examination by a doctor, as well as individual therapy, can you get rid of the disease. Your desire, a responsible approach to treatment, together with the efforts of the doctor, will do wonders.
The names of the diseases really sound like they affect the same organ system, namely the musculoskeletal system.
How does arthritis differ from arthrosis and what are their similarities?
It is known for certain that the disease affects the musculoskeletal system, in particular the joints, but the etiology of the diseases is different.
Thus, arthritis occurs due to any infection: local or general, and arthrosis is a degenerative process that occurs in articular cartilage due to the aging of the human body.
However, anyone can get arthritis and arthrosis, no matter what age they are.
Among other things, arthrosis can also relate to dystrophic processes, while arthritis can be side effects of other endo- and exogenous diseases.
Among the first are osteoarthrosis and arthrosis of deforming joints, and arthritis can be rheumatoid and rheumatic, specific infectious and post-traumatic, and arthritis can also be accompanied by concomitant diseases of the blood, respiratory system, digestion and others. Read about the causes of arthritis.
The symptoms of these diseases are also similar, for example, in both cases there is a crunching sensation in the joints when a person makes any movements, pain and swelling. But there are also significant differences, for example, the same pain occurs in different conditions.
Thus, with arthritis, pain most often occurs during physical activity, and pain can also occur at night, when a person is in the same position for a long time.
With arthrosis, pain occurs localized in one place, namely where the inflammatory process is taking place, but at rest the pain disappears.
The nature of the pain is also different. For example, patients who have arthritis suffer from acute, strong and jerking pain, while dull and aching pains accompany arthrosis.
Blood test results are also excellent. In the first case, there is an increase in 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.
As a result, both diseases affect the state of the supporting apparatus. then their methods of treatment 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.
Specific therapy, therapeutic exercises, drug treatment, and physiotherapy are used. For the most severe complications, endoprosthetics is used. Arthritis is important to treat immediately, but arthrosis must be treated consistently. In both cases, people who observe any obvious signs of these diseases should immediately consult a specialist, and they should not treat these diseases on their own. Take care of your health and get what you want.