Joints have two main "enemies" that thwart the job completely. This is a disease of arthritis and arthrosis, although there are similar names, the essence of the ongoing pathological process is different. The affected area is the cartilage.
Cartilage plays an important role in joint health. It has no blood vessels and nerve endings, so can be strong and withstand heavy loads. This softens the effect on tissues where there are nerve fibers or blood capillaries.
As the body moves, the cartilage provides uninterrupted and painless rotation of the bone head in the joints, reducing frictional damage to zero. During jumping, cartilage tissue acts as a shock absorber, absorbing inertial loads.
Arthritis and arthrosis "shackle" joint work and interfere with full movement. Some of the symptoms of the disease are similar, others are radically different.
Physiological processes in arthritis
When a person begins to feel pain in certain joints, this may indicate the emergence of a disease such as arthritis. This disease means inflammation of the cartilage.
The disease can affect all components of the joints:
- synovial membrane located along the edges;
- synovial fluid that nourishes tissues and acts as a lubricant;
- articular capsule.
Patients with arthritis complain of acute pain, for example, in the knee, limitation of limb movement. Fever and redness in the inflamed area are special features. The pain can be "steamy", affecting similar joints in other limbs.
A sign of persistent disease is visually distinguishable external tissue edema.
Despite the decline in joint function, its internal structure did not change. This is simply an inflammation of the cartilage, caused by a metabolic disorder, infection, or caused by trauma, which, with proper treatment, can be eliminated without damage to the joint itself.
Physiological processes in arthrosis
The disease is more commonly associated with internal changes in the joints. Because cartilage lacks blood vessels, it is nourished and rebuilt by synovial fluid, which contains the necessary beneficial chemicals.
As we age, metabolic processes slow down, and cartilage tissue, which is poorly nourished, begins to languish faster than it recovers. This leads to its thinning.
Rotten thin cartilage can no longer cope with severe stress, so patients with arthrosis experience pain when walking or working with the affected joint.
The inflammatory process was not observed. The disease is exclusively related to age and is associated with individual lifestyle characteristics (proper eating habits and intake of additional supportive substances can serve as a good prevention and delay the onset of the disease for a long time).
Deterioration of cartilage tissue leads to excruciating pain. No swelling or redness.
Arthrosis is a disease that affects certain joints. There is no parallel development in the same place in adjacent limbs. The disease often "picks" large nodes in the anatomy. It can be a hip or knee joint.
Similar and different features - briefly about the main thing
Arthritis and arthrosis have similarities in the manifestation of several symptoms. They are:
- cramps after waking up, numbness in the joints;
- loss of full motor function in the limbs;
- a pain syndrome that makes the basic action unpleasant.
Although there are general symptoms and the nature of the sensation, its number and place, they are able to know the type of disease associated with it. Different manifestations of the disease will help identify the diagnosis more accurately.
So, what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis:
- The first has a pronounced increase in body temperature against a background of inflammation. In the second disease, this is not due to the gradual and invisible development of degenerative processes.
- Arthritis has significant tissue edema. If arthrosis, these symptoms are absent.
- Inflammation of cartilage tissue can lead to the formation of subcutaneous nodules. The second disease does not cause this anomaly.
- Arthritis does not lead to anatomical defects. Arthrosis, in fact, renders the joints incapable (to an extreme degree).
- With arthritis, there is redness of the skin around the affected joint. Arthrosis is not distinguished by changes in skin pigmentation.
Detail the differences and similarities
By looking at the symptoms more closely, you can highlight nuances that help define the "enemy" that is attacking the joint. The following are the main symptoms of the disease with similar manifestations and the main individuals.
Pain syndrome
Painful sensations exist in both of these diseases. But because arthritis is associated with inflammation of the joints, pain is an integral part of the whole disease. He has a sharp character. Sometimes patients can feel it at night, or in the morning. Painful sensations cause suffering regardless of one’s type of action.
Pain in arthrosis is associated with a decrease in cartilage and an inability to fully fulfill its purpose. Bearing rejection and friction are not performed at the right level, therefore, the bone tool is injured.
The pain is excruciating and appears more often after long walks, or other loads on the affected joints. In the early stages, the pain may be subtle, but the picture changes as the disease progresses.
Change the shape
Both of these diseases affect the structure of the articular apparatus. Changes in the physiology of arthritis are more visual. Ia:
- swollen;
- nodule formation;
- redness of the skin;
- temperature.
Arthritis can be accompanied by: psoriasis, increased sweating, and weakness. Only certain types of disease (traumatic and osteoarthritis) can alter the structural structure of anatomical nodes.
With the manifestation of arthritis, the outer part of the joint looks normal, but an irreversible process takes place inside it. The cartilage layer becomes thinner, which causes an increase in the load on the bone tissue.
The inflammatory process
Manifestations of arthritis are characterized by swelling in the affected joint area.
This is due to inflammation of the synovial film itself, which is inside the joint capsule. Blood tests showed an increase in leukocytes in the patient.
Inflammation can be caused by injury or infection.
In arthrosis, the mass of leukocytes is normal, due to the absence of inflammatory processes. Degenerative changes go smoothly, often unnoticed by the patient.
Crunch and click
A crunchy sound in the joints is a sure sign of arthrosis. This is due to cartilage deterioration and painful bone tissue interactions. In healthy people, all joints are sometimes crusty. The difference between the affected area is that the voice will be "dry" and "rough".
Arthritis does not crack because the swollen joint restricts its movement, and its cartilage still protects bone tissue from painful interactions.
Joint mobility
Limitations of joint work combine the symptoms of the disease. But there are significant differences in the nature of such violations.
In the pathology of arthritis, the range of motion decreases, but this occurs gradually, when the cartilage is depleted. Arthritis is characterized by extensive stiffness that paralyzes joint work. This is due to swelling and inflammation.
Common and varied causes of development
The disease can develop due to injuries sustained while jumping or running. Joint disease can be caused by a strong and prolonged load. This is a "professional" legacy for many athletes. Delayed hypothermia is another factor that contributes to the development of both of these diseases.
The difference between the diseases is that arthritis can occur due to an infection that enters the body, which is not uncommon for arthrosis. This is a common inflammation, in which the manifestation of arthritis is only a consequence, for the treatment of which it is necessary to find and eliminate the main source. Another cause of arthritis is being overweight, which burdens the joints on a daily basis.
Osteoarthritis is a separate disease that is not related to a general health condition. It can develop due to poor nutritional quality and insufficient supply of necessary substances to the cartilage tissue. This can be facilitated by hormonal disorders and circulatory diseases, which disrupt the supply of other tissues. More often the disease "accompanies" the elderly.
Risk zone
Someone of all ages can get arthritis. As a result of the infection, it can affect the joints of young children. Often the beautiful human half suffers, at the age of 35-55 years.
Osteoarthritis is a purely "old" disease. Structural changes in cartilage tissue occur after 60 years. This is due to declining metabolic processes and other aging factors. Arthritis sufferers are more likely to develop arthrosis.
Being overweight, improper diet, and strenuous exercise increase the chances of developing both of these diseases.
Treatment approach
When diagnosing the disease, a semi -similar treatment is prescribed, consisting of:
- prescribing a regimen that does not include pressure on the affected joint;
- taking medications that nourish cartilage tissue and restore volume;
- massage in combination with physiotherapy exercises, which increase blood flow to the sore spot and natural metabolism;
- painkillers with painkillers;
- intra-articular obstruction;
- joint oxygenation;
- typical complex foods.
The difference between treatments is the antibiotic method in case there is infectious arthritis to eliminate the cause of the disease.
For manifestations of arthritis, surgical intervention is a separate way to eliminate the disease. This is necessary in case of complete destruction of cartilage. In such cases, it is replaced with a prosthetic joint.
Disease prevention
As a preventive measure for both diseases, the following can be distinguished:
- Moderate pressure. Take time to work out from the cardio group several times a week. This encourages joint movement, without unnecessary pressure, as in the case of barbell lifting.
- Don't be too cold.
- Eat right. Food should be rich in trace elements and vitamins.
- Maintain a healthy weight so that your joints do not get tired quickly.
- Avoid joint injuries. Avoid jumping from high heights and lifting weights.
- In old age, walk with a cane, which reduces the load on the legs, where the disease can develop.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
For arthritis, additional prevention will be a quick diagnosis and treatment of any infectious disease, which will prevent the inflammation from spreading elsewhere.