Arthritis and osteoarthritis are diseases that not only look very similar, but also affect the body in the same way: they affect the bones, joints, ligaments and cartilage.Symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty moving also occur in both cases.However, there is a big difference between them.We will try to bring some clarity to these concepts.We will explain how arthritis and osteoarthritis manifest, what is the difference between these diseases and how they are treated.
Difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (destruction of cartilage).
Arthritisis a very broad term used to describe different types of conditions that cause joint inflammation.Each type of inflammation has its own name, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis deformans).Arthritis can occur at any age.
Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis)- one of the most common types of arthritis, which occurs when cartilage tissue wears away.Our joints are mobile thanks to cartilage, its elasticity and softness.Its destruction results in direct contact between the bones of the joints, causing pain.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change that occurs in old age.
Additionally, arthritis and osteoarthritis have differences in:
- Symptoms
- Risk factors.
- Rankings.
- Diagnosis.
- Treatment.
Symptoms
Arthritis symptoms may also be present with osteoarthritis, but the nature of these symptoms is different.For example, joint pain is present in both cases, but pain related to prolonged tension and stress is only common in osteoarthritis.
Arthritis
It is important to understand that the symptoms of one type of arthritis are sometimes completely different from those of another.But here are some symptoms commonly seen among all types of arthritis:
- Pain.This usually hurts at night and may improve as the duration of movement increases (for example, when walking during the day).
- Edema and swelling.If you haven't had any injuries and when you compare your knees or wrists, one of them seems swollen, this may indicate arthritis.
- Sensations of joint displacement.It may feel like the joints are moving and pushing against each other.
- Fatigue.With any inflammatory disease, the immune system is activated and begins an active struggle, which leads to a general weakening of the body and fatigue.
- Fever and loss of appetite.Inflammation not only reduces energy levels, as mentioned earlier, but can also lead to fever and loss of appetite.
- Redness and rash.Usually occur near inflamed joints.
- Limited range of motion in affected joints.It goes without saying that pain makes movement difficult.Performing simple household chores or indulging in your favorite hobby becomes difficult due to sharp pain in arthritic joints.
Osteoarthritis
Here are the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Pain.Pain is felt in the specific joint affected by osteoarthritis and varies depending on the degree of cartilage damage.The more cartilage is destroyed, the more pain a person will experience.Unlike arthritis, where pain often occurs at night or when resting, osteoarthritis pain often occurs during the day: when walking, running, etc.Touching the skin of the painful joint can also cause pain.
- Reduced mobility.This is particularly noticeable after a long period of inactivity, for example after a night's sleep.
- Crunch.When you move with osteoarthritis, you may hear specific sounds (not a slight click, but a heavy, rough sound).It is the result of the breakdown of cartilage, designed to provide gentle, painless friction between joints.
- Deformation.With osteoarthritis (especially in advanced stages), various deformations of bones and joints may occur: nodules, growths.There is no swelling, as with arthritis.
Risk factors
Some factors may be the same for both diseases, while others are different.
- Age.One of the most common risk factors.As you age, your risk of developing osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis increases tenfold.In this case, osteoarthritis mainly affects older people and arthritis can occur at any age.
- Weight.The heavier a person is, the more pressure their joints experience.This increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis and arthritis.
- Injury.The risk of osteoarthritis at a young age increases if you have previous injuries to your bones or joints.
- Genetic.If many members of your family suffer from osteoarthritis, there is a good chance that you are also dealing with this condition.However, your genetics do not increase your chances of developing arthritis.
- Activity.If you are constantly engaged in work that requires putting a lot of strain on your bones, joints, and cartilage, your chances of developing osteoarthritis increase.
Moreover, a research group from the University of Oxford recently discovered a marker in the blood that can identify the risk of developing arthritis before symptoms appear, even at an early age (up to 16 years old).
Ranking
Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis and develops due to worn cartilage and painful friction between joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – This type of arthritis usually affects every joint in the body except the lower back.It is an autoimmune disease whose causes are not fully understood.A person can get sick at any age (even young children suffer from the disease).
- Ankylosing spondylitis mainly affects the spine.It develops in the vertebrae and discs.It is an autoimmune disease.
- Cervical arthritis occurs for a variety of reasons, but the main one is age.About 85% of people over the age of 80 suffer from this disease.
- Gout is a rare type of arthritis that causes inflammation of various joints.This disease is caused by an increase in uric acid levels in the blood.Gout is now rare.
- Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints.With this disease, there is inflammation of the tendons and cartilage;the eyes, lungs and even the aorta can also suffer.
- Reactive arthritis occurs as the body's response to bacterial attack and infection.The causative agents are intestinal and genitourinary infections.The disease causes swelling of the fingers and toes as well as lower back pain.
- Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children under 16 years old.Leads to the destruction of bones and joints, problems with development and growth.
- Post-traumatic arthritis - results from previous injuries (fractures, cracks, sprains).
Osteoarthritis
There are the following types of osteoarthritis:
- Cervical spondylosis affects the cervical vertebrae, occurs in older people and can be caused by stress and chronic neck diseases.Symptoms include neck pain and muscle spasms.
- Facet syndrome is more common in older people and causes back pain, especially when the person is in an upright position.Poor posture can cause facet syndrome.
- Coxarthrosis is osteoarthritis of the hip joint.The hip joint is a hinge joint and is one of the strongest in the body.However, with old age it wears out and coxarthrosis is also common in athletes and overweight people.
- Lumbar osteoarthritis affects the lower back.It can be caused by scoliosis and abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the upper torso).
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of both joint diseases includes:
- Survey.When the pain occurred, in which joint, the nature and duration of the pain, profession, in which cases the pain intensifies, past infectious diseases, injuries, etc.
- Visual inspection and palpation.Inspection for visible signs: swelling, redness, nodules.
- Analyzes.
- X-ray and MRI.
What is the difference between diagnosing arthritis and osteoarthritis?Since arthritis is an inflammatory disease, the inflammation will be visible in a blood test.Osteoarthritis tests are clear;X-rays or MRI are usually used for diagnosis.
Treatment
Arthritis
There are different treatment options depending on the severity of the disease.The main goal of arthritis treatment is to eliminate the cause of joint inflammation.
- Drugs.Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may require a combination of different medications.In addition to pain relievers, your doctor may also prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, antibiotics, and hormonal medications to reduce pain.
- Lifestyle adjustments – diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods rich in calcium (to boost bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
- Surgery.Surgical procedures range from minor to major surgical procedures (arthroplasty).
Osteoarthritis
The main goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to restore damaged cartilage.Treatment includes:
- Medicines in tablets are chondroprotectors.
- Injections – corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation and increase mobility.
- Massage therapy.The following essential oils are particularly effective: orange, ginger, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood and eucalyptus.
- Therapeutic gymnastics.
- Surgery – Damaged joints can be replaced with artificial ones to reduce pain and improve mobility.
- Lifestyle adjustments – diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods rich in calcium (to boost bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
Conclusions
- Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (destruction of cartilage).
- Osteoarthritis occurs in older people (50 years and older) (can also occur at a young age, but very rarely and after a serious injury).Arthritis can occur at any age (even in children).
- With osteoarthritis, joints hurt during physical activity.With arthritis, pain occurs at night.
- With osteoarthritis, pain increases during movement, with arthritis it decreases.
- Osteoarthritis most often affects the knee and hip joints.Arthritis can occur in any joint;several distant joints or just one may hurt.
- Arthritis, as an inflammatory disease, can be diagnosed with a blood test, but osteoarthritis cannot.