Joints have two main "enemies" that counteract full function. These are rheumatism and arthrosis diseases, despite the similar names, the essence of the ongoing pathological processes is different. The affected area of these diseases is cartilage.
Cartilage plays an important role in joint health. It lacks blood vessels and nerve endings, so it can be strong and can withstand heavy loads. It softens the impact on tissues that contain nerve fibers or blood capillariesThere are.
When the body moves, the cartilage provides a smooth and painless rotation of the bone heads in the joints, minimizing frictional damage. When jumping, the cartilaginous tissue acts as a shock absorber, absorbing inertial loads.
Arthritis and arthrosis "fetus" the work of the joints and impede full movement. Some symptoms of these diseases are similar, others are fundamentally different.
physiological processes in arthritis
When a person begins to feel pain in a particular joint, it may indicate the presence of a disease such as arthritis. This disease means inflammation of the cartilage.
The disease can affect all components of the joint:
- synovial membrane located along the edges;
- Synovial fluid that nourishes tissues and acts as a lubricant;
- Articular capsule.
Arthritis patients complain of intense pain, eg, in the knee, with decreased mobility of the limbs. Fever and redness of the inflamed area are characteristic. The pain may be "steamy", radiating to a similar joint on another limb. affects.
A constant sign of the disease is visually distinct external tissue edema.
Despite a decrease in the functionality of the joint, its internal structure does not change. It is only inflammation of the cartilage, resulting from metabolic disorders, infection or trauma, that, with proper treatment, can be eliminated without further deterioration of the joint. could.
Physiological processes in arthrosis
The disease is more associated with internal changes in the joints. Since cartilage lacks blood vessels, it is nourished and rebuilt by synovial fluid, which contains essential beneficial chemicals.
With age, metabolic processes slow down, and cartilage tissue, receiving less nutrition, begins to deteriorate faster than it can recover. This leads to its thinning.
The degenerative thin cartilage is no longer able to cushion well under stress, so patients with arthrosis experience pain when walking or working with the affected joint.
Inflammatory processes are not observed. The disease is exclusively age-related and associated with individual characteristics of lifestyle (correct dietary habits and the intake of additional auxiliary substances can serve as a good prevention and for a long timemay delay the onset of disease).
The erosion of the cartilage tissue causes pain which is painful in nature. There is no swelling or redness.
Arthrosis is a disease that affects a specific joint. Parallel growth does not occur at the same site in an adjacent limb. The disease often "selects" a large "node" in anatomy. This is the hip or knee. There may be an addition.
Similar and different features - briefly about the main thing
Arthritis and arthrosis have similarities in the manifestation of some symptoms. They:
- tightness after waking up, a feeling of numbness in the joint;
- loss of full motor function in the limb;
- Pain syndrome that makes primary actions unpleasant.
The nature of the general symptoms and sensations, regardless of their number and location, can tell which type of disease they belong to. The difference in the manifestations of the diseases will help to identify the diagnosis more accurately.
So, what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis:
- Against the background of inflammation there is a pronounced increase in body temperature in the first. In the second disease, this is not due to the gradual and imperceptible development of degenerative processes.
- Arthritis has pronounced tissue edema. In the case of arthrosis, this symptom is absent.
- Inflammation of the cartilage tissue can lead to the formation of subcutaneous nodules. The second disease does not cause this anomaly.
- Arthritis does not cause physical deformity. Arthrosis, in fact, renders the joint disabling (at an extreme level).
- In arthritis, the skin around the affected joint becomes red. Arthrosis is no different from a change in skin pigmentation.
Description of differences and similarities
With a closer look at the symptoms, you can uncover nuances that help pinpoint the "enemy" hitting the joint. Below are the main symptoms of diseases with similar and individual manifestations.
pain syndrome
Painful sensations are inherent in both diseases. But since arthritis is associated with inflammation of the joints, pain is an integral part of the course of the whole disease. It has a sharp character. Sometimes patients can feel it at night or in the morning. PainfulSensations cause suffering regardless of the type of person's actions.
Pain in arthrosis is associated with erosion of cartilage and its inability to fully fulfill its purpose. Cushing and friction mitigation are not performed at the proper level, so the bone system is injured.
Painful pain and appears more often after prolonged walking, or after other loads on the affected joint. In the early stages, the pain may be subtle, but as the disease progresses, the picture changes.
distortion
Both diseases affect the structure of the articular system. Physiological changes in arthritis are more visible in nature. It:
- Swelling;
- formation of nodules;
- skin redness;
- Temperature.
Arthritis may be accompanied by: psoriasis, increased sweating and weakness. Only certain types of diseases (painful and osteoarthritis) can change the anatomical structure of the anatomical node.
With manifestations of arthritis, externally the joint looks as usual, but irreversible processes take place inside. The cartilage layer becomes thinner, increasing the load on the bone tissue.
inflammatory process
Manifestations of arthritis are characterized by swelling in the area of the affected joint.
This is due to inflammation of the synovial film, which forms inside the joint capsule. A blood test shows elevated leukocytes in such patients.
Inflammation can be caused by injury or infection.
In arthrosis, the leukocyte mass is normal due to the absence of an inflammatory process. Degenerative changes pass smoothly, often unnoticed by the patient.
Crunch and Click
A hoarse voice in the joint is a sure sign of arthrosis. It is caused by the deterioration of cartilage and the painful interplay of bone tissue. In healthy people, all joints sometimes dislocate. The difference between the affected area is thatThe sound will be "dry" and "rough".
Arthritis does not crack because the swollen joint is restricted in motion, and its cartilage still protects the bone tissue from painful interactions.
joint mobility
The extent of joint function combines the symptoms of these diseases. But there is a significant difference in the nature of the violation.
In arthritic pathology, the range of motion is reduced, but this occurs gradually, as the cartilage wears down. Arthritis is characterized by widespread stiffness that paralyzes the function of the joint. This is caused by inflammation and swelling. Is.
Common and various causes of development
These diseases can develop due to injuries sustained during jumping or running. Joint disease can be provoked by a strong and prolonged load. This is the "professional" inheritance of many athletes. Postponed hypothermia contributes to the development of both diseases. is another factor.
The difference between the diseases is that arthritis can be caused by an infection entering the body, which is not specific to arthrosis. It is necessary to find and eliminate. Another cause of arthritis can be overweight, which overloads the joints on a daily basis.
Osteoarthritis is an isolated disease that is not related to general health conditions. It can develop due to poor quality of nutrition and insufficient supply of essential substances to the cartilaginous tissue. This can be facilitated by hormonal disorders and circulatory diseases, Which disrupts the supply of other tissues. More often the disease "accompanies" the elderly.
risk zone
A person of any age can develop arthritis. As a result of the infection, it can affect the joints of even young children. Often the beautiful half of humanity at the age of 35-55 years suffers from it.
Osteoarthritis is a particularly "chronic" disease. Structural changes in cartilage tissue occur after age 60. This is due to a deteriorating metabolic process and other aging factors. People with arthritis are more likely to develop arthrosis. Is.
Being overweight, improper diet and heavy exercise increase the chances of developing both diseases.
treatment approach
When diagnosing these diseases, partially similar treatment is prescribed, which consists of:
- establishment of a sparing diet that excludes stress on the affected joints;
- taking drugs that nourish the cartilage tissue and restore its volume;
- massage in combination with physiotherapy exercises, which improve blood flow and natural metabolism in the sore;
- Pain relief with pain relievers;
- intra-articular blockade;
- oxidation of the joint;
- Special complex food.
The difference between treatment in case of infectious arthritis is a course of antibiotics to remove the root cause of the disease.
For manifestations of arthritis, surgical intervention is a different method to eliminate the disease. It is necessary in case of complete destruction of the cartilage. In this case it is replaced with a prosthetic joint.
immunity
As preventive measures for both diseases, the following can be distinguished:
- Moderate stress. Make time for exercise from the cardio group several times a week. This promotes joint mobility without unnecessary stress, as is the case with barbell lifting.
- Don't cool too much.
- Eat properly. Food should be rich in trace elements and vitamins.
- Maintain a healthy weight so that your joints don't wear out prematurely.
- Avoid joint injury. Avoid jumping from great heights and lifting weights.
- Walking in old age with a cane, which reduces the load on the foot, where the disease can develop.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
For arthritis, additional prevention would be prompt diagnosis and treatment of any infectious disease, which will prevent the inflammation from spreading to other locations.