Joint pain can make life unbearable. After visiting a doctor, a record of diagnosed arthrosis or arthritis will appear in the outpatient card.
People who are far from medicine have little idea of the difference between arthritis and arthrosis, and mistakenly consider them to be the same disease.
In fact, these are two completely different pathological processes that can occur simultaneously.
Arthrosis
Arthrosis refers to degenerative-inflammatory processes and develops due to age-related changes in the structure of cartilage tissue.
It affects the moving joints of large bones, and less commonly, the joints of the fingers.
Appearance of a joint with arthrosis
The main cause of pathological changes is metabolic disorders in the cartilage. Violation of cartilage trophism leads to irreversible loss of proteoglycans and loss of tissue elasticity.
Dystrophic changes in cartilage entail pathological changes in the structure of the articular surfaces of bones. Over time, the degeneration process spreads to the periarticular tissues.
Types of arthrosis
Based on their origin, they distinguish between primary and secondary arthrosis.
Primary
the form affects previously healthy joints and is a consequence of age-related changes and inadequate physical activity. The timing of the appearance of the first symptoms of arthrosis depends on hereditary predisposition, characteristics of professional activity, and lifestyle.
Traditionally, people over 45 years of age are considered at risk, but now there is a steady trend towards early incidence. The disease affects mainly women, but with age, the dependence on gender gradually smoothes out.
Secondary arthrosis
develops against the background of a previous injury or certain diseases of different nature, including:
- autoimmune processes;
- metabolic disorders;
- endocrine dysfunction;
- pathologies of the structure of bone joints;
- genetic diseases;
- inflammatory processes.
Secondary arthrosis is not associated with the aging process and can occur at any age.
There are three stages in the development of the disease.
At the first stage, changes in the joint fluid occur. The nutrition of the cartilage is disrupted, and its resistance to stress decreases. Roughness appears on the surface of the cartilage, and inflammation develops, accompanied by pain.
As the disease progresses to the second stage, the pain becomes habitual, and the course of the accompanying inflammation becomes wave-like. The cartilage begins to deteriorate, and compensatory bone growths form at the edges of the articular area. Periarticular muscles are involved in pathological processes.
The third stage is characterized by severe depletion of articular cartilage with areas of complete tissue destruction. Degenerative processes lead to irreversible anatomical changes, including changes in the axis of the limb. The function of the ligamentous apparatus is disrupted, abnormal mobility appears in the affected joint against the background of limited natural mobility.
According to the location of the lesion, they are distinguished:
- gonarthrosis,
- coxarthrosis,
- spondyloarthrosis,
- arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands.
Other localizations of pathology are relatively rare.
Gonarthrosis, arthrosis of the knee joint
Risk factors for the development of this disease include hereditary predisposition, overuse or knee injuries due to occupational characteristics.
According to statistics, arthrosis lesions in the knee joints are more often diagnosed in women.
In the early stages of development, the disease manifests itself as discomfort in the affected joint and aching pain. Depending on the causes of the lesion, several forms of gonarthrosis are distinguished.
Some of them are characterized by a long-term lack of progression; the patient’s condition remains stable for decades. However, there are also those that develop rapidly and lead to loss of mobility of the affected limb.
Coxathrosis, arthrosis of the hip joint
With this disease, a classic clinical picture of arthrosis is observed. The first symptom of coxarthrosis is discomfort in the hip joint after physical activity.
With progressive coxarthrosis, pain increases, stiffness and limited mobility appear. Patients with a severe form of coxarthrosis spare the affected limb, avoiding stepping on it, and while stationary, choose positions in which the pain is felt the least.
Age and risk groups
Arthrosis is mainly diagnosed in middle and old age. Most retirees who reach the age of 60 show degenerative signs in their joints. People who are overweight, have impaired metabolism, as well as those whose joints are subject to constant overload (athletes and people who have to remain in a stationary standing or sitting position for a long time) are especially susceptible to the disease.
Arthritis in most cases occurs in young and middle-aged people (30-55 years).
Treatment of arthrosis
It is impossible to cure arthrosis completely with modern medicine. However, timely diagnosis and complex therapy aimed at preventing further destruction of cartilage tissue help stabilize the condition of the affected joint and significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.
First of all, it is necessary to reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system. Doctors recommend avoiding carrying heavy objects, staying in one position for a long time, and limiting time on your feet. For overweight patients, it is vital to lose weight.
In the drug treatment of arthrosis, the following is used:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac, nimesulide, ibuprofen, internally in the form of injections or tablets and externally as part of ointments. The form and regimen of use are prescribed depending on the patient’s condition;
- drugs from the group of chondroprotectors to maintain the condition of cartilage tissue;
- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of intra-articular injections. Prescribed in severe cases;
- hyaluronic acid preparations to improve joint mobility.
Additionally, warming compresses and ointments, drugs that activate blood microcirculation and metabolic processes, antioxidants and microelement-vitamin complexes with selenium are used, and physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed. In severe cases, it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.
During the period of remission, the patient is recommended a course of exercise therapy, selected in accordance with the characteristics of the course of the disease.
For more information about treatment methods, see:
- surgical treatment of arthrosis
- joint replacement
To make a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes:
- X-ray examination of joints, sacroiliac joints;
- general blood and urine tests, biochemical blood test;
- analysis for rheumatic tests;
- immunological research;
- CT or MRI;
- sometimes - radioisotope scanning of the skeleton;
- additionally - laboratory testing of synovial fluid to determine the nature of the disease (infection or salt deposits).
What is the difference between arthrosis and arthritis? The fundamental differences are highlighted by Pavel Evdokimenko, a practicing physician with extensive experience:
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that occurs as an underlying disease, a concomitant pathology, or as a complication of a previous infectious disease.
Appearance of joints with arthritis
Among the typical causes of inflammatory processes in the joints:
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- lack of vitamins;
- injuries;
- autoimmune diseases;
- infectious lesions of various etiologies.
Unlike arthrosis, pathological processes in arthritis affect the periarticular tissues. The appearance of pain does not depend on physical activity and body position, and often bothers you at night.
Noises in the joints characteristic of the early stages of arthrosis are rarely observed. A general blood test indicates the presence of an inflammatory process; when examining joints, characteristic degenerative changes in cartilage are rarely detected.
The common symptom of both diseases is pain. Any unusual and unpleasant sensations in the joints are a good reason to consult a doctor. The success of treatment largely depends on timely detection and treatment of the disease.
Types of Arthritis
Based on their occurrence, arthritis is divided into several types:
- infectious arthritis. They develop as independent diseases due to infection of wounds (primary infectious arthritis) or when a pathogen enters the bloodstream from organs affected by infection (secondary arthritis);
- rheumatoid arthritis. This chronic disease is of infectious-autoimmune origin and usually develops in people of middle age and older;
- gouty arthritis. The inflammatory process is provoked by microtraumatization of the surface of the cartilage by crystals of uric acid salts formed in the joint capsule;
- traumatic arthritis develops as a reaction to injury, but can develop several years after its consequences have been eliminated;
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affects children under 16 years of age. The causes of this disease are not yet known. The course is chronic, progressive.
The course of arthritis can be acute or chronic. In the acute course, the disease develops quickly, with severe swelling, severe pain in the affected area, local or general increase in temperature.
With chronic arthritis, symptoms increase gradually, and the disease can progress over years. With untimely or inappropriate treatment, acute arthritis can become chronic.
According to the characteristics of the lesion, monoarthritis and polyarthritis are distinguished. In monoarthritis, the lesion is localized on one of the joints; when several joints are involved in the pathological process, a diagnosis of polyarthritis is made.
Arthritis treatment
The treatment strategy for arthritis depends on the causes of the disease and the severity of the patient's condition. For infectious arthritis, patients are prescribed a course of antibiotics or other drugs, in accordance with the nature of the pathogen.
To eliminate inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the form of injections, tablets and/or externally in the form of an ointment or gel.
Additionally, drugs from the groups of chondroprotectors, antihistamines, and general restoratives may be prescribed. In some cases, patients are prescribed drugs that improve blood microcirculation.
In addition to drug treatment, patients are prescribed a course of physiotherapeutic procedures and, during the period of remission, a set of exercise therapy exercises.
In severe and advanced cases, surgery may be required.
Without the help of specialists, arthritis and arthrosis can lead to disability.
Self-medication for joint diseases is contraindicated; in the vast majority of cases, the patient’s condition progressively worsens.
Any change in the functionality of the joint is a reason to visit a doctor.
Diagnostics
Only an experienced doctor can determine the disease and the extent of damage, so contact SanMedExpert for help. To diagnose diseases, our specialists use modern equipment, techniques, extensive experience and accumulated knowledge.
If you suspect arthrosis or arthritis, the doctor will conduct a visual examination of the diseased joints, palpation, and ask you to talk about symptoms, previous diseases and injuries. Then you will be prescribed an X-ray examination, laboratory tests of blood and urine.
With arthrosis, blood counts are usually within normal limits. Whereas with arthritis, the patient exhibits an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a high level of leukocytes, which indicates the development of an inflammatory process. An x-ray will not show changes in the joints due to arthritis, but in case of arthrosis, the doctor will identify such changes in the image. Also, with arthritis, the so-called rheumatoid factor will be increased.
In addition, for diagnosis we use special instrumental studies (ultrasound, arthrography, arthroscopy, myelography). The patient must be examined by a rheumatologist, traumatologist, and consult a dermatologist, infectious disease specialist, or phthisiatrician. Only based on the results of research and the opinions of highly specialized specialists can an accurate diagnosis be made and effective treatment prescribed.