Arthritis and arthrosis are two pathologies that affect the musculoskeletal system, namely the joints. The etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases are different, but the end result is the same: damage to the joints (cartilage, meniscus, intraarticular structure, and tendon muscle) with soft tissue inflammation, damage to the anatomical structure, and physiological destruction.
Separately, these pathologies mean that arthritis is an inflammatory process involving certain groups of enzymes designed to destroy the connective tissue of the joints. Arthrosis is the destruction of joints, that is, irreversible phenomena with complete or partial deformation of all joint components, limiting the biomechanics of the organ. With the exception of these pathologies and the implementation of appropriate prevention, you need to know everything about arthritis and arthrosis, what is the difference in treatment.
Specificity, difference and causes
The difference between arthritis and arthrosis is that arthritis can be eliminated with medication and arthritis with medication plus surgery, and only after the main cause, such as comorbidities, metabolic disorders, or injuries, have been eliminated. Arthritis or arthritis can occur after mechanical injury, prolonged walking, or vertical exertion. The process involves all the joints (upper and lower limbs and all the joints that make up the chest and spine) with a single or even lesion. Inflammation attracts not only the joint components but also all layers of the surrounding tissues, a fact that depends on the depth of the lesion. With high quality treatment, the inflammation disappears and the cartilage tissue gradually recovers.
Destructive pathology of the joints or arthrosis can only be stopped after treatment of the underlying disease or correction of the metabolism or hormonal composition. The disease consists of partial or complete wear of the cartilage disc. Visible bone is covered with osteophytes, which cause unbearable pain during movement. Furthermore, the joint loses its biomechanical ability, which is often the patient’s fault - trying to spare the patient’s joint, which is rapidly ankylosing. This fact explains the difference between arthrosis and arthritis: in the case of arthritis, the ability to move back to the joint (unless the anatomical structure of the locomotor system is damaged due to an accident or infectious disease), resp. in arthrosis, physiological mobility is partially restored in first-degree lesions and only in surgery at an advanced stage.
Causes of arthritis and arthrosis:
- Arthritis is caused by mechanical injuries (bruises, blows, open and closed fractures with or without microbial infection), constant physical activity (running, walking, jumping, weight lifting) and physico-chemical factors (sharp drop in temperature with hypothermia oroverheating of the joints). Allergy and poisoning are also among the causes of the disease. In childhood, arthritis is the result of beriberi and decreased immunity, as well as frequent injuries, especially in the joints of the lower extremities.
- Arthrosis can have many causes, namely: hereditary connective tissue diseases, increased allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, rheumatic component, metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, chronic liver and kidney disease, and changes in the hormonal composition of female and male hormones (estrogen and androgen). Sarcoma or carcinoma is one of the malignancies that lead to destructive processes in bone tissue and cartilage. Poisoning or increased radiation to the body is a clear mechanism for the development of arthrosis.
Important! After diagnostic manipulations, it becomes clear where arthritis and arthrosis are, what the difference is, and how to treat them. Folk remedies can suppress the inflammatory process, but it is impossible to get rid of the disease, so consult a doctor!
Symptoms of joint disease
Clinical symptoms: what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis
| Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Arthritis with local erythema + increased edema. | Inflammatory processes extend not only to the diseased joint area but also to the surrounding soft tissues, violating the anatomical shape of the joints. |
| Pain syndrome: throbbing pain when walking and at rest. | The pain is varied: throbbing, sharp and sore. With some posture, it partially subsides. |
| Temporary restraint (full or partial immobilization). | Permanent restriction of movement. Plus: gentle or facilitative provisions are common. In the last stage of the disease, the joint is completely paralyzed (it is impossible to bend, bend and rotate the joint). |
| Temperature rise above the affected joint. | The temperature above the joint is normal (36, 6 degrees). In the event of death due to infection or pinching of the nerves, the body temperature rises to 37-38 degrees, especially at night. |
| Radiation of pain to adjacent organs and systems, depending on location | It is characterized by the irradiation of pain. |
| In the case of a microbial infection, the body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. | Infectious agents are rarely associated. |
| The change in the weather does not affect the diseased organ. | Painful joints respond to weather conditions. |
| The patient has pain in one of the joints. | Arthrosis can cause pain in several joints or the entire musculoskeletal system. |
Attention! When the first symptoms of inflammation appear in the joints of the fingers, there is no need to endure pain and wait for joint deformity - this leads to irreversible processes in the form of anatomical changes and physiological abnormalities.
To the question, "arthritis and arthrosis, what is the difference between the fingers? "There is a reliable answer: a weakening of the squeezing of the fingers, a decrease in their sensitivity and unbearable pain during physical exertion, which does not go away after a night 's rest. The treatment is only medical.
The difference between arthrosis and knee arthritis is as follows: in arthritis, the pathology disappears after treatment according to the therapeutic regimen, and the biomechanics of the joint are restored after rehabilitation. In the case of arthrosis, depending on the degree of damage, partial restoration of biomechanics occurs only after surgical surgery with correction of the joint structure.
These pathologies affect all joints, including the joints of the toes. Arthritis and arthritis what is the difference between the toes and the toes? The fingers of the lower limb undergo the same changes as the hands: inflammation, swelling, and pain. In arthrosis, the joints go through destruction and deformation. The anatomical shape changes, with sharp or aching pain when moving. It is difficult to step on, after a long walk the pain does not go away. It decreases only after an analgesic injection.
Similar and different facts
Similarities of joint pathologies:
- Source of pathology (joints).
- Symptoms with clinical picture.
- Diagnostic tests.
- Preventive measures.
- Recovery period.
- Drug therapy, gymnastics and physiotherapy.
- Forecast.
Distinctive factors:
| Arthritis | Arthrosis |
| Acute and chronic. | Chronic degenerative nature. |
| A joint hurts. | The joints are affected in pairs or systemically. |
| Pain syndrome disappears completely after medical therapy and rehabilitation. | The pain will always be present, alleviated only by a certain position of the body and the administration of strong painkillers. |
| Both adults and children get sick. | The pathology is typical of the elderly or patients with chronic diseases associated with hormonal disorders or metabolic changes. |
| Pathology is more common in the ankle and elbow joints. | All joints are affected simultaneously. |
| It is a separate disease. | Consequence or complication of chronic comorbidities. |
| Temporary restraint. | Permanent limitation of joint biomechanics. |
| The disease has a certain etiology - trauma or stress. Poisoning or body allergies are rare. | Age-related changes or chronic diseases. |
| Rehabilitation lasts for a short time without exacerbations. | Rehabilitation involves severe exacerbations. |
Patients often ask themselves: which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis? For such pathologies, you should contact a traumatologist, a rheumatologist (if the pathology is rheumatic), or a surgeon. Before consulting such physicians, you should have your doctor examined at your home clinic, laboratory tests (general and biochemical), X-rays taken in three projections, MRI, and computed tomography. Then seek a referral from a specialist in musculoskeletal pathologies for further consultation.
Medical tactics
Once you have discovered some of the symptoms on your own or have an established diagnosis in your hand, every patient is looking for information: "Medication for arthritis and arthritis. " This is the right tactic, but treatment is only prescribed under strict supervision by your doctor.
Arthritis treatment
Therapeutic tactics begin after thorough instrumental and laboratory testing. It depends on the form and stage of the pathology, so the method of treatment is chosen individually, namely:
- painkillers cider, up to the drugs belonging to the drug group, depending on the intensity of the pain;
- non-steroidal drugs;
- prescribe COX1 or COX2 drugs (non-selective enzyme inhibitors);
- antispasmodics;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotectors;
- vitamins: B12, B1, B6, A, D, PP;
- antioxidants: vitamin C;
- drugs that increase immunity;
- desensitizing agents;
- massage and gym therapy.
Reducing physical activity, excessive salt and pepper consumption, fried foods and fatty foods, and the exclusion of alcohol + smoking from the diet are integral parts of therapeutic therapy. If you have diabetes - follow your diet strictly and take medicines that control your sugar levels.
Important! The use of vitamin preparations is recommended for the effective treatment of arthritis of any etiology (including the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis). Some doses contain B1, B6 and B12.
What is the essence of the effectiveness of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 in the treatment of arthritis? Thiamine relieves pain by reducing nerve irritability. Pyridoxine - stimulates sphingolipids in nerve fibers and increases the level of metabolism in the musculoskeletal system, improving the metabolism of amino acid components. Cyanocobalamin: acts on the neurons of the brain, improves the production of red blood cells.
Arthrosis treatment
Several points are added to the specific scheme for the treatment of arthritis, namely:
- strong painkillers to relieve pain;
- corticosteroid drugs;
- novocaine blockade;
- intraarticular injections of drugs for the repair of cartilage tissue;
Surgery is the best treatment option. First, this method of treatment eliminates the destructive components of the joint, artificially increasing the cartilage replacement material. Second, arthroplasty of the diseased joint is performed. The postoperative rehabilitation period depends on the volume of the postoperative zone and the individual physiological abilities of the body.
For both conditions, topical ointments + gels based on analgesics, hormones and chondroprotectors are recommended. You don’t have to ask yourself "arthritis and arthrosis, what’s the difference than treating ointments" - these drugs are prescribed for both diseases.
Folk remedies for the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis
As soon as one of the joints becomes inflamed, everyone starts looking for information: arthritis and arthrosis, what is the difference between treatment with folk remedies. Arthritis or arthrosis allows some folk remedies to be incorporated into the therapeutic regimen. But! These healing agents are used only in parallel with complex therapy. They are able to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Traditional medicine is powerless to completely eradicate the disease.
- Propolis tincture: dissolve 50 g of propolis in 100 ml of vodka and leave to stand for one week. Tincture rub the sore joints 3-5 times a day. The process of treatment until complete recovery.
- Garlic tincture: Transfer 5 heads of large garlic to a meat grinder, add a spoonful of honey and 50 ml of pure alcohol. Insist for 10 days. Rub the sore spots twice a day. After rubbing, put a bag on top and let stand for an hour.
- Caucasian hellebore: a spoonful of hunyorpor + a spoonful of bee honey + a spoonful of mustard powder and melted lard. Mix thoroughly and leave in a warm and dark place for 10 days. Then use it as an ointment.
- Birch buds: pour 200 g of dry birch bud powder in 0. 5 liters of boiling water and stick to it for a day. It is recommended to drink 50 ml once or twice a day before meals.
- Burdock root tincture: the crushed root is poured with a liter of vodka, infused for a month. This tincture wipes the joints.
Prevention
Preventive measures are intended to keep the cartilage layer and joint functioning throughout life. To do this, do the following:
- Consider a nutritious diet other than fried foods, fatty + pepper, and salty, alcoholic + nicotine.
- Use natural chondroprotectors in the form of gels and gels.
- They are constantly being investigated.
- Avoid strenuous physical exertion.
- Be careful except for joint injuries.
- Exercise in the morning, run, swim.
- Do daily exercises for the joints of the limbs.
- Keep taking vitamins.
- For preventative purposes, take chondroprotectors, calcium, potassium and other minerals every six months.
- Seek medical attention after joint sprain or mechanical injury.
Arthritis and arthritis are related diseases, so everyone needs to know what arthritis and arthritis are, what is the difference between treatment. Both pathologies cannot be completely cured, especially arthrosis, which leads to immobilization of the joints. But timely treatment helps eliminate disability and live a full life. And we must remember that folk remedies are not the main drugs, but supplements that have the benefits after complex treatment.