These two words sound quite similar, so many people when they say "arthritis" and "arthrosis" do not even realize that these are completely different diseases, even though they are related to the problems. joint problems. In fact, both of these diseases are very serious and need to know what is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis, if only so as not to fall into the dilemma in a conversation, because of the topic of health. is one of the "eternal" topics when one person communicates with others.
What is Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that affects most middle-aged people (under 40), though exceptions are possible. According to statistics, very few people suffer from arthritis, not more than 2% of the total population. In essence, however, arthritis is a serious inflammatory process in which joint problems are only the noticeable part of widespread inflammation.
In arthritis, the main cause of the disease is much deeper hidden than joint swelling, as well as pain that does not leave the patient even at night rest (sometimes these pains are only intensethan). This inflammation can be caused by an infection or a malfunctioning immune system. The joint is not the only organ to become inflamed. Usually a blow will hit a person's internal organs such as the liver, heart and kidneys. If you ignore the problem of arthritis, it is not only human health but also life-threatening.
What is joint disease?
In general, arthritis is an age-related change that a person experiences, usually occurring closest in the middle of the second half of life. Most often, the mechanism of development of joint disease is due to severe trauma in the form of fractures and joint damage in people over 45 years of age.
Health statistics show that one in three people over the age of 50 has joint disease and one in two is over 70 years old. Overall, about 10% of the inhabitants of our planet suffer from arthritis. Most often, joint diseases affect the knees and hip joints in the elderly. In addition, the knuckles and ankles can become arthritis.
The reasons for the disease
It is clear that the cause of each disease is completely different.
For arthritis this could be:
- Injuries of various origins, to a greater extent, recurrent occupational activity-related recurrent injuries can cause disease;
- Infections such as tuberculosis, fungal infections, SARS, influenza;
- Vitamin deficiency and metabolic imbalance;
- Body overload;
- Nervous system disorders;
- Your immune system is malfunctioning;
- A predisposition to arthritis.
Arthritis is a regular companion of people in industries such as tailors, hairdressers, masseurs, stevedores, and builders.
For arthritis, the factors in the development of the disease are:
- Excess weight affects joint function;
- Poor nutrition;
- Prolonged hypothermia;
- Has suffered many different types of injuries (perhaps a long time ago);
- Body poisoning;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Infectious diseases in the past;
- Manifestations of autoimmune disruption;
- Perthes disease, manifested by an altered blood supply to the femur;
- Thyroid disorder;
Heredity tends to develop joint disease, which is transmitted at the genetic level.
Bothersome Symptoms in Arthritis
When suffering from arthritis, joint pain is severe, especially when walking or other physical activity. The joint itself swells up considerably and the skin around the joint becomes hot to the touch. Also, the skin may turn red. The patient appears to be feeling weak, making it difficult to perform any movement with the affected arm or leg. It is especially difficult in the morning after a night's rest. When pressed against the joint, the patient feels intense pain. When you do these movements, joints affected by arthritis may crack. The patient can suffer from a high body temperature, at which time chills themselves may also develop. In acute arthritis, all symptoms appear simultaneously and suddenly. In chronic arthritis, symptoms increase slowly and gradually.
Symptoms of joint disease
With joint disease, doctors distinguish the four main symptoms of the disease:
- Joint pain.The pain is intense and throbbing. It begins at the moment movement begins and decreases gradually when it enters the resting state. At night, a person has almost no pain, and has chosen a comfortable position, the patient can sleep quietly. Pain increases as the disease progresses. Pain is also worse in cold and rainy weather;
- Creaking joints.Due to the free and soft decrease in the ability of the bones to rotate, strong scratching is heard in the joint. Experts distinguish the rustling of a joint by a kind of "dry" sound. The more the disease develops, the stronger the clumping noise in the joints. A characteristic of the cracking sound in arthritis is that the crackling noise is almost always accompanied by pain;
- Restricts joint mobility.With joint disease, in many cases the limb is immobilized. This is because bone growth occurs and joint space is narrowed, leading to the first limitation of mobility, which then leads to complete immobility of the joint;
- Joint deformation.As a rule, this symptom is characteristic of the late stage of joint disease development, when bone cells develop.
Clinical difference between osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis
It is clear that arthritis and dry arthritis have different origins. If arthritis is the result of a malfunction of the immune system or an infectious disease, arthritis refers more to diseases that arise from the body's aging process. Accordingly, based on that, the clinical picture of the manifestations of arthritis and joint disease will also be different.
Finger Arthritis
Therefore, when suffering from finger arthritis, the patient has severe pain that does not decrease at rest and at rest. Also, the skin around the affected joints turns red.
Arthritis can affect a number of joints, ranging from one (monocarthritis) to multiple joints (polyarthritis). Swollen joints. The reaction to the pressure on the joint can be painful.
For joint cracking, it may or may not.
Finger Arthritis
It occurs most often in the elderly and in women, joint disease occurs about 10 times more often than in the strong sex. The main location of localization is the joints between the phalangs of the fingers.
Any movement of the finger will cause uncomfortable pain in the patient. However, at rest, the pain is practically absent. The joints are swollen and possibly reddish of the skin around the affected joint. Arthritis is always accompanied by a "dry" cry in the joints.
Similar picture is also observed in cases of arthritis and degenerative joint of toe joints.
Treatment with chondreoprotectors
In osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, cartilage is destroyed by contact with rough surfaces of bones. As a result, production of synovial fluid is disrupted, cartilage is nutritionally deficient, and joints lack the lubricant required for its normal functioning.
Chondroprotector blocks these pathological processes. The active substances of chondoprotectors are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. The dosage forms for releasing these substances are different and can be used by doctors depending on the situation.
Nowadays, chondroprotectors are produced in the form:
- Injection solution;
- Tablet;
- Creams, ointments and gels.
Cartilage protection treatment should begin before the cartilage completely deflates. Unfortunately, such treatment is completely useless when the cartilage is destroyed. The next thing to remember when treating with chondroprotectors is the duration of the treatment. The fact is that the cartilage recovery process is quite long and the minimum course of treatment is six months, but reality shows that treatment with chondroprotectors takes an average of one and a half years to two years. If recovery is not completed, cartilage destruction will continue. As a rule, chondroprotectors do not have any side effects on the patient's body, the maximum level observed is in fact mild intestinal disturbances. Complications can only arise in the treatment of chondroprotectors in people with diabetes. When treating them, the dose of insulin should be calculated accurately, since the chondreoprotectors contain glucose. And it is also not recommended to use chondreoprotector during pregnancy, as well as for the treatment of children.
Nowadays, in the arsenal of doctors treating arthritis and joint problems, there are a number of effective drugs available to treat them.
Should start treatment with the drug chondroprotectors under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise the treatment may be ineffective.
Treatment with folk remedies
For arthritis, traditional medicine recommends some effective recipes:
- Apple cider vinegar.This substance is added to water (1 teaspoon per glass of water). The resulting solution is taken orally before a meal;
- Compress the potatoes.Take the green bulb as a medicine.
Rinse, cut to taste. Potatoes are boiled in water at a temperature of 38 degrees. Then, a gauze pad is applied to the sore area. The potato layer should be 1. 5 - 2 cm thick. Needs to bet at night. The course of treatment in this manner is seven to ten days.
Ointment for the treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis
In the early stages of the development of arthritis, as well as joint disease, the use of ointments for topical application can be helpful in the treatment of the patient. The specialist will select the appropriate drug based on the examination results.