Joint pain can make life unbearable.After a visit to the doctor, the diagnosed osteoarthritis or arthritis is noted on the outpatient card.
People who are far from medicine have no idea about 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 at the same time.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative-inflammatory processes and arises from age-related changes in the structure of cartilage tissue.
The movable joints of large bones and, more rarely, the finger joints are affected.
Appearance of a joint with osteoarthritis
The main cause of pathological changes are metabolic disorders in cartilage.Violation of cartilage trophism leads to irreversible loss of proteoglycans and loss of tissue elasticity.
Dystrophic cartilage changes lead to pathological changes in the structure of the articular surfaces of the bones.Over time, the degeneration process spreads to the periarticular tissue.
Types of osteoarthritis
Based on their origin, they differentiate between primary and secondary osteoarthritis.
The primary form affects previously healthy joints and is a consequence of age-related changes and insufficient physical activity.The time of appearance of the first symptoms of arthrosis depends on the hereditary predisposition, the characteristics of professional activity and lifestyle.
Traditionally, people over 45 years of age are considered to be at risk, but there is now a steady trend towards early incidence.The disease mainly affects women, but with increasing age, the dependence on gender gradually decreases.
Secondary arthrosis develops against the background of a previous injury or certain diseases of a different nature, including:
- autoimmune processes;
- metabolic disorders;
- endocrine dysfunction;
- Pathologies of the structure of bone joints;
- genetic diseases;
- inflammatory processes.
Secondary osteoarthritis is not associated with the aging process and can occur at any age.
There are three stages in the development of the disease.
In the first stage there are changes in the synovial fluid.The nutrition of the cartilage is disrupted and its resistance to stress decreases.The surface of the cartilage becomes rough and inflammation occurs, which is accompanied by pain.
As the disease progresses to the second stage, the pain becomes habitual and the course of the accompanying inflammation becomes undulating.The cartilage begins to deteriorate and compensatory bone growths form at the edges of the joint area.Periarticular muscles are involved in pathological processes.
The third stage is characterized by severe degradation of articular cartilage with areas of complete tissue destruction.Degenerative processes lead to irreversible anatomical changes, including changes in the axis of the limbs.The function of the ligamentous apparatus is disrupted, resulting in abnormal mobility of the affected joint against the background of limited natural mobility.
Depending on the location of the lesion, the following are distinguished:
- gonarthrosis,
- coxarthrosis,
- spondyloarthrosis,
- Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands.
Other pathological locations are relatively rare.
Gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis of the knee joint
The risk factors for the development of this disease include hereditary predisposition, overuse or work-related knee injuries.
According to statistics, osteoarthritis lesions in the knee joints are diagnosed more often 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, various 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 quickly and lead to loss of mobility of the affected limb.
Coxathrosis, arthrosis of the hip joint
With this disease, a classic clinical picture of osteoarthritis is observed.
The first symptom of coxarthrosis is discomfort in the hip joint after physical activity.
As coxarthrosis progresses, pain increases, stiffness and limited mobility occur.
Patients with a severe form of coxarthrosis protect the affected limb, avoid stepping on it and, when standing still, choose positions in which the pain is least noticeable.
Spinal arthrosis, spondyloarthrosis
Spondyloarthrosis refers to pathologies that develop against the background of degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs.
The first and most important symptom of developing osteoarthritis of the spine is pain when bending to the side or bending back and forth.
When a person assumes a horizontal position, the pain gradually subsides.
Over time, without proper treatment, mobility of the affected part of the spine may be completely lost.
Without appropriate treatment, spinal osteoarthritis can lead to intervertebral hernias and joint deformities.In severe cases, the patient loses the ability to perform normal movements and becomes disabled.
Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands
The disease mainly affects women.The early symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain when coming into contact with cold water and when the fingers are strained.Over time, the joints deform due to the compaction of the adjacent tissues and the formation of characteristic bone outgrowths.
The disease progresses in waves; in the acute stage, the joints swell, partially lose their mobility and tactile sensitivity can be impaired.
Treatment of osteoarthritis
A complete cure for osteoarthritis is not possible 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 important to reduce the strain on the musculoskeletal system.Doctors recommend avoiding carrying heavy objects, staying in one position for long periods of time, and limiting time on your feet.It is important for overweight patients to lose weight.
The following are used in the medical treatment of osteoarthritis:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, taken internally in the form of injections or tablets and externally as a component of ointments.The method of application is 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.
In addition, warming compresses and ointments, drugs to activate microcirculation and metabolic processes in the blood, antioxidants and microelement-vitamin complexes with selenium are used, and physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed.In severe cases, surgical intervention is required.
During the remission period, the patient is recommended exercise therapy, which is selected according to the characteristics of the course of the disease.
arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that occurs as an underlying disease, concomitant pathology or as a complication of a previous infectious disease.
Appearance of joints in arthritis
The typical causes of inflammatory processes in the joints include:
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- lack of vitamins;
- injuries;
- autoimmune diseases;
- infectious lesions of various origins.
In contrast to osteoarthritis, pathological processes in arthritis affect the periarticular tissue.The occurrence of pain is independent of physical activity and posture and is often disturbing at night.
Noises in the joints, which are characteristic of the early stages of osteoarthritis, 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.Unusual and unpleasant sensations in the joints are a good reason to see a doctor.The success of treatment depends largely on the timely detection and treatment of the disease.
Types of Arthritis
Based on its occurrence, arthritis is divided into several types:
- infectious arthritis.They develop as independent diseases due to a wound infection (primary infectious arthritis) or when a pathogen enters the bloodstream from organs affected by the infection (secondary arthritis);
- rheumatoid arthritis.This chronic disease is of infectious-autoimmune origin and usually develops in middle-aged and older people;
- Gouty arthritis.The inflammatory process is caused by microtraumatization of the cartilage surface by crystals of uric acid salts formed in the joint capsule;
- traumatic arthritisdevelops in response to trauma, but can develop several years after its consequences have been eliminated;
- juvenile rheumatoid arthritisaffects 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 rapidly, with severe swelling, severe pain in the affected area, local or general increase in temperature.
In chronic arthritis, symptoms gradually increase and the disease can progress over years.If treated prematurely or improperly, acute arthritis can become chronic.
Depending on the characteristics of the lesion, monoarthritis and polyarthritis are distinguished.In monoarthritis, the lesion is localized to one of the joints;If several joints are involved in the pathological process, the 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 disease.With infectious arthritis, patients are prescribed treatment with antibiotics or other medications, depending on the type of pathogen.
To eliminate inflammation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the form of injections, tablets and/or externally in the form of an ointment or gel.
In addition, drugs from the groups of chondroprotectors, antihistamines and general tonics can be prescribed.In some cases, patients are prescribed drugs that improve blood microcirculation.
In addition to drug treatment, patients are prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures and, during the remission period, a set of exercise therapy exercises.
In severe and advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
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 see a doctor.
Prevention measures
To prevent arthritis and arthrosis, it is important to optimize physical activity and avoid overload.Sick and at-risk people need to change their diet to include healthy foods, reduce alcohol consumption and stop smoking.
People prone to obesity are recommended to maintain normal body weight, as increased load on the musculoskeletal system can provoke or accelerate pathological changes.
In order to detect the disease in its early stages, it is important to undergo regular preventive examinations.