Arthritis and arthrosis: what is the difference between joint diseases?

Arthritis and arthrosis are diseases that not only sound very similar, but also affect the body in the same way: they affect the bones, joints, ligaments and cartilage.In both cases, symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty moving occur.However, there is quite a difference between them.We will try to bring some clarity to these concepts.We will explain how arthritis and arthrosis manifest themselves, what is the difference between these diseases and how they are treated.

Difference Between Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage breakdown).

Arthritisis a very broad term that is used to describe various types of conditions that cause joint inflammation.Each type of inflammation has its own name, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (arthrosis, deforming arthrosis).Arthritis can occur at any age.

Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis, osteoarthritis)- one of the most common types of arthritis that occurs when cartilage tissue wears down.Our joints are mobile thanks to cartilage, its elasticity and smoothness.Its destruction leads to direct contact between the bones in the joints, which causes pain.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change that occurs in old age.

In addition, arthritis and arthrosis have differences in:

• Symptoms
• Risk factors.
• Classifications.
• Diagnosis.
• Treatment.

Symptoms

Arthritic symptoms can also be present with arthrosis, but the nature of these symptoms is different.For example, pain in the joints is present in both cases, but pain with prolonged loading and stress is characteristic only of arthrosis.

Arthritis

It is important to understand that the symptoms of one type of arthritis are sometimes completely different from the symptoms of another.But here are some symptoms that are common with all types of arthritis:

• pain.It usually hurts at night and may subside with increasing duration of movement (for example, walking during the day).
• Edema and swelling.If you have had no injuries and when comparing both knees or wrists, one of them looks swollen, this could indicate arthritis.
• Sensation of shifting joints.There may be a feeling that the joints are shifting and pressing against each other.
• Fatigue.With any inflammatory disease, the immune system is activated and begins an active fight, which leads to a general weakening of the body and fatigue.
• Fever and loss of appetite.Inflammation not only lowers energy levels, as mentioned earlier, but can also lead to fever and loss of appetite.
• Redness and skin rash.They usually appear near inflamed joints.
• Limited range of motion in the affected joints.It goes without saying that pain makes any movement difficult.Doing simple housework or doing your favorite hobby becomes difficult due to acute pain in arthritic joints.

Arthrosis

Here are the most common symptoms of arthrosis:

• pain.The pain is felt in the particular joint affected by arthrosis and varies depending on the degree of cartilage damage.The more cartilage that is destroyed, the more pain a person will experience.Unlike arthritis, where pain often occurs at night or at rest, osteoarthritis pain often occurs during the day: when walking, running, etc.Touching the skin over the painful joint can also cause pain.
• Reduced mobility.It is especially noticeable after a long period of inactivity, for example after a night's sleep.
• I'm crunching.When moving with arthrosis, you can hear specific sounds (not a light click, but a heavy and rough sound).This is the result of the breakdown of cartilage, which is designed to provide smooth, painless friction between joints.
• Deformation.With arthrosis (especially in the later stages), various deformations of the bones and joints may appear: nodes, growths.There is no swelling like in arthritis.

Risk factors

Some factors may be the same for both diseases, while others are different.

• Age.One of the most common risk factors.As you age, your chances of developing osteoarthritis or other types of arthritis increase tenfold.In this case, arthrosis mainly affects the elderly, and arthritis can appear at any age.
• Weight.The heavier a person is, the more pressure his joints receive.This increases the chances of developing arthrosis and arthritis.
• Injury.The risk of osteoarthritis at a young age increases if you have previously suffered trauma to your bones or joints.
• Genetics.If many family members have suffered from arthrosis, there is a high probability that you will also encounter this disease.However, your genetics do not increase your chances of getting arthritis.
• activity.If you are constantly engaged in work that requires a lot of stress on the bones, joints and cartilage, your chances of developing arthrosis increase.

By the way, a research group from the University of Oxford recently discovered a marker in the blood that can identify the risk of developing arthritis before symptoms appear, even at an early age (up to 16 years).

Classification

Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis) is the most common type of arthritis and develops due to cartilage wear and painful friction between the joints.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – this type of arthritis usually affects all joints of the body except the lower back.It is an autoimmune disease, the causes of which are not fully understood.A person can get sick at any age (even small children suffer from the disease).
• Ankylosing spondylitis mainly affects the spine.It develops in the vertebrae and discs.It is an autoimmune disease.
• Cervical arthritis occurs for various reasons, but the main one is age.About 85% of people over 80 suffer from this disease.
• Gout is a rare type of arthritis that causes inflammation in various joints.This disease occurs due to increased levels of uric acid in the blood.Gout is now rare.
• Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that is characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints.In this disease, inflammation of the tendons and cartilage is observed;the eyes, lungs, and even the aorta can also suffer.
• Reactive arthritis occurs as the body's response to an attack by bacteria and infection.The causative agents are intestinal and genitourinary infections.The disease causes swelling of the fingers and toes and pain in the lower back.
• Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children under the age of 16.It leads to the destruction of bones and joints, problems with development and growth.
• Post-traumatic arthritis - occurs as a result of previous injuries (fractures, cracks, sprains).

Arthrosis

There are the following types of arthrosis:

• Cervical arthrosis affects the cervical vertebrae, occurs in old age and can be caused by stress and chronic neck diseases.Symptoms include neck pain and muscle spasms.
• Facet syndrome is most common among older people and causes back pain, especially when the person is in an upright position.Poor posture can cause facet syndrome.
• Coxarthrosis is arthrosis of the hip joint.The hip joint is hinged and one of the strongest in the body.But in old age it wears out, and coxarthrosis is also common in athletes and overweight people.
• Lumbar arthrosis affects the lower back.It can be caused by scoliosis and abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the upper torso).

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of both joint diseases includes:

• Survey.When did the pain appear, in what stage, the nature and duration of the pain, occupation, in what cases the pain intensifies, past infectious diseases, injuries, etc.
• Visual inspection and palpation.Check for visible signs: swelling, redness, nodules.
• Analyzes.
• X-ray and MRI.

What is the difference between diagnosing arthritis and arthrosis?Because arthritis is an inflammatory disease, the inflammation will be visible in a blood test.The tests for osteoarthritis are straightforward;X-rays or MRI are usually used for diagnosis.

Treatment

Arthritis

There are different treatment options depending on the severity of the disease.The main goal of treating arthritis is to eliminate the cause of the joint inflammation.

• Medicines.Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis may require a combination of different drugs.In addition to analgesics, your doctor may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and hormonal drugs to reduce pain.
• Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods high in calcium (to promote bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
• Surgical intervention.Surgeries range from minor procedures to major surgeries (joint replacement).

Arthrosis

The main goal of treating arthrosis is to restore the damaged cartilage.Treatment includes:

• Medicines in tablets are chondroprotectors.
• Injections - corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation and increase mobility.
• Massage therapy.The following essential oils are particularly effective: orange, ginger, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood and eucalyptus.
• Therapeutic gymnastics.
• Surgery – damaged joints can be replaced with artificial ones to reduce pain and improve mobility.
• Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to relieve pressure on joints.It is necessary to consume foods high in calcium (to promote bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).

Conclusions

• Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Osteoarthritis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage breakdown).
• Arthrosis occurs in elderly people (50+) (it can also appear at a young age, but very rarely after severe trauma).Arthritis can occur at any age (even in children).
• In arthrosis, the joints hurt during physical activity.In arthritis, the pain occurs at night.
• In arthrosis, the pain increases during movement, in arthritis it decreases.
• Osteoarthritis most often affects the knee and hip joints.Arthritis can occur in any joint;several distant joints or just one may hurt.
• Arthritis as an inflammatory disease can be diagnosed with a blood test, arthrosis cannot.