The most common joint pathologies are arthritis and arthrosis. Two diseases have many differences, on which the result of the disease depends largely.
The correct determination of the disease by a medical specialist acts as a guarantee of effective treatment for complete restoration of the joints concerned. Under the influence of age -related changes, each person has a risk of pathological changes in the joints. The joints are particularly affected, which for life are subject to an increase in the load.
Diseases can be a direct cause of joint changes. In order to prevent unwanted consequences from joint diseases, it is necessary not to give for the development of diseases, adhering to prevention and treatment measures.
What is arthritis and arthrosis and how they differ
Arthritis and arthrosis are frequent diagnosis in older patients. To understand the differences between these two pathologies, we will consider what arthritis and arthrosis are and what is the difference between them.
Many people confuse arthrosis and arthritis, because they have many similar symptoms:
- pain;
- pain during movement;
- bone deformation;
- swelling;
- redness of the inflamed area;
- a feeling of combustion in an interested place;
- STATION.
This is the reason why it is necessary to understand these diseases in more detailed way in order to understand their details, to distinguish between symptoms and types of manifestations of the disease.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints, when the enzymes that destroy the connective tissue begin to be produced in the body. The synovial shell is influenced, in which ships and nerve endings are located, the composition of the liquid is disturbed and the cartilage does not receive the right diet. Long -term arthritis pours into arthrosis.
Consider the difference in the symptoms between arthritis and arthrosis:
- Sinovite appears: swelling in a sore point, a strong sensitivity, a limitation of mobility are characteristic.
- Any joints are interested, both small and large. Even in the plural, the polyartrosis will be diagnosed.
- Very often it manifests itself in women.
- Pain: pain, acute, regardless of the rest of rest or loads. It can "swim" from one place to another.
- In the morning, rigidity is manifested in the joint, poor mobility. It disappears half an hour after a person starts moving.
- In an inflamed place, the temperature increases, the skin becomes red.
- Edema in the area of the painful joint.
- The limbs can freeze, flow, numbness in the morning.
- The joint is deformed, which is immediately visible in the X -ray.
- It begins to influence the meteorological dependence, the painful joints are very complaining "for time".
- Nature similar to the wave of pain. In an initial phase, the pain is weak, the intensity does not increase for a long time;
- Gradually, the pain is listened to, in the morning the rigidity of the problematic joints is felt;
- As dystrophic changes develop, the mobility of the affected area decreases, in advanced cases, complete immobility is possible due to the destruction of the cartilage;
- The main places of location are the joints of the hip (Coksartrosis), the spine (spondylartosis), the knees (gonartrosis).
Pay attention to the main signs of joint pathologies. Even a slight discomfort in the joints should cause the suspicion of the development of negative processes in the cartilage.
Causes
Arthritis is an inflammatory reaction in the articulation, which occurs in response to the action of a variety of harmful factors.
Arthosis, or rather, osteoarthritis, is not also a separate disease, but a group of completely different states, which are based on a change in all components of the joint: cartilage, bones, ligaments, joint capsule and periarticular muscles.
- Accident. The most famous mechanism for the development of arthritis. Bruises, fractures, bleeding in the joint cavity lead to damage to cells and the formation of inflammation.
- Hypothermia. The flow of blood to the joints, in particular small ones, can abruptly worsen. The cells of the connective tissue, without nutrition, die. The arthritis occurs.
- Infection. It can fall into the joint compound for injuries or with a blood flow for infectious diseases, for example tuberculosis, leather skin, lime disease.
- Systemic diseases of the connective tissue. This is a group of diseases in which immunity begins to perceive one's body tissues as strangers and attacking them. This is a systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and some other diseases.
- Since the bones, cartilage and ligaments consist of most of the connective tissue, are the joints that respond to this inflammation in the first place.
- The reason for the development of arthritis can also be serious diseases such as psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis.
- The action of professional factors and sports load. Gymnasters and skaters have a greater frequency of damage to the hip joints, dancers - ankle, football players and basketball players - knee, boxer - hand joints.
- Excess body weight. Obesity people have a load several times increased on intervertebral joints and discs. As a result of constant microtraumatization, these structures are consumed, which is the basis of diseases known such as osteochondosis and spondularosis.
- The consequences of joint lesions. Not always after acute injuries and the development of arthritis, the articulation is completely restored. Sometimes the flow of blood remains disturbed, consequently, the joint functions in the conditions of insufficient intake of nutrients and oxygen. After some time, arthrosis develops.
- Systemic diseases that violate the nutrition of joint cartilage. These include, for example, diabetes mellitus, insufficient thyroid function, as well as some diseases, accompanied by altered calcium metabolism. In addition, the perestroika of the bones can cause hormonal menopause disorders.
- Chronic inflammatory processes that occur in the joints. Protective inflammation can take place in connective tissue diseases, Behterev's disease and other conditions.
However, despite the differences in the symptoms and causes of occurrence, in some cases arthritis and arthrosis can exist together. For example, with rheumatoid arthritis, frequent exacerbations of the disease in which the joint does not have time to recover. Another example: the articulation melted incorrectly after the fracture, which is constantly subjected to trauma. Doctors call these states "arthroso-arthritis".
Diagnostics
To start the treatment of the disease, the correct diagnosis of arthritis or arthrosis is important. It can be carried out using various research methods. Not all patients know which doctor is engaged in joint pathologies, so in the initial phase you can contact a rheumatologist or a therapist, and therefore you will need a consultation of an orthopedist, a surgeon.
Patients should be prescribed a blood test that will demonstrate general changes in the body. If the results of the blood examination do not show deviations, the doctors are inclined to arthrosis as a preliminary diagnosis.
With an increase in the inauguration rate of red blood cells in the plasma in the blood, rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, since there is a clear indication of the inflammatory process. Generally, the indicator increases greater than 25 mm/h. The joint pain, intensifying at night, will also be a further confirmation function. In all honesty, we note that an increase in ESR is possible with arthrosis, if inflammation has joined.
A further discussion in favor of rheumatoid arthritis will be a greater amount of leukocytes. They also take blood from the vein to rheumatological champions, the appearance of a special reactive protein of the brand to which speaks of inflammation. However, it is not necessary to rely only on the examination of the blood, since one of the diseases cannot be determined by this analysis. Further studies must be conducted, constantly taking into account the presence of an inflammatory factor in the blood.
Like further studies, doctors prescribe the patient:
- X -Rays of the problematic area;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- computerized tomography;
- Radioisotopic scan.
The doctors take into account the tests, a carefully collected story and the results of a blood test, after which a particular disease is diagnosed.
Arthritis and arthrosis - How to treat?
Both disorders involve special therapy, without which arthritis passes into a chronic form and arthrosis deprives performance.
The general principles of the treatment are similar, but the tasks are different:
- With arthritis, the main objective is to relieve inflammation, eliminate painful symptoms, prevent complications on other organs;
- With arthrosis, due to the inability to completely treat the disease, the main therapeutic emphasis is on the relief of pain and on the arrest of the dystrophic processes in the cartilage.
The complex of medical measures necessarily includes medicines in the form of tablets, ointments, creams, solutions, dust, injections. As auxiliary methods, popular recipes, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are used. In advanced cases, it is not possible to do without surgery.
- The first stage is the fight against pathogenic bacteria, the dangerous viruses, under the influence of which the inflammatory process began. The use of non -steering anti -inflammatory drugs is required;
- It is important not only to destroy the pathogen of the infection, but also to strengthen immunity.
- Recommended protein diet, vitamin therapy, dairy products -caseari. Alcohol, strong coffee, sweet carbonated drinks, black tea (best green) are needed.
- Physiotherapists give a good effect: electrophoresis with drugs for inflammation, magnet therapy and laser and therapeutic baths. After interrupting the inflammatory process, to restore the mobility of the painful articulation, the LFK complex, the massage. Rich methods are useful without the use of heat.
- The main task is to normalize the condition of the cartilage tissue. The doctor prescribes chondroprotectors with hyaluronic acid, condroitin sulphate and glucosamine. A long course of treatment improves the elasticity of the cartilage, restores blood circulation, metabolism and arrests the degenerative contextary processes.
- In serious cases, the drugs of the NSAID group are necessary to relieve pain, eliminate inflammation, which developed during the abrasion of the joint tissue. But as the main remedy for arthrosis therapy, they are ineffective.
- Physiotherapy procedures, special exercises are useful. Many patients and doctors speak positively about Bubnovsky's joint gymnastics.
- Patients successfully use folk methods. Follow, decoctions, compressed, bathrooms, tinctures for the house are made of natural components.
- With the complete destruction of the cartilage tissue, surgical treatment is performed: endoprothetics. Arthosis cannot be completely treated, it is possible to maintain only joint health, prevent exacerbations.
The treatment of osteoarthritis is prolonged and complex: in a hospital institution, clinic and sanitors. Using physiotherapy exercises, massages, physiotherapy procedures. There is an orthopedic correction. With the ineffectiveness of the above, surgical manipulations - arthrodesis (immobile fiction of the bone compound in a given position) or arthroplasty (restoration of joint abilities) are performed.
Arthritis therapy is also carried out completely, depending on the severity of the disease. Physiotherapy methods and the treatment of resort spa are prescribed. The massage is not recommended here, the exercise therapy is very rare. In the event of complications (inflammation of the perioset bag, breaking of tendons, complex joint deformations), with severe pain and lack of the effect of drug therapy, surgery is performed. This is the prosthesis of the bone joint, the complete or partial removal of the joint bag and the arthrodesis.
Treatment of popular arthritis and arthrosis remedies
Folk methods are a good assistant in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis at home. These recipes based on natural components have a predominantly symptomatic effect, used as an additional tool.
- Compress at night from the leaves of Bardock, white cabbage, aloe, washed in advance and slightly dented to secrete the juice;
- Hot baths with pine needles, steam joints in a healing decoction;
- grinding a place affected by egg yolk, spoonful of apple cider vinegar and turpentine caps;
- A decoction of sage herbs, the San Giovanni grass and the braids, preparing 2 tablespoons of the collection in the middle boiling water in half, taking 0, 5 cups before meals.
- A compress from the root of the ginger, grated on a grater and attached to a painful articulation to stimulate blood circulation and a heating effect;
- Rubika for the night of 50 g of honey and 1 teaspoon. mummy healing;
- Patch Pepe or Mostarda Impresso as thermal procedure;
- Bathrooms based on a decoction of mint leaves or soda solution.
All recipes can be used for both diseases, but only after consulting the attending physician. Domestic treatment can help, eliminating unpleasant sensations and damage, causing an allergic reaction and an exacerbation.
Result
The difference between arthritis and arthrosis is significant. Knowing the characteristics of joint diseases will help the patient to control the course of the pathological process, competently use all the treatment methods available. Under the guidance of an expert doctor, you can cope with any joint pathology.
In order to prevent diseases, attention should be paid to a healthy lifestyle. A balanced meal and systematic physical exercises will increase the life of the joints and this is necessary to strengthen the entire health.