Expansion of Terminology
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are considered related words. Both imply joint damage. Because of the compatibility of the terms, patients often perceive them as synonymous. This approach is wrong. To know how arthritis differs from knee osteoarthritis, you need to consider the characteristics of each.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is represented by deformity of the joints. Pathology is considered age-related. Morer is more common in elderly patients. It is also found in people under 40 years old. Most often, its occurrence is provoked by severe damage to joints, fractures. The risk group is represented by athletes. Read more about knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Arthritis is an inflammatory pathology that develops in a compound. Usually, its occurrence is manifested by a deterioration of the functioning of the connection. The whole body is inflamed. The disease can break out in any joint. It can also cover several links at once. Learn more about knee arthritis.Difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is represented by the nuance that an immune failure is considered a provocateur of inflammation. Can be displayed:
- Stressful situation;
- Hypothermia;
- Driven flu.
Inflammation is provoked by an infectious agent, metabolic disorders and immune dysfunctions. With the improved function of the body's defense system, the immune system works against itself.
Signs of Arthritis
This joint pathology is manifested by the main and additional signs. The main ones are:
- Joint pain. Strong is strong, worse at night;
- Redness of the dermis on the affected joint, swelling.
Additional signs of inflammatory disease are also observed:
- night pains, manifested by complete rest;
- pain relief when moving;
- morning hardening. Passes after an hour;
- redness, swelling of the knees;
- attacks of severe pain in the knee area. They last for several days;
- presence of dense nodules under the skin;
- subfebrile temperature;
- alternate swelling of the joints;
- blisters on the skin, redness. They indicate the development of a reactive form of pathology;
- ul oreksin;
- weight loss.
Signs of osteoarthritis
Joint damage occurs with major and minor signs. Among the main ones are:
- Joint chewing;
- localization in the knee area;
- restriction of connection mobility;
- Pain is most common with movement. In a calm state, it rarely appears;
- joint deformation. Its appearance changes, the direction of the limbs may change;
- deterioration of blood supply, nutrition of joint tissues.
Specific manifestations are:
- Onset of pain at night;
- pain that subsides;
- NSAIDs do not relieve pain;
- painful chewing;
- limited joint mobility;
- overgrowth of osteophytes.
Differences in major joint lesions
The main difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis is represented by the fact that osteoarthritis is a joint pathology that destroys and deforms it. Arthritis also affects the functioning of internal organs. The kidneys, heart and liver suffer from this disease. When choosing a treatment, doctors pay special attention to the internal organs.
To make it easier to distinguish diseases, we will illustrate them below.
| Signs of pathology | Osteoarthritis | Arthritis/ zxtr> |
| Pain Syndrome | Usually appears after movement. The pain is also felt after a heavy strain. People do not pay enough attention to it, thinking that pain provokes overload. The disease progresses and leads to painful sensations during light loads on the joints. Knees are also troublesome on days off when the joint is not affected. In a comfortable position, the pain does not bother and subsides. | With this pathology, grief is felt all the time (with active physical activity, at work, at rest). The disease is characterized by night pains, which are often distressing from 3 to 5 in the morning. |
| Crunch | is specific to this connection loss. Its occurrence is provoked by the destruction of the cartilaginous layer, the friction of the bones. At the same time, a specific sound is heard (dry, rough). It increases with the progression of the disease. | |
| Decreased joint mobility | The affected node reduces the range of motion. | Nodes are connected, the whole body. |
| Deformity of the wrist | Appears gradually in nodes. If the disease aggravates the type of pain pain. There is usually no swelling. | Warp is also present. The affected joint area becomes red, swollen. After oppression, acute pain is felt. Possible nodes. The temperature of the site of inflammation rises. |
| Blood test results | Osteoarthritis does not tend to affect the result of a blood test. Inflammatory markers remain unchanged.This disease is characterized by an increase in ESR. An increase in the level of leukocytes indicates the course of inflammation in the joints. Biochemical analysis data show an increase in inflammatory markers. | |
| Localization | Most often fixed at the knee joints. Rarely, the disease covers the joints of the toes, the ankle. |
Is there a difference between osteoarthritis and gonarthrosis of the knee joint? Gonarthrosis is an osteoarthritis that develops in the area of the knee joints. This pathology can be confused with a number of diseases:
Menzopatia- It is represented by meniscus damage. This pathology, knee joint blockage can be observed in patients of different ages, both sexes. Basically, a bond is subject to damage. The difference from gonarthrosis is rapid development. It is manifested by a crisis, acute joint pain after running, jumping, walking. After 10 - 15 minutes. pass sharp pains.
- Coxarthrosis(arthrosis of the hip joint). This diagnosis can be made due to the reflection of pain in the area from the hip joint to the knee. It is quite easy to differentiate such a state. With coxarthrosis, the mobility of the knee joint does not change. Bends easily, without pain. Doctors notice a decrease in the ability to rotate the leg "from the hip". It is also difficult to spread your legs sideways.
- Vascular painmanifested in the knee. The pain may indicate poor circulation in the knee joint area. Such feelings are noticed in adolescence. At this time, active growth is observed. Vessels do not have time to develop as fast as bones. Pain in pathology is symmetrical, it manifests itself equally in both limbs.
- Periarthriti. With inflammation of the knee tendons, the pain is felt after carrying heavy bags, after going down the stairs. Most often, the pathology is observed in women over 40 years. The pain does not extend to the entire knee. It is felt only on the inner surface of the knees. Knee mobility is unlimited.
Differential Diagnosis
With the described diseases of the joints, the doctor instructs the patient to make a differential diagnosis. It is important to distinguish between arthritis and osteoarthritis. There are also a number of subtypes of arthritis. Osteoarthritis persists in several stages.
To distinguish these two pathologies from each other and from a number of other knee injuries, assign:
- X-rays of compounds;
- blood biochemistry;
- rheumatic tests;
- CT;
- spine radiography;
- MRI;
- bone scan.
Treatment of joint lesions
It is important to know what pathology you have been diagnosed with (osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joint) and not to be confused. In the treatment of these diseases, different approaches are used.
Medications in the treatment of osteoarthritis
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, doctors use medicines (pain relievers, hormonal medicines). they also use physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, massage. If the case of the pathology is particularly severe, medications containing glucosamine sulfate are used. In some cases, surgery is required.
Therapeutic course for arthritis
Doctors choose a therapeutic course for arthritis taking into account the form of pathology. Patients should avoid physical improvement. load, excessive intake of alcoholic beverages, unhealthy diet. Therapy is performed with the use of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics). To increase the effectiveness of the treatment being performed, physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy are prescribed.
Prevention of joint pathologies
To prevent the development of pathologies such as osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joints, it is worth listening to the recommendations of specialists. As a precautionary measure, you must comply with the following requirements:
- Proper nutrition;
- Moderate physical load
Each of these activities will be required after treatment. Let us consider the features of each.
Physical activity
They should be moderate. Such exercises contribute to weight loss, strengthening the corset of muscle fibers and increasing blood circulation. Each item is very important in preventing joint diseases.
High connection load
Patients need to be careful. If you put an added load on the joints, damaging them accidentally, you can get the opposite effect. Instead of improving the situation, new problems will appear. It is also dangerous to improperly perform exercises from the exercise therapy complex. All classes should be conducted under the supervision of an instructor, the attending physician.
Joint gymnastics
As a preventative measure, it is enough to perform joint exercises. Quite common. Easy to make. In addition, there is no need to buy special equipment. Particular attention should be paid to pool exercises. When performing any activity in the water, the load on the joints is minimal.
Proper nutrition
Doctors recommend reviewing your diet, food preferences. In order to prevent it, doctors recommend excluding a number of products from the daily menu. Among them:
- Red Meat;
- Alcohol;
- Foods high in fat.
Should be included in the diet:
- Seafood;
- Fruit;
- Fish;
- Gelatin (can be used as a favorite meat, jelly dessert);
- Vegetables
Drink 2-3 liters of water a day. Alcohol is excluded. You need to start taking vitamins: calcium, D, B, A.
Other preventive measures are:
- Weight control;
- Protection against joint hypothermia;
- Mandatory maintenance of a healthy lifestyle;
- Correct sleep, rest;
- Wear comfortable shoes. It is possible to use shoes with orthopedic insole, comfortable feet;
- Eliminate such a bad habit as crossing your legs while sitting;
- Eliminate stress.