Arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are diseases that not only sound very similar, but also have the same impact on the body: affecting the bones, joints, ligaments and cartilage.Symptoms such as joint pain and difficulty moving also occur in both cases.However, there are quite big differences between the two.We will try to provide clarity on 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 rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Arthrosis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage destruction).
arthritisis a very broad term 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, arthrosis deformans).Arthritis can occur at any age.
Arthrosis (osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis)- one of the most common types of arthritis, which occurs when cartilage tissue is damaged.Our joints move due to cartilage, its elasticity and smoothness.Its destruction results in direct contact between the bones in the joints, causing pain.Arthrosis is an age-related change that occurs in old age.
Additionally, arthritis and arthrosis have differences in:
- Symptom
- Risk factors.
- Classification.
- Diagnostic.
- Treatment.
Symptom
Arthritis symptoms may also appear in arthrosis, but the nature of the symptoms is different.For example, joint pain occurs in both cases, but pain due to prolonged tension and stress is only common in arthrosis.
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It is important to understand that the symptoms of one type of arthritis are sometimes very different from the symptoms of another type of arthritis.However, here are some common symptoms observed in all types of arthritis:
- Sick.Pain usually occurs at night and can subside with increasing duration of movement (for example when walking during the day).
- Edema and swelling.If you do not have any injuries and when comparing both knees or wrists, one of them appears swollen, this may indicate arthritis.
- Feeling of joint displacement.There may be a feeling that the joints are shifting and pushing against each other.
- Fatigue.With any inflammatory disease, the immune system is activated and begins an active fight, this leads to a general weakening of the body and fatigue.
- Fever and loss of appetite.Inflammation not only lowers energy levels, as mentioned previously, but can also cause fever and loss of appetite.
- Redness and skin rash.It usually occurs near inflamed joints.
- Range of motion is limited in the affected joint.Of course the pain makes any movement difficult.Doing simple household chores or doing your favorite hobby becomes difficult due to acute pain in arthritic joints.
arthritis
Here are the most common symptoms of arthrosis:
- Sick.Pain is felt in specific joints affected by arthrosis and varies depending on the degree of cartilage damage.The more cartilage is destroyed, the greater the pain a person experiences.In contrast to arthritis, where pain often occurs at night or at rest, pain in arthrosis often occurs during the day: when walking, running, etc.Touching the skin over a painful joint can also cause pain.
- Decreased mobility.This is especially noticeable after a long period of inactivity, for example after a night's sleep.
- Crunch.When moving with arthrosis, you can hear specific sounds (not light clicks, but heavy, rough sounds).This is a result of the breakdown of cartilage, which is designed to provide smooth, painless friction between joints.
- Deformation.With arthrosis (especially in advanced stages), various deformities of bones and joints may occur: nodules, growths.There is no swelling, as 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 get older, your chances of developing arthrosis or another type of arthritis increase tenfold.In this case, arthrosis mainly affects elderly people, and arthritis can occur at any age.
- Heavy.The heavier a person is, the more pressure the joints receive.This increases the chances of developing arthrosis and arthritis.
- Injury.The risk of developing arthrosis at a young age increases if you have previously had an injury to the bones or joints.
- Genetics.If many family members suffer from arthritis, it is likely that you will also encounter this disease.However, your genetics do not increase your chances of developing arthritis.
- Activity.If you are constantly involved in work that requires you to put a lot of stress on your bones, joints, and cartilage, your chances of developing arthrosis increase.
By the way, a research group at the University of Oxford recently discovered markers in the blood that can identify the risk of developing arthritis before the onset of symptoms, 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 painful wear and tear of cartilage and friction between joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - This type of arthritis usually attacks all the joints of the body except the lower back.This is an autoimmune disease whose causes are not yet fully understood.A person can get sick at any age (even small children suffer from this disease).
- Ankylosing spondylitis mainly attacks the spine.It develops in the spine and discs.This is an autoimmune disease.
- Cervical arthritis occurs for various reasons, but the main one is age.About 85% of people over 80 years of age 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 characterized by inflammation of the skin and joints.With 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 bacterial attacks and infections.The causative agents are intestinal and genitourinary infections.This disease causes swelling of the fingers and toes, as well as lower back pain.
- Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects children under 16 years of age.Causes damage to bones and joints, development and growth problems.
- Post-traumatic arthritis - occurs as a result of previous injuries (fractures, cracks, sprains).
arthritis
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 disease.Symptoms include neck pain and muscle spasms.
- Facet syndrome occurs most often in elderly 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 a hinge joint and is one of the strongest joints in the body.However, in old age it becomes obsolete, and coxarthrosis is also often found in athletes and overweight people.
- Lumbar arthrosis affects the lower back.This can be caused by scoliosis and abdominal obesity (accumulation of fatty tissue in the upper torso).
Diagnostic
The diagnosis of these two joint diseases includes:
- Opinion poll.When does the pain occur, in which joint, the nature and duration of the pain, occupation, in what cases the pain increases, past infectious diseases, injuries, etc.
- Visual inspection and palpation.Inspect for visible signs: swelling, redness, pustules.
- Analysis.
- X-rays and MRI.
What is the difference between diagnosing arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?Because arthritis is an inflammatory disease, inflammation will be visible on blood tests.Tests for arthrosis are clear;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 arthritis treatment is to eliminate the cause of joint inflammation.
- Drug.Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may require a combination of different medications.In addition to analgesics, doctors may also prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, and hormonal drugs to reduce pain.
- Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to reduce stress on joints.It is important to eat foods high in calcium (to stimulate bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
- Surgical intervention.Surgeries range from minor procedures to major surgery (joint replacement).
arthritis
The main goal of arthrosis treatment is to restore damaged cartilage.Treatment includes:
- The drug in tablets is chondroprotective.
- Injections - corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid to reduce inflammation and improve 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 joints to reduce pain and increase mobility.
- Lifestyle adjustments - diet and exercise to reduce stress on joints.It is important to eat foods high in calcium (to stimulate bone strength) and rich in protein (to build strong muscles).
Conclusion
- Arthritis is inflammation of the joints.Arthrosis is an age-related change in cartilage tissue (cartilage destruction).
- Arthrosis occurs in older people (50+) (can also occur at a young age, but very rarely and after serious injury).Arthritis can occur at any age (even in children).
- With arthrosis, the joints hurt when doing physical activity.With arthritis, pain occurs at night.
- With arthrosis, the pain increases when moving, with arthritis the pain decreases.
- Osteoarthritis most often attacks 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 blood tests, whereas arthrosis cannot.