Understanding the main symptoms of these diseases helps to obtain the correct treatment and avoid complications in a timely manner, so we describe in detail the differences in this article.
The contribution of a precise diagnosis is possible after the exam:
- General blood and urine analysis,
- biochemical blood analysis,
- Samples and X -rays of the affected joint
- MRI and the study of the synovial fluid: if necessary.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease caused by an infection, a failure in the work of the immune system or metabolism. The main sign of arthritis is the inflammatory process: swelling, redness of the skin and fever in the area of the affected joint. The negative effect of arthritis can extend not only to the joints: the heart, the kidneys and the liver are in the risk zone. There are more than two hundred arthritis species with different manifestations and causes in people in the risk and medium risk zone. 18% of disability falls to arthritis according to WHO statistics
Symptoms
The first signs of the disease, as a rule, are:
- acute pain: in a state of movement or rest,
- edema in the area of the sick joint: constantly or periodically, arising,
- Redness and high temperature of the affected area: You can feel the touch,
- The restriction of movements in the morning.
Arthritis can occur in a hidden form; In this case, the symptoms appear after exposure to provocative factors: stress, excess work, hypothermia or infection.
Symptoms also include manifestations of the inflammatory process in the body:
- an increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees;
- loss of strength and chills;
- conjunctivitis;
- Change in blood analysis indicators: for example, an increase in the ESR and a high level of white blood bodies;
- Pain during urination.
The severity of the manifestation of arthritis can be different, and progress is not necessarily fast. However, if it does not pay attention to the problem, arthritis flows to a chronic form and can lead to a violation of the work of internal organs and disability: disability, modification of joints and extremities.
Treatment and prevention
The prescribed treatment will depend on the severity of the diagnosis. If during the diagnosis the patient did not find damage to the internal organs, the treatment is relatively simple. The patient can be prescribed:
- anti -inflammatory and analgesic medications,
- physiotherapeutic procedures,
- compliance with diet and alcohol rejection,
- Reduction of physical activity in the affected joint.
In the event that the disease was affected by the organs, the patient is additional to the main treatment program aimed at supporting them:
- Additional exams,
- Medicine therapy,
- A special diet.
Among the various forms of arthritis there are some serious diseases that are important to diagnose in time:
- Rheumatism is an inflammatory disease of connective tissue, which affects large and medium -sized joints, and also has specific manifestations: it can manifest and pass sharply in different joints, as if it moves from one to another.
Rheumatism does not deform the joints, but the lack of treatment is full of serious complications: for example, kidney diseases and heart defects.
The cause of occurrence can transfer infectious diseases: tonsillitis, otitis media and the like. Children from 7 to 14 years of age often enter the risk group. Inheritance also affects the development of the disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease in which the inflammatory process affects both joints and many organs. For example, eyes, light, heart and blood vessels. It belongs to the group of systemic diseases of connective tissue. Very often, women after 60 years suffer from the disease.
Progresses slowly, affects several joints at the same time and propagates symmetrically. As the disease develops, the joints lose mobility, pain and waves. In the joints affected by inflammation, characteristic nodules appear.
A characteristic of the rheumatoid diagnosis is the use of special laboratory tests that allow it to establish a precise diagnosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is, using powerful medications. Therefore, it is very important to suspect and diagnose this disease in the early stages.
- Arthritis or Gota Gotric is a progressive joint disease that occurs due to a violation of uric acid metabolism in blood and salts in joint tissues. Most of the time it begins with the thumb injury.
In general, older people, mainly men, suffer from gout. But there are also cases of disease at a younger age.
The treatment of rheumatism, systemic diseases, drops differs from treatment, for example, allergic or reactive arthritis. Only a doctor can prescribe the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.
The disease is easier to prevent than to treat, so we recommend that you be in charge of prevention and carefully observe your health:
- abandon bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol, irrational nutrition;
- Develop a habit of practicing rational sports: loading, stretching, balanced training;
- Strengthen the immune-consulting system for a doctor regarding mineral vitamins complexes, flu vaccines.
About osteoarthritis
70% of the cases of the disease fall on people over 65.
Arthosis is a disease that leads to the deformation and destruction of the articular capsule. The articular surface is a cartilage that covers the surface of the joint and does not allow the bones to come into contact with each other: it provides a free and painless movement. Most of the time, osteoarthritis develops in old age. It is also called the "pianist and athletes disease" that often suffer from osteoarthritis due to constant load on the dolls and joints of the legs: hip, knee, ankle. Arthrosis, unlike arthritis, affects only joints and is not inflammatory.
Symptoms
The symptoms of osteoarthritis appear gradually, as the disease progresses. At the beginning of development, they are not at all. This is the main reason to see a doctor in the last stages.
The first symptoms of osteoarthritis are shown:
- joint articulation after sleep or long rest, which happens quickly during the movement;
- Crunch, grinding and clicks accompanied by a boring sound;
- Pain during movement and load.
In the posterior stages of osteoarthritis, the symptoms become more notable: the immobility of the joints and the pain syndrome is improved, the "hard joint" syndrome also develops: the replacement of the soft cartilage tissue with bone growth. The development of the chronic form of the disease leads to the impossibility of moving one or more joints.
Treatment and prevention
Arthrosis is better to treat in the initial stage of the disease. In addition, recovery possibilities depend on age: up to 40 years to get rid of the disease are much easier. Under these conditions, the patient is prescribed in the sore joint, the drug and the effects of term shock wave therapy in bone tissues and connective with acoustic pulses of significant amplitude of low frequency: from 16 to 25 Hz. Other procedures can be used: for example, mud applications, electrophoresis with medications. The chronic form of the disease, as well as osteoarthritis in old age, is not susceptible to complete the cure. However, competent and regular therapy helps control the disease as much as possible: suspend the destruction of the joint and improve the patient's quality.
During this therapy, the doctor prescribes pharmacological treatment, which activates the regeneration process and also gives lifestyle recommendations.
Primary prevention helps prevent the development of osteoarthritis. Basic Principles:
- Weight control: excess weight increases load in the joints;
- Regular physical activity: gymnastics, stretching and moderate training;
- The choice of high quality and comfortable shoes: the incorrect load distribution causes greater pressure on the joints;
- Strengthen immunity and protection against hypothermia.
A visual comparison
Up, we describe the main causes, symptoms and methods to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis. In this block, we briefly answer the question of the difference in diseases:
Be healthy!