Arthritis and osteoarthritis have a negative impact on the patient's entire life. When signs of the described lesions of the joints appear, people jump to conclusions. You can make mistakes, confuse the specified pathologies. It is important to remember that the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint is significant. Let's consider in more detail the characteristics of each disease. Let's find out their differences, as well as how osteoarthritis is different from osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Terminology extension
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are considered related words. Both mean joint damage. Due to the similarity of the terms, they are often perceived as synonyms by patients. This approach is wrong. To know how arthritis is different from osteoarthritis of the knee, you need to consider its characteristics.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is represented by deformation of the joints. The pathology is considered to be age-related. It's more common in the elderly. It is also found in people under the age of 40. More often, its appearance is provoked by severe injuries to the joints, fractures. The risk group is represented by athletes. Read more about osteoarthritis of the knee.Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory pathology that develops in a compound. Usually its appearance is manifested by a deterioration in the functioning of the connection. The whole body is inflamed. The disease can flare up in any joint. Several connections can be covered at the same time. Learn more about knee arthritis.Difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis is represented by the nuance that immune failure is viewed as a provocateur of inflammation. It can manifest itself:
- Stressful situation;
- hypothermia;
- Influenza postponed.
Inflammation is caused by an infectious agent, metabolic disorders, and immunity disorders. With the improved function of the body's own defense system, the immune system works against itself.
Signs of arthritis
This pathology of the joints is manifested in the main signs and additional ones. The most important are:
- joint pain. It's strong, worse at night;
- Reddening of the dermis over the affected joint, swelling.
Additional signs of inflammatory disease are also observed:
- night pain that manifests itself in complete calm;
- pain relief when moving;
- Morning stiffness. It goes by after an hour;
- redness, swelling of the knees;
- attacks of severe pain in the knee area. They last several days;
- the presence of dense nodules under the skin;
- subfebrile temperature;
- alternating swelling of the joints;
- Blisters on the dermis, redness. They indicate the development of a reactive form of pathology;
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss.
Signs of osteoarthritis
The joint damage under consideration occurs with main and additional signs. Among the most important are:
- joint grinding;
- localization in the knee area;
- restriction of the mobility of the connection;
- Pain is more common when you move. In a calm state, it rarely appears;
- joint deformation. Its appearance changes, the direction of the limbs can change;
- deterioration in blood supply, nutrition of the joint tissues.
Specific manifestations are:
- Beginning of the pain at night;
- Pain relief at rest;
- NSAIDs do not relieve pain;
- painful crunch;
- limited mobility of the joints;
- Overgrowth of osteophytes.
Differences in larger joint lesions
The main difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis is that osteoarthritis is a pathology of the joints that destroys and deforms them. Arthritis affects the functioning of the 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 | Arthrosis | Arthritis/ zxtr>| Pain Syndrome |
It usually occurs after moving. Pain can be felt even after intense exertion. People don't pay enough attention and think that pain causes overexertion. The disease progresses and causes painful sensations with light loads on the joint. The knees are also problematic on days of rest when the joint is not affected. In a comfortable position, the pain does not bother and subsides. |
With this pathology, pain is constantly felt (during active physical activity, at work, in a calm state). The disease is characterized by night pain, which is often disturbing from 3 to 5 in the morning. |
Crunch |
There is a special feature of this connection failure. Its appearance is provoked by the destruction of the cartilage layer, bone friction. At the same time, a certain sound can be heard (dry, rough). It increases as the disease progresses. |
| Reduced joint mobility |
The affected joint reduces the range of motion. |
The joints, the whole body, are bound. |
Joint deformation |
It gradually appears on the joints. When the disease aggravates the aching nature of the pain. There is usually no swelling. |
Warp is also present. The area of the affected joint will turn red and swollen. Acute pain is felt after pressing. Possible nodules. The temperature of the inflammation site increases. |
Results of the blood test |
Osteoarthritis does not affect the blood test. Markers of inflammation 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 joint. Biochemical analysis data show an increase in markers of inflammation. |
Localization |
Most often fixed in the knee joints. More rarely, the disease covers the joints of the fingers, knuckles. |
| |
Is there a difference between osteoarthritis and gonarthrosis of the knee joint? Gonarthrosis is osteoarthritis that develops in the knee joint area. This pathology can be confused with a number of diseases:
- Meniscopathy.It is represented by damage to the menisci. This pathology, blockage of the knee joint, can be observed in patients of different ages, both sexes. Basically, a connection can be damaged. The difference to gonarthrosis lies in the rapid development. It manifests itself in a grinding, acute pain of the joint after running, jumping, walking. After 10-15 minutes. sharp pains pass.
- Coxarthrosis(osteoarthritis of the hip joint). This diagnosis can be made based on the reflection of pain in the area from the hip joint to the knee. It is quite easy to distinguish such a condition. With coxarthrosis, the mobility of the knee joint does not change. It bends easily and without pain. Doctors notice a decrease in the ability to rotate the leg "off the hip". It is also difficult to spread your legs sideways.
- Vascular painmanifested itself in the knee. Pain can indicate poor blood circulation in the articulation area of the knees. Such sensations are observed in adolescence. Active growth is observed at this point. Vessels do not have time to develop as quickly as bones. Pain in pathology is symmetrical, it manifests itself equally in both limbs.
- Periarthritis. With inflammation of the hamstrings, pain is felt after carrying heavy bags and after climbing stairs. Most often, pathology is observed in women over 40 years of age. The pain does not extend to the entire knee. It can only be felt on the inner surface of the knees. The knee mobility is unlimited.
differential diagnosis
In the case of the joint diseases described, the doctor instructs the patient to carry out a differential diagnosis. It is important to distinguish between arthritis and osteoarthritis. There are a number of subtypes of arthritis as well. Osteoarthritis has several stages.
To distinguish these two pathologies from each other and from a number of other knee lesions, appoint:
- X-ray of connections;
- blood biochemistry;
- rheumatic tests;
- CT;
- X-ray of the spine;
- 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 confuse it. Various approaches are used in treating these diseases.
Medicines for the treatment of osteoarthritis
When treating osteoarthritis, doctors use drugs (pain relievers, hormonal drugs). They also use physiotherapy procedures, therapeutic exercises, massages. If the pathology is especially severe, then drugs that contain 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 the pathology. Patients should avoid improving their physical condition. Stress, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, unhealthy diet. Therapy is carried out with the use of drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics). To increase the effectiveness of the treatment being carried out, physiotherapy procedures and exercise therapies are prescribed.
Prevention of joint pathologies
To prevent the development of pathologies such as osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joint, you should follow the recommendations of specialists. As a preventive measure, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Proper nutrition;
- Moderate physical exertion.
Each of these activities is required even after treatment. Let us consider the functions of the individual elements.
Physical activity
You have to be moderate. Such exercises contribute to weight loss, strengthen the corset of muscle fibers and increase blood circulation. Each point is very important in preventing joint disease.
Heavy load on the connections
Patients need to be careful. If you put more stress on the joints and accidentally injure them, you can get the opposite effect. Instead of improving the condition, new problems arise. It is also dangerous not to properly perform exercises from the exercise therapy complex. All courses should be conducted under the supervision of an attending physician.
Joint gymnastics
As a preventive measure, it is sufficient to do joint exercises. It's pretty common. It's easy to do. In addition, there is no need to buy any special equipment. Particular attention should be paid to pool exercises. When doing activities in the water, the stress on the joints is minimal.
Proper nutrition
Doctors recommend reviewing your diet and your food choices. For prevention, doctors recommend excluding a number of products from the daily menu. Among them:
- Red meat;
- alcohol;
- foods with a high fat content.
Must be included in the diet:
- seafood;
- fruit;
- fish;
- gelatin (can be used as jellied meat or jelly dessert);
- Vegetables
Drink 2-3 liters of water a day. Alcohol is excluded. You need to start taking vitamins: calcium, D, B, A.
Further preventive measures are:
- weight control;
- Protection against hypothermia in the joints;
- duty to maintain a healthy lifestyle;
- Real sleep, rest;
- Wear comfortable shoes. It is possible to use shoes with orthopedic insoles and comfortable heels.
- Eliminate such a bad habit as crossing your legs while sitting;
- Eliminate stress.