Arthritis and osteoarthritis negatively affect the entire life of the patient. When signs of the joint injuries described appear, people jump to conclusions. They can make mistakes, confuse the indicated pathologies. It is important to remember that the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis of the knee joint is significant. Let us consider in more detail the characteristics of each disease. We will discover their differences, as well as how osteoarthritis differs from gonarthrosis of the knee joint.
Terminology Extension
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are considered related words. Both signify joint damage. Due to the consonance of the terms, patients often perceive them as synonyms. This approach is wrong. To know how arthritis differs from osteoarthritis of the knee joint, you need to consider the characteristics of each.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is represented by the deformation of the joints. The pathology is considered age-related. It is more common in elderly patients. It is also found in people under the age of 40. Most often, their occurrence is provoked by severe joint injuries, fractures. The risk group is represented by athletes. Read more about osteoarthritis of the knee joint.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. It can also cover multiple connections 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 an immune failure is considered a trigger for inflammation. It can manifest itself:
- Stressful situation;
- Hypothermia;
- Flu postponed.
Inflammation is caused by an infectious agent, metabolic disorders, and immune dysfunctions. With the enhanced 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:
- Pain in the joints. It is strong, worse at night;
- Redness of the dermis over the affected joint, swelling.
Additional signs of inflammatory disease are also seen:
- night pain, manifested with complete rest;
- pain relief when moving;
- morning stiffness. It passes 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 in the dermis, redness. They indicate the development of a reactive form of pathology;
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss.
Signs of osteoarthritis
The joint lesion considered continues with major and additional signs. Among the main ones are:
- Cracking of joints;
- localization in the knee area;
- limit the mobility of the connection;
- Pain is more common when moving. In a calm state, it rarely appears;
- deformation of the gasket. Its appearance changes, the direction of the limbs can change;
- deterioration of blood supply, nutrition of joint tissues.
The specific manifestations are:
- Onset of pain at night;
- pain that goes away on rest;
- NSAIDs do not relieve pain;
- painful crunch;
- limited joint mobility;
- Osteophyte overgrowth.
Differences in the main joint injuries
The key difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis is represented by the fact that osteoarthritis is a pathology of the joints that destroys and deforms them. Arthritis 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 the move. The pains are also felt after intense exertion. People do not pay enough attention, thinking that pain causes overexertion. The disease progresses and leads to painful sensations during light loads on the joint. The knees are also problematic on rest days, when the joint is not affected. In a comfortable position, the pain does not bother and subsides. |
With this pathology, pain is felt all the time (with vigorous physical activity, at work, in a calm state). The disease is characterized by night pains, which are often bothersome from 3 to 5 in the morning. |
Crunch |
is characteristic of this connection defeat. Its appearance is caused by the destruction of the cartilaginous layer, bone friction. At the same time, a specific sound (dry, rough) is heard. It increases with the progression of the disease. |
| Decreased joint mobility |
The affected joint reduces range of motion. |
The joints are tied, the whole body. |
Joint deformation |
It appears gradually in the joints. If the disease aggravates the painful type of pain. There is usually no swelling. |
Warp is also present. The area of the affected joint becomes red, swollen. After pressing, a sharp pain is felt. Possible nodules. The temperature of the place of inflammation rises. |
Blood test results |
Osteoarthritis does not tend to affect blood test scores. 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 joint. The biochemical analysis data show an increase in inflammatory markers. |
Location |
It is most often attached to the knee joints. Less commonly, the disease covers the joints of the fingers and ankle. |
| |
Is there a difference between osteoarthritis and gonarthrosis of the knee joint? Gonarthrosis is osteoarthritis that develops in the area of the knee joints. This pathology can be confused with several diseases:
- Meniscopathy.It is represented by damage to the menisci. This pathology, the blockage of the knee joint can be observed in patients of different ages, both sexes. Basically, a connection is subject to damage. The difference with gonarthrosis is the rapid development. It is manifested by a crunching, sharp pain of the joint after running, jumping, walking. After 10 to 15 minutes. they have sharp pains.
- Coxarthrosis(osteoarthritis of the hip joint). This diagnosis can be made due to the pain reflex 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. It bends easily, without pain. Doctors note a decrease in the ability to rotate the leg "from the hip. "It is also difficult to spread the legs to the sides.
- Vascular painmanifested in the knee. Pain may indicate poor circulation in the knee joint area. Such sensations are observed in adolescence. Right now, there is active growth. Vessels do not have time to develop as quickly as bones. Pain in pathology is symmetrical, manifested equally in both extremities.
- Periarthritis. With inflammation of the knee tendons, pain is felt after carrying heavy bags, after going down the stairs. Most often, the pathology is observed in women over 40 years old. The pain does not extend to the entire knee. It is felt only on the inner surface of the knees. The mobility of the knees is unlimited.
Differential diagnosis
With the described diseases of the joints, the doctor instructs the patient to perform differential diagnoses. It is important to distinguish between arthritis and osteoarthritis. There are also several subtypes of arthritis. Osteoarthritis progresses in several stages.
To distinguish these two conditions from each other and from other knee injuries, designate:
- X-rays of compounds;
- blood biochemistry;
- rheumatic tests;
- CT;
- X-ray of the spine;
- MRI;
- bone scan.
Treatment of joint injuries
It is important to know what pathology you have been diagnosed with (osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joint) and not get confused. In treating these diseases, various approaches are used.
Medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis
In the treatment of osteoarthritis, doctors use drugs (painkillers, hormonal drugs). they also use physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, massages. If the case of the pathology is especially severe, drugs 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 enhancement. loads, excessive intake of alcoholic beverages, unhealthy diet. Therapy is carried out with the use of drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics). To increase the effectiveness of the treatment that is carried out, physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy are prescribed.
Prevention of joint pathologies
To prevent the development of pathologies such as osteoarthritis or arthritis of the knee joint, it is worth listening to the recommendations of specialists. As preventive measures, you must meet the following requirements:
- Proper nutrition;
- Moderate physical load.
Each of these activities will be necessary even after treatment. Let's consider the characteristics of each of them.
Physical activity
Must be moderated. Such exercises contribute to weight loss, strengthening the corset of muscle fibers and increasing blood circulation. Each element is very important in the prevention of joint diseases.
Heavy load on connections
Patients should be careful. If you apply a higher load to the joints, accidentally hurt them, you can get the opposite effect. Instead of improving the condition, new problems will appear. It is also dangerous to incorrectly perform the exercises of the exercise therapy complex. All classes must be held under the supervision of an instructor, attending physician.
Joint gymnastics
As a preventive measure, it is sufficient to perform joint exercises. It is quite common. It is easy to do. Also, you don't need to buy special equipment. Special 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, preferences in food choices. For prevention purposes, doctors recommend excluding various products from the daily menu. Among them:
- Red meat;
- alcohol;
- Foods with high levels of fat.
Must be included in the diet:
- Seafood;
- Fruit;
- Fish;
- Gelatin (can be used as jellied 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 hypothermia of the joints;
- Mandatory maintenance of a healthy lifestyle;
- Correct sleep, rest;
- Wear comfortable shoes. It is possible to wear shoes with orthopedic insoles, comfortable heels;
- Eliminating a bad habit such as crossing your legs while sitting;
- Eliminate stress.