Joint pain can make life unbearable.After a visit to the doctor, a record of the diagnosis of arthrosis or arthritis will appear in the outpatient card.
People who are far from medicine have little idea of the difference between arthritis and arthrosis and mistakenly consider them to be the same disease.
In fact, these are two completely different pathological processes that can occur simultaneously.
arthrosis
Arthrosis refers to degenerative-inflammatory processes and develops due to age-related changes in the cartilage tissue structure.
It affects the moving joints of large bones and less often the joints of the fingers.
The appearance of a joint with arthrosis
The main cause of pathological changes in cartilage is metabolic disorders.Disturbance of cartilage trophism leads to irreversible loss of proteoglycans and loss of tissue elasticity.
Dystrophic changes in cartilage cause pathological changes in the structure of the articular surfaces of bones.Over time, the degeneration process spreads to the periarticular tissues.
Types of arthrosis
Primary and secondary arthrosis are distinguished according to their origin.
The primary form affects previously healthy joints and is the result of age-related changes and inadequate physical activity.The time of appearance of the first symptoms of arthrosis depends on hereditary predisposition, characteristics of professional activity and lifestyle.
Traditionally, people over the age of 45 were considered at risk, but now there is a steady trend toward earlier cases.This disease mainly affects women, but with age, gender dependence gradually disappears.
Secondary arthrosis develops against the background of a previous injury or certain diseases of a different nature, including:
- autoimmune processes;
- metabolic disorders;
- endocrine dysfunction;
- pathologies of the structure of bone joints;
- genetic diseases;
- inflammatory processes.
Secondary arthrosis is not related to the aging process and can occur at any age.
There are three stages of disease development.
In the first stage, there are changes in the joint fluid.Cartilage nutrition is disturbed and its resistance to stress decreases.Roughness appears on the surface of the cartilage and inflammation develops, accompanied by pain.
When moving to the second stage of the disease, the pain becomes usual and the course of accompanying inflammation becomes like a wave.Cartilage begins to deteriorate and compensatory bone formations are formed at the edges of the joint area.Periarticular muscles are involved in pathological processes.
The third stage is characterized by severe deterioration of articular cartilage with areas of complete tissue destruction.Degenerative processes cause irreversible anatomical changes, including changes in the axis of the limb.The function of the ligature apparatus is disturbed, pathological mobility appears in the damaged joint against the background of limited natural mobility.
Depending on the location of the damage, they distinguish:
- gonarthrosis,
- coxarthrosis,
- spondyloarthrosis,
- Arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands.
Other localization of the pathology is relatively rare.
Gonarthrosis, arthrosis of the knee joint
Risk factors for the development of this disease include hereditary predisposition, overuse or injury to the knee due to occupational characteristics.
According to statistics, arthritic injuries in the knee joints are diagnosed more often in women.
In the early stages of development, the disease manifests itself as discomfort in the affected joint and painful pain.Depending on the causes of damage, several forms of gonarthrosis are distinguished.
Some of them are characterized by a long-term lack of progression;The patient's condition has remained stable for decades.However, there are those that develop rapidly and cause loss of mobility of the affected limb.
Coxarthrosis, arthrosis of the hip joint
With this disease, the classic clinical picture of arthrosis is observed.
The first symptom of coxarthrosis is discomfort in the hip joint after physical activity.
In progressive coxarthrosis, pain increases, stiffness and limited mobility appear.
Patients with a severe form of coxarthrosis spare the affected limb, avoid stepping on it, and while in a stationary position, choose positions in which pain is felt the least.
Back arthrosis, spondyloarthrosis
Spondyloarthrosis refers to pathologies that develop against the background of degenerative processes of the intervertebral discs.
The first and main symptom of spinal arthrosis is pain when bending from side to side or back and forth.
When a person takes a horizontal position, the pain gradually decreases.
Over time, in the absence of adequate treatment, the mobility of the damaged part of the spine can be completely lost.
Without proper treatment, spinal arthrosis can lead to intervertebral hernia and joint deformity.In severe cases, the patient loses the ability to perform normal movements and becomes disabled.
Arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands
This disease mainly affects women.Among the early symptoms of arthrosis are pain when touching cold water and straining the fingers.Over time, the joints are deformed due to the compaction of the surrounding tissues and the formation of characteristic bony protrusions.
The disease has a wave-like course, in the acute stage, the joints are swollen, partially lose movement, and tactile sensitivity may decrease.
Treatment of arthrosis
It is impossible to completely cure arthrosis with modern medicines.However, timely diagnosis and complex therapy, aimed at preventing further destruction of cartilage tissue, help to stabilize the condition of the affected joint and significantly improve the patient's quality of life.
First of all, it is necessary to reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system.Doctors advise us to avoid carrying heavy objects, staying in one position for a long time and limiting the time of standing.Weight loss is vital for overweight patients.
The following drugs are used for the treatment of arthrosis:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, internally in the form of injections or tablets and externally in the form of ointments.The form and mode of use is prescribed depending on the patient's condition;
- drugs from the group of chondroprotectors to maintain the condition of cartilage tissue;
- Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of intra-articular injections.prescribed in severe cases;
- Hyaluronic acid preparations to improve joint mobility.
In addition, warming compresses and ointments, medicines that activate blood microcirculation and metabolic processes, antioxidants and microelement-vitamin complexes with selenium are used, and physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed.In severe cases, it is necessary to use surgical intervention.
During the period of remission, the patient is recommended a course of exercise therapy, selected in accordance with the characteristics of the course of the disease.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that manifests itself as a primary disease, a concomitant pathology, or as a complication of a previous infectious disease.
Appearance of joints with arthritis
Among the typical causes of inflammatory processes in the joints:
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- lack of vitamins;
- injuries;
- autoimmune diseases;
- Infectious lesions of various etiologies.
Unlike arthrosis, pathological processes in arthritis affect periarticular tissues.The appearance of pain does not depend on physical activity and body position and often bothers at night.
The sounds characteristic of the early stages of arthrosis are rarely observed in the joints.A general blood test indicates the presence of an inflammatory process;Degenerative changes of the cartilage are rarely revealed when examining the joints.
A common symptom of both diseases is pain.Any unusual and unpleasant sensation in the joints is a good reason to consult a doctor.The success of the treatment largely depends on the timely detection and treatment of the disease.
Types of arthritis
According to their origin, arthritis is divided into several types:
- Infectious arthritis.They develop as independent diseases due to infection of wounds (primary infectious arthritis) or when the pathogen enters the blood from organs affected by infection (secondary arthritis);
- Rheumatoid arthritis.This chronic disease is of infectious-autoimmune origin and usually develops in middle-aged and older people;
- Gouty arthritis.The inflammatory process is provoked by microtraumatization of the cartilage surface by crystals of uric acid salts formed in the joint capsule;
- Traumatic arthritisdevelops as a reaction to trauma, but may develop several years after the elimination of its consequences;
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritisAffects children under 16 years of age.The causes of this disease are still unknown.The course is chronic, progressive.
The course of arthritis can be acute or chronic.In the acute course, the disease develops rapidly, with severe swelling, severe pain in the affected area, local or general increase in temperature.
In chronic arthritis, symptoms gradually increase and the disease can progress over years.With untimely or improper treatment, acute arthritis can become chronic.
Monoarthritis and polyarthritis are distinguished according to the characteristics of the damage.In case of monoarthritis, the damage is localized on one of the joints;When several joints are involved in the pathological process, a diagnosis of polyarthritis is made.
Treatment of arthritis
Arthritis treatment strategy depends on the causes of the disease and the severity of the patient's condition.In infectious arthritis, patients are prescribed a course of antibiotics or other drugs, depending on the nature of the pathogen.
To eliminate inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the form of injections, tablets and/or externally as an ointment or gel.
In addition, drugs from the group of chondroprotectors, antihistamines and general restorative agents can be prescribed.In some cases, patients are prescribed medications that improve blood microcirculation.
In addition to medical treatment, patients are prescribed a course of physiotherapeutic procedures and a set of exercise therapy exercises during the remission period.
In severe and advanced cases, surgery may be necessary.
Without the help of specialists, arthritis and arthrosis can lead to disability.
self-treatment of joint diseases is contraindicated;In most cases, the patient's condition gradually worsens.
Any change in joint functionality is a reason to visit a doctor.
Prevention measures
To prevent arthritis and arthrosis, it is important to optimize physical activity, avoid overloading.People diagnosed with the disease, as well as those at risk, should change their diet in favor of healthy foods, reduce alcohol consumption and stop smoking.
People prone to obesity are advised to maintain a normal body weight, since increased load on the muscular system can cause or accelerate pathological changes.
Regular preventive examinations are important for early detection of the disease.