Names of diseases sound like they affect the same organ system, namely the musculoskeletal system. What is the difference between arthritis and dry arthritis and what are their similarities?
Everyone knows that this disease affects the musculoskeletal system, namely the joints, but the etiology of the disease is different.
So arthritis occurs due to some kind of infection: local or general, and joint disease is a degenerative process that occurs in joint cartilage, due to the aging of the human body.
However, anyone, no matter how old they are, can develop arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Among other things, joint disease can refer to dystrophy, while arthritis can be a side effect of other endogenous and exogenous diseases.
Among the first diseases, osteoarthritis and deformed joints are distinguished, and arthritis is rheumatism and rheumatism, specific and post-traumatic infectiousness, as well as arthritis that can accompanysimultaneous diseases of the blood, respiratory system, digestive system and others.
Basic knowledge
- Arthritisis a chronic, degenerative-dystrophic nature. The onset of the disease is not related to an inflammatory component. The pathological process is based on the loss of the ability to regenerate and repair cartilage cells. Over time, painful abnormalities cover the nearby anatomic structures: ligaments, synovial sac, synovial sac, muscle tissue, and bone. People of middle age or older are most susceptible to arthritis. According to clinical research results, at the age of 45 - 65, 30% - 40% of the population with degeneration change joint factors, and after 65 years of age the number of cases increases to 70% - 85%.
- Arthritisaffects younger segments of the population. Certain diseases are found in every 1, 000 children. The incidence of arthritis is generally high at any age. Unlike dry arthritis, the disease has an inflammatory nature. Inflammation develops in the synovial membrane of the joint cavity. As the pathology develops, it spreads to the cartilage and ligament apparatus, transforming into joint disease.
Can't say which is worse: arthritis or arthritis. Pathologies are interconnected. Joint factors, undergoing degenerative-dystrophic changes, react to them with the development of the inflammatory process. A similar situation can be the exact opposite. Pathological abnormal locations after arthritis are a favorable environment for arthritis.
Mechanism of disease formation
Differences between diseases are recognized from the outset - the mechanism of their origin.
A fundamental role in the development of joint disease is due to:
- age-related change;
- the climax;
- violation of metabolic processes;
- heavy physical activity;
- surgical intervention causes serious injury;
- overweight;
- frequent joint injuries;
- increases uric acid concentration;
- lack of blood supply;
- poisoning the body;
- lacks of micronutrients.
Factors that cause the development of joint disease are primary diseases: bulging disc, femur, endocrine diseases, hemophilia, diseases that increase joint instability, weak ligament apparatus. At a young age, degenerative changes develop on the background of congenital malnutrition of the hip joint and traumatic injuries: femoral dislocation and dislocation, femoral neck fracture and pelvis.
The starting point of arthritis is:
- transfer of ectopic infection;
- the body's autoimmune response;
- inherited the genetic readiness of genetic encoding information from the cell surface to deviations;
- the spread of infectious agents via lymph and blood from the main point;
- inflammation of the connective tissue;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- hypothermia.
Synovial fluid infections have a direct pathway - open wounds enter the joint. The mechanism of onset of arthritis is equipped with a diverse and complex arsenal. The reason lies in the ability of joints to respond quickly to any inflammation.
Differences in associated symptoms
So, with arthritis, pain usually occurs with exertion and pain can also occur at night, when a person is in the same place for a long time.
In joint disease, pain occurs locally in one place, namely where the inflammatory process takes place, but when at rest, the pain disappears.
The nature of the pain is also different. For example, patients with arthritis experience acute, intense and convulsive pain, and dull and aching pains associated with arthritis.
The blood formula is also great. In the first case, there is an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and an increase in the level of C-reactive protein, as well as a high level of leukocytes and seromera. In the second case, there are no such deviations.
The signs that accompany these diseases will help to understand the difference between dryness and arthritis.
In joint disease, the knee and hip joints are mainly affected by an abnormal deviation, sometimes this process is localized in the shoulder area. Pathology develops gradually. The first short-term pain does not allow the precise location of the lesion.
Over time, the clinical image is complemented by the following markers:
- a kind of crunchy sound that comes out when moving;
- note the dependence on meteorology;
- the intensity of pain syndrome increases on the background of increased load, when at rest the pain goes away;
- descending range of motion;
- has thickened along the edge of the joint cavity;
- increasing in volume, the process of compressing nerve ends, causes constant intense pain;
- joints are unstable.
Any joint of the musculoskeletal system can be affected by pathological abnormalities in arthritis. Most vulnerable to this are the small elements of the legs, arms, legs and elbow moving joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symmetry of localized lesions.
The first symptom, as in arthropathy, appears suddenly. The pathological clinic begins with a general malaise. Pathological abnormalities develop rapidly, affecting the mobility and function of the affected joint. But, if joint disease is characterized by intense pain with exercise, then in the case of arthritis, the more you move, the less pain will decrease. Intensity of painful sensations increases at night. In the morning, it is difficult for the patient to overcome the joint stiffness. When palpable, pain is determined on the entire surface of the joint.
I'm getting worse:
- local congestion;
- forms subcutaneous nodules;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- damages the peripheral nerve.
Active stage pathology is accompanied by a markedly general symptom complex: increased temperature readings, chills, fever and intoxication syndrome. In the event of complications, other factors of the biological system are involved in the pathological condition: visual organs, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, urinary and nervous system.
Osteoarthritis, in addition to the complete destruction of cartilage, also causes biological muscle disorder of the musculoskeletal system.
Differential Research Methods
A detailed study of the current clinical picture allows us to understand how to distinguish arthritis from arthritis with the highest accuracy.
The distinctive features are determined based on the results of the following studies:
- Complete blood count.In arthritis, in most cases, the settling rate and response of erythrocytes in the blood are normal. Arthritis is characterized by a significant increase in indicators, this confirms the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. Analysis does not give a clear definition of the disease, but it does allow you to differentiate between degenerative-dystrophic changes from inflammation.
- Biochemical analysis of blood samples. In arthritis, research confirms the presence of inflammatory markers in biological materials: C-reactive protein, seromollen. A rheumatoid factor can be detected - an immune globulin antibody mistakenly manufactured by the body. Biochemical parameters for joint disease are still normal.
- X-ray examinationIn the early stages of the development of arthritis, no discernible changes have been detected. With arthritis, joint space is unevenly narrowed, the formation of bone cells (which develops on the surface of bone tissue) is recorded. Magnetic resonance imaging
- .The most reliable differential diagnosis of early stage arthritis and joint disease. The technique allows revealing structural changes of cartilage, compression of synovial membrane, synovial effusion, newly formed follicle, self-growth of bone tissue.
Features of therapy
Physicians of different qualifications are involved in the treatment of medical conditions. With dry joints, the patient is referred to an orthopedic trauma doctor. In the case of arthritis, the exact cause of the pathological changes is established initially. Depending on the cases revealed, an expert is selected.
Therefore, both diseases affect the state of the supporting apparatus, then their treatments are identical. An important condition for recovery is a reduction in total body weight, and thus, a reduction in the load on organs affected by the disease. In either case, if medication and physiotherapy are not producing good results, a joint replacement will be used.
Specific therapies, gymnastics, drug treatments, and physical therapy are also used. For the most severe complications, orthopedic surgery is used.
In addition to identical methods, there are some differences in the treatment of pathology.
For arthritis, treatment begins with immediate and powerful therapy. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Prioritize drugs with least side effects. If the results are not as expected, the drugs will be replaced consecutively.
Complex drug therapy includes:
- antihistamine intraocular injection drug;
- corticosteroids;
- cytostatics;
- sulfonamides;
- products based on gold salt.
Prognosis with timely and adequate arthritis treatment is usually good.
Osteoarthritis requires a long and thorough treatment. The main task of therapeutic measures in the treatment of arthritis is to restore the cartilage tissue of the joint. Capable pharmaceutical products include chondroprotectors. The most effective are chondroitin and glucosamine.
Impaired microcirculation is eliminated with the help of vasodilators. To get rid of pain caused by spasms, muscle relaxants, muscle relaxants are prescribed. The application of local warming ointments and creams is shown, it is strictly forbidden for arthritis.
In parallel, the metabolic stimulating funds are used, the body is nourished with vitamins and trace elements. Not the last place in arthritis therapy is occupied by specially developed therapeutic exercises.
Osteoarthritis belongs to a group of chronic diseases that cause unpredictable consequences that cannot be completely eliminated. Treatments are designed to slow down the degenerative process as much as possible.
In both cases, people with any obvious signs of these diseases should immediately consult a specialist, and should not self-treat these diseases. Take care of your health and get what you want.