The joint has two main "enemies", which offset mature work. These diseases are arthritis and arthropathy, although the names are similar, the nature of the ongoing pathological process is different. The affected area of these diseases is cartilage.
Cartilage plays an important role in joint health. It has no blood vessels and nerve endings, so it can be strong and can withstand heavy loads. This reduces the impact on tissues that have nerve fibers or capillaries.
When the body moves, the cartilage causes the bones in the joints to rotate unimpeded and painlessly, thereby reducing frictional damage to zero. When jumping, cartilage tissue acts as a shock absorber and absorbs inertial loads.
Arthritis and arthropathy "tether" the work of the joints and interfere with full exercise. Some of the symptoms of these diseases are similar, while others are completely different.
The physiological process of arthritis
When a person starts to feel pain in a particular joint, this may indicate a disease such as arthritis. This disease means inflammation of the cartilage.
This disease affects all the components of the joint:
- Synovial membrane at the edge;
- Synovial fluid that nourishes tissues and acts as a lubricant;
- Joint capsule.
Patients with arthritis complain of acute pain, such as knee joint pain and restricted limb movement. Fever and redness in the inflamed area are characteristic. The pain may be "steaming" and affect similar joints in the other limb.
A constant sign of the disease is visually distinguishable external tissue edema.
Although the function of the joint has declined, its internal structure has not changed. This is only the cartilage inflammation caused by metabolic disorders, infections or trauma, which can be eliminated with appropriate treatment, and the joint itself will not further degenerate.
Physiological process of joint disease
This disease is more related to internal changes in the joints. Since cartilage lacks blood vessels, it is nourished and rebuilt by synovial fluid, which contains necessary beneficial chemicals.
As we age, the metabolic process slows down, and cartilage tissue receives less nutrition and begins to wear out instead of recovering. This causes it to become thinner.
The rotten thin cartilage can no longer be well cushioned under pressure, so arthropathy patients will feel pain when walking or handling the affected joints.
No inflammatory process was observed. This disease is completely related to age and related to the individual characteristics of lifestyle (correct eating habits and intake of additional supporting substances can play a good preventive effect and can delay the onset of the disease for a long time).
The degradation of cartilage tissue causes pain, which is pain in nature. There is no swelling or redness.
Arthropathy is a disease that affects specific joints. There is no parallel development in the same part of adjacent limbs. The disease usually "selects" a large "node" in the anatomical structure. It can be a hip joint or a knee joint.
Similar and different functions-a brief introduction to the main content
Arthritis and joint disease have similarities in the manifestation of certain symptoms. they are:
- Stiffness and numbness of joints after waking up;
- Loss of complete motor function of the limbs;
- Pain syndrome that makes basic movements unpleasant.
Despite the nature of general symptoms and feelings, their number and location, they can tell what type of disease they are related to. Differences in disease manifestations will help to identify and diagnose more accurately.
So, what is the difference between arthritis and joint disease:
- The first is a significant increase in body temperature in the context of inflammation. In the second disease, this is not due to the gradual and imperceptible development of the degenerative process.
- Arthritis has obvious tissue edema. In the case of joint disease, there is no such symptom.
- Inflammation of cartilage tissue can lead to the formation of subcutaneous nodules. The second disease does not cause this abnormality.
- Arthritis does not cause anatomical deformities. In fact, arthropathy disables the joints (in extreme stages).
- With arthritis, the skin around the affected joint will become red. Arthropathy is not characterized by changes in skin pigmentation.
Explain the differences and similarities in detail
By carefully observing the symptoms, you can highlight nuances and help identify the "enemies" attacking the joints. The following are the main symptoms of diseases with main similarities and individual manifestations.
Pain syndrome
The feeling of pain is inherent to both diseases. But because arthritis is related to joint inflammation, pain is an indispensable part of the entire disease process. She has a sharp character. Sometimes patients can feel it at night or in the morning. Regardless of the person's behavior, painful feelings can lead to pain.
Joint pain is related to cartilage degradation and the inability to fully achieve its purpose. Buffering and reducing friction are not performed at an appropriate level, and therefore, the bone device is injured.
Pain will appear more frequently after walking for a long time or other loads on the affected joints. In the initial stage, the pain may be subtle, but as the disease progresses, the situation changes.
deformation
Both diseases affect the structure of joint devices. The physiological changes of arthritis are more visual in nature. it:
- swelling;
- Formation of nodules;
- Redness of the skin;
- temperature.
Arthritis can be accompanied by: psoriasis, increased sweating, and weakness. Only certain types of diseases (traumatic and osteoarthritis) can change the structure of anatomical nodes.
With the manifestation of arthritis, the surface of the joint looks as usual, but an irreversible process takes place inside. The cartilage layer becomes thinner, resulting in an increase in the load on the bone tissue.
Inflammatory process
Arthritis is characterized by swelling in the affected joint area.
This is due to inflammation of the synovial membrane itself in the joint capsule. Blood tests showed elevated white blood cells in these patients.
Inflammation can be caused by injury or infection.
In arthropathy, since there is no inflammatory process, the quality of white blood cells is normal. The degenerative changes pass smoothly and are usually not noticed by the patient.
Crunch and click
A crunching sound in the joints is a clear sign of arthropathy. This is due to the degeneration of cartilage and the painful interaction of bone tissue. In healthy people, all joints sometimes shrink. The difference between the affected area is that the sound will be "dry" and "rough".
Arthritis does not burst because the swollen joints are restricted in movement, and its cartilage still protects the bone tissue from painful interactions.
Joint mobility
The limitations of joint work combine the symptoms of these diseases. However, there are significant differences in the nature of the violations.
In arthritis pathology, the range of motion is reduced, but as the cartilage wears away, this condition gradually occurs. Arthritis is characterized by extensive stiffness, which paralyzes the work of the joints. This is due to swelling and inflammation.
Common and multiple reasons for development
These diseases may develop due to injuries while jumping or running. Joint disease can be caused by intense and prolonged load. This is the "professional" legacy of many athletes. Delaying hypothermia is another factor leading to the development of these two diseases.
The difference between diseases is that arthritis may occur as a result of infection entering the body, which is not a typical feature of arthropathy. This is a common inflammation in which the manifestation of arthritis is only a result. For treatment, the main source must be found and eliminated. Another cause of arthritis may be overweight, which overloads the joints every day.
Osteoarthritis is an independent disease that has nothing to do with general health. It may develop due to poor nutritional quality and insufficient supply of necessary substances for cartilage tissue. Hormonal imbalances and circulatory system diseases can facilitate this, which can impair the supply of other tissues. More commonly, this disease "accompanies" the elderly.
Risk zone
People of any age can develop arthritis. Due to infection, it can even affect the joints of young children. Usually, half of the beautiful people will get it when they are 35-55 years old.
Osteoarthritis is a completely "old" disease. The structural changes of cartilage tissue occurred 60 years later. This is due to deterioration of metabolic processes and other aging factors. People with arthritis are more likely to develop joint disease.
Overweight, improper diet and strenuous exercise can increase the likelihood of these two diseases.
treatment method
When diagnosing these diseases, some similar treatments are prescribed, including:
- Establish a backup plan to eliminate pressure on the affected joints;
- Take medicines that nourish cartilage tissue and restore its volume;
- Massage combined with physical therapy exercises can improve blood flow to the painful area and natural metabolism;
- Use analgesics to relieve pain;
- Intra-articular block;
- Joint oxygenation;
- Especially complicated meals.
The difference between treatments is the course of antibiotics for infectious arthritis to eliminate the underlying cause of the disease.
For arthritis manifestations, surgical intervention is another way to eliminate the disease. This is necessary if the cartilage is completely destroyed. In this case, it will be replaced by a prosthetic joint.
prevent disease
As preventive measures for these two diseases, the following points can be distinguished:
- Moderate pressure. Schedule several times a week for aerobic exercise group exercise time. This can promote joint mobility without being subjected to unnecessary pressure like lifting a barbell.
- Don't get too cold.
- eat well. Food should be rich in trace elements and vitamins.
- Maintain a healthy weight to avoid premature wear and tear of joints.
- Avoid joint damage. Avoid jumping from high places and lifting weights.
- When you are old, walking on crutches can reduce the burden on your legs, where you may get sick.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
For arthritis, the additional prevention will be the rapid diagnosis and treatment of any infectious disease, which will prevent the inflammation from spreading to other places.