Many people do not understand the difference between arthritis and arthrosis.Both of these diseases are common and are associated with joint problems.However, the symptoms of the disease, and even more so the prevention and treatment, are individual in each case.
Arthritis and arthrosis, what do they have in common?
What is arthrosis and arthritis?
Arthrosis is a joint disease caused by problems in cartilage.They begin to gradually disintegrate and break, leading to unbearable pain.It occurs in both acute and long-term forms.It often appears in the morning or after heavy physical activity.
Joint arthritis is a condition of joint inflammation.Mainly expressed as swelling and redness.The inner lining of the joint is destroyed, resulting in pain that is often difficult to simply endure.
What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis: general signs
Both diseases have a common root in their names "arthron".If you translate it from Greek, you get “joint.”Both diseases are associated with joint problems and pain.Such pathologies occur with acute negative sensations and discomfort.Lesions associated with the cartilaginous layer limit and complicate movement.
Osteoarthritis and arthritis change the patient’s usual lifestyle.It becomes difficult to move, pain appears, and the level of endurance decreases - these are the main signs.However, each of these diseases proceeds according to its own scenario.
It is important to make a correct diagnosis, then treatment will be high-quality and expedited.
Arthritis symptoms
Arthritis is characterized by the following features:
- A fever may occur if the skin near the joint becomes red.
- Change in appearance of the joint.
- Tumor.
- Painful sensations when moving.
- Unpleasant sensations when pressing on a joint.
- Arthritis can be an infectious disease.Then all the symptoms corresponding to infections appear: a broken state, fever, chills.
Arthritis can affect a single joint or several.It occurs with acute pain, or gradually and causes a chronic disease.Then a dull aching pain occurs.
Symptoms of arthrosis
Arthrosis is, for the most part, a chronic disease.For a very long time you may not understand that you have this disease, since it manifests itself in the form of temporary aching pain.However, it can proceed either quickly or slowly.If arthrosis is not detected in time in the early stages, this disease will lead to disability.Symptoms of arthrosis:
- Swelling in the periarticular area.With arthrosis, a different situation occurs: the joint swells only during acute illness.The disease occurs accompanied by severe pain.
- Crunching and feeling of brittleness in the joint.From the first minutes, the crunching does not particularly bother the owner, but if no treatment is taken, it will be heard by others.A feeling of brittleness often occurs after taking a shower or swimming in cool water.
- Drawing pain.This is especially true when there is stress on the affected joint.For example, when climbing stairs.
Mostly, arthrosis appears from heavy loads or injury.The aching pain may intensify at night and continue until the morning.
Who treats pathology?
Which doctor treats arthrosis and arthritis?As a rule, people go to the doctor after unbearable pain occurs.It’s better not to wait until the critical moment and make an appointment as soon as you feel discomfort in your joints.
First of all, you need to go to your local doctor - therapist.He will prescribe additional tests or special procedures.After the examination, he will make a preliminary diagnosis and refer you to the necessary doctor.There are two options here.
Traumatologist-orthopedist
The therapist refers you to this doctor for more severe forms of arthrosis or arthritis.In most cases, he performs surgery followed by recovery procedures.
A traumatologist studies your problem, learns about your complaints, examines the joint, and then decides on the necessary treatment.
Most often this is an operation.Orthopedic function is associated with the recovery stage.It is necessary to wear special shoes or other clothing that will facilitate movement.It is better to follow this point to speed up the recovery process.
Rheumatologist
If you are faced with the problem of arthrosis or arthritis for the first time, your general practitioner will prescribe a referral to a rheumatologist.He will examine your joint, refer you for additional tests (if necessary) and make an accurate diagnosis.
Most often, the doctor prescribes treatment at home.Therapy should help stabilize the joint.The main task here is to prevent the disease from developing and leading to serious consequences.
Both doctors are called upon to identify and suggest treatment options.However, a rheumatologist works with milder, initial stages of diseases.An orthopedic traumatologist is the opposite, with severe, complex cases.
Treatment methods for arthrosis and arthritis
There are two methods of treating these diseases:
- medicinal;
- using folk remedies.
Initially, you need to consult with doctors, and only then take the pills.If you choose medications on your own, you can only make things worse for your body.
Treatment with folk remedies includes: compresses, herbal infusions, ointments.A few examples of how to help with arthritis and arthrosis using folk recipes:
- Grate half a cup of sea buckthorn.Rub the resulting paste with massage movements into the aching joint.Cover with gauze and leave for several hours.It is advisable to repeat daily for two weeks.
- For acute pain, rub the joint with regular star balm.Leave for several hours.The pain will begin to subside.
- For aching or severe pain, apply a warm compress.To do this, moisten a bandage or gauze with warm water and place it on the joint.Next, wrap it with cotton wool and polyethylene on top to create a kind of bathhouse effect.It must be kept for 20 minutes.
It is worth understanding that folk remedies can only relieve pain and prevent it for a while.In order to cure the disease, you need to consult a specialist, a doctor.
What is worse: joint arthritis or arthrosis?
Naturally, both of these diseases are quite serious and it is difficult to say which one is worse.However, we can consider the example of a problem in the knee joint.With arthritis, that is, with inflammatory processes, the patient can be helped.
Most often this occurs due to other infections occurring in the human body.If they are cured and the inflammation of the joint is removed, then knee arthritis will no longer bother you.
Arthrosis is a completely different story.This is an independent disease caused by problems in cartilage tissue.Often this cannot be done without surgical intervention.This is followed by another long recovery process.
Therefore, we can say that arthrosis is a more serious disease.However, arthritis can cause the first disease.Both ailments should not be neglected.It is better to immediately contact a specialist.