Many people don't understand the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis.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 osteoarthritis, what do they have in common?
What are osteoarthritis and arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease caused by cartilage problems.They begin to gradually disintegrate and break, resulting in unbearable pain.It presents in acute and long-term forms.It often appears in the morning or after intense physical activity.
Joint arthritis is a condition of inflammation of the joints.Mainly expressed by swelling and redness.The inner wall of the joint is destroyed, which causes pain that is often difficult to bear.
What is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis: general signs
Both diseases have a common root in their name “arthron”.If you translate it from Greek, you get “joined.”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 movements.
Osteoarthritis and arthritis modify 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 progresses according to its own scenario.
It is important to make a correct diagnosis, then the treatment will be high-quality and timely.
Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis is characterized by the following features:
- A fever may occur if the skin near the joint turns red.
- Change in appearance of the joint.
- Tumor.
- Painful sensations during movement.
- Unpleasant sensations when pressing on a joint.
- Arthritis can be an infectious disease.All the symptoms corresponding to infections then appear: a broken state, fever, chills.
Arthritis can affect one or more joints.It occurs with acute pain, or gradually and causes a chronic disease.Then a dull, aching pain appears.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is, for the most part, a chronic disease.For a very long time you may not understand that you suffer from this disease, because it manifests itself in the form of temporary aching pains.However, this can be done quickly or slowly.If osteoarthritis is not detected in time in the early stages, this disease will lead to disability.Osteoarthritis Symptoms:
- Swelling in the periarticular area.With osteoarthritis, a different situation occurs: the joint swells only in acute illness.The disease is accompanied by severe pain.
- Crackling and feeling of fragility in the joint.From the first minutes, the crunch does not particularly bother the owner, but if no treatment is taken, it will be heard by others.A feeling of fragility often occurs after taking a shower or swimming in cool water.
- Pulling pain.This is especially true when the affected joint is under stress.For example, going up the stairs.
Most of the time, osteoarthritis appears as a result of heavy loads or injuries.The aching pain may intensify at night and persist until the morning.
Who treats the pathology?
Which doctor treats osteoarthritis and arthritis?Typically, people consult the doctor after the onset of unbearable pain.It is 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 medical therapist.He will prescribe additional tests or specific procedures.After the examination, he will make a preliminary diagnosis and refer you to the appropriate doctor.There are two options here.
Traumatologist-orthopedist
The therapist refers you to this doctor for more severe forms of osteoarthritis or arthritis.In most cases, he performs surgery followed by recovery procedures.
A traumatologist studies your problem, takes note of your complaints, examines the joint and then decides on the necessary treatment.
Most often, it is an operation.Orthopedic function is associated with the recovery phase.It is necessary to wear special shoes or other clothing that facilitates movement.It is best to follow this point to speed up the recovery process.
Rheumatologist
If you are faced with a problem of osteoarthritis or arthritis for the first time, your general practitioner will refer you 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 offer treatment options.However, a rheumatologist works with milder initial stages of diseases.An orthopedic traumatologist is the opposite, with serious and complex cases.
Methods for treating osteoarthritis and arthritis
There are two methods to treat these diseases:
- medicinal;
- using folk remedies.
Initially, you need to consult doctors and then take the pills only.If you choose your own medications, you can only make things worse for your body.
Treatment with folk remedies includes: compresses, herbal infusions, ointments.Some examples of how to relieve arthritis and osteoarthritis using traditional recipes:
- Grate half a cup of sea buckthorn.Rub the resulting paste with massage movements onto the painful joint.Cover with gauze and let sit for several hours.It is advisable to repeat daily for two weeks.
- In case of acute pain, rub the joint with ordinary star balm.Leave for several hours.The pain will begin to subside.
- If there is painful or severe pain, apply a warm compress.To do this, moisten a bandage or gauze with warm water and place it on the joint.Then wrap it with cotton and polyethylene on top to create a sort 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.
Which is worse: joint arthritis or osteoarthritis?
Naturally, both of these diseases are quite serious and it is difficult to say which is worse.However, we can take the example of a problem with the knee joint.In cases of arthritis, that is, inflammatory processes, the patient can be helped.
Most often this happens due to other infections occurring in the human body.If they are healed and the inflammation in the joint is eliminated, knee arthritis will no longer bother you.
Osteoarthritis is a completely different story.This is an independent disease caused by problems in the cartilage tissue.Often this cannot be done without surgery.This is followed by another long recovery process.
We can therefore say that osteoarthritis is a more serious disease.However, arthritis can cause the first disease.These two conditions should not be neglected.It is better to contact a specialist immediately.