There is often confusion between arthritis and osteoarthritis due to the specificity of the disease. Both diseases are related to the articular system. Doctors conducted a comparative analysis of arthritis and osteoarthritis.
The first significant difference is the difference in symptoms and treatment methods. In general, both diseases can be treated with medication and diet.
The term arthritis is interpreted as a group of diseases associated with inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is a modification or transformation of a joint, as a result of which it stops working normally.
The causes of diseases are different. Arthritis occurs as a result of injury, immune system disorders, and organ infections. Arthritis has two forms: acute and chronic.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic phenomenon and the cause of the disease is hereditary predisposition and increasing age.
Young men most often suffer from arthritis. The disease mostly affects professional athletes and people who are facing increased physical activity.
People with sexually transmitted infections are at risk for arthritis. Osteoarthritis is more common in older women.
As you can see from the main differences, the diseases are very different. Arthritis can enter the joints through infection. After infection, complications begin.
Osteoarthritis occurs in the course of circulatory disorders of the joint. Due to insufficient supply of nutrients, it deforms over time.
There are also differences in the symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis. With arthritis, the joint swells and causes redness due to inflammation. The temperature rises, the head begins to ache, and increased fatigue manifests itself. Pain in acute forms is acute. In the case of chronic arthritis, there is constant pain.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are expressed in slowly increasing pain. At first, discomfort is felt at the site of the joint deformity. With stress, pain appears. Pain increases during movement. Later, the pain is constantly present even at rest. With osteoarthritis, there is a characteristic crunch.
Treatment methods
Both diseases require special treatment as they are associated with the locomotor system. If we are talking about arthritis, the inflammatory process is eliminated first. Nonsteroidal drugs and antibiotics are used as treatment.
For osteoarthritis, doctors prescribe chondroprotectors, specific drugs for the treatment of joint diseases. They allow you to saturate the damaged joint with the proper amount of nutrients. Physiotherapy and massage are often prescribed.
Sports for arthritis and osteoarthritis are allowed only during the chronic period. In other cases, physical activity of any nature is prohibited.