What Is The Difference Between Arthritis And Osteoarthritis?

Both arthritis and osteoarthritis are very common diseases, especially in women between the ages of 40 and 60.

Arthritis and osteoarthritis are diseases that affect the joints and that can be confused by their characteristics. However, there are important differences between the two conditions.

While arthritis is an inflammation of the joints characterized by pain and swelling and associated with a major disease such as gout or lupus, osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that is related to age. Find out all about it below.

Arthritis or osteoarthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis

The National Library of Medicine of the United States indicates that this alteration causes an inflammation of the synovial membrane, a thin layer that covers and protects the interior of the fibrous joint capsule, in addition to lubricating and caring for the joints from trauma.

It is a disease whose symptoms can appear and disappear or manifest themselves chronically. Also, it is usually symmetric; In other words, the inflammation appears in the same joint at each end of the body. The disorder can wear down other nearby internal structures, usually bones and cartilage.

Currently, the specific cause that causes the development of the disease is unknown. However, risk factors have been identified that would increase the chances of suffering from it. Among them, some diseases and genetic predisposition.

Also, it has been proven that it affects women more and that it usually appears in middle age, although it primarily affects adults over 64 years of age.

Symptoms

The patient usually presents a discomfort of variable intensity in small and medium joints. For example, in the joints found in the fingers and wrists.

Therefore, it does not usually affect the knees, hips, shoulders, etc. In some clinical cases, the subjects had dry mouth and joint stiffness in the morning.

Other frequent signs associated with this alteration are tiredness, muscle weakness or neck stiffness. Also, you may feel tingling in the extremities and the presence of small bumps on the skin (subcutaneous nodules). If other complications develop, the patient may suffer other alterations.

Diagnosis

Within the diagnosis, the physical examination and other medical tests can be differentiated. For example, synovial fluid analysis and imaging such as x-ray or scintigraphy. The medical team can also perform blood and urine tests to rule out other pathologies.

Treatment

Finally, to treat the condition, physiotherapy sessions and medications are usually combined to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis (it does not cure it). These drugs reduce inflammation considerably and improve the quality of life of the patient.

What is osteoarthritis?

It is a disease in which there is a gradual degeneration of the cartilage of a joint. In some cases, as MedlinePlus explains, this elastic, fibrous structure can disappear completely. It is usually placed on the ends of the bones to protect them from the friction that occurs during movements.

It is also a chronic disease. We can, on the other hand, differentiate between two types of osteoarthritis:

• Primary: there is no known cause.
• Secondary: we can identify a trigger, for example, congenital diseases, trauma, arthritis, gout, etc.

It usually affects women and people over the age of fifty more frequently. Other common risk factors are obesity, menopause, family history, or repetitive activities. This condition occurs in certain sports modalities and, even, when maintaining a certain posture when working.

Symptoms

A number of common symptoms of this disease can be distinguished. For example, pain that occurs at the beginning of the disease when performing any movement with that joint, although, later, it also appears with rest in more advanced stages.

Also, subcutaneous swelling, cracking, stiffness or nodules can be suffered. There may even be a deformation of the affected area that makes daily movement difficult.

Normally, it affects certain joints. This is the case of osteoarthritis of the spine, hands, hips or knees. When suspecting, it is best to consult with the doctor.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis includes both a physical examination and other medical procedures. To conclude the existence of the disease, images from X-rays, ultrasound of the joint in question and even magnetic resonance imaging are analyzed. In addition, the medical team can also analyze other substances such as blood, urine or synovial fluid in the affected area.

Treatment

The treatment for this ailment is focused on alleviating the symptoms that the patient may suffer and slowing down, as far as possible, its evolution; In other words, there is no cure for osteoarthritis since it is a degenerative disease.

Arthritis and osteoarthritis, similar but different

In summary, arthritis and osteoarthritis are two very frequent and chronic diseases. At the slightest symptom, it is appropriate to go to the doctor. He will carry out the corresponding tests and determine the best treatment to follow.