Arthritis and arthropathy are two diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system (that is, the joints). The etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases are different, but the end result is the same: damage to the joints (cartilage tissue, meniscus, intra-articular structures and tendon-muscular bands) from soft tissue inflammation, violation of anatomical structure and physiological destruction.
In addition, these pathologies represent: Arthritis is an inflammatory process involving a certain group of enzymes whose purpose is to destroy the connective tissue of the joint. Arthropathy is the destruction of the joint, ie the irreversible phenomenon of complete or partial deformation of all joint components and limits the biomechanics of the organ. After ruling out these conditions and implementing proper prophylaxis, here's everything you need to know about arthritis and joint disease, and how it differs from treatment.
Specificity, Difference and Cause
The difference between arthritis and arthropathy is that arthritis can be eliminated with drugs, while arthropathy can be eliminated with drugs and surgery, and only after the main cause, such as concomitant disease, metabolic disorder or injury, has been eliminated. Joint inflammation or arthritis can occur after mechanical injury, prolonged walking, or vertical loading. The procedure involves any joint (upper and lower extremities and all joints that make up the chest and spine) with single or paired lesions. The fact that inflammation attracts not only joint components but also all layers of surrounding tissue depends on the depth of the lesion. With high-quality treatment, inflammation is eliminated and cartilage tissue is gradually restored.
Destructive pathology of joints or joints can only be stopped after treatment of the underlying disease or correction of the metabolic or hormonal composition. The disease involves partial or complete wear and tear of the cartilage plate. The bare bones are covered with osteophytes, which can cause excruciating pain when moving. In addition, the joint loses its biomechanical capabilities, often through the patient's fault - he is trying to protect the diseased joint, which can quickly become ankylotic. It is this fact that explains the difference between arthropathy and arthritis: with arthritis, the ability to exercise returns to the joints (unless the anatomy of the moving organs is disturbed by accident or infectious inflammatory disease), and with arthropathy, the physiological ability to exercise is partially restored in first-degree lesions, and in advanced - only by surgery.
Causes of the development of arthritis and joint disease:
- Arthritis is caused by: mechanical injury (bruises, blows, open and closed fractures, with or without microbial infection), continuous physical activity (running, walking, jumping, lifting weights), and physicochemicalFactors (severe hypothermia or joint overheating resulting in a drop in temperature). Allergies and poisonings are also included in the group of causes that contribute to the disease. In childhood, arthritis is the result of beriberi and decreased immunity and frequent injuries, especially to the joints of the lower extremities.
- Arthropathy has a variety of causes, namely: hereditary diseases of the connective tissue, increased background of allergic reactions, autoimmune diseases, rheumatic components, metabolic disorders, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, chronic diseases of the liver and kidneys, and women andChanges in the hormonal composition of male hormones (estrogens and androgens). Sarcomas or carcinomas are one of the malignant tumors that lead to destructive processes of bone tissue and cartilage plates. Intoxication of the body or increased radiation is a well-defined mechanism for the development of arthropathy.
important! After the diagnostic procedure, it becomes clear where arthritis and arthropathy are, what is the difference, and how to treat them. Folk remedies can mask the inflammatory process, but it is impossible to cure the disease, so ask your doctor!
Symptoms of joint disease
Clinical Symptoms: What's the Difference Between Arthritis and Arthropathy
| arthritis | joint |
| Joint inflammation, local redness + edema increases. | The inflammatory process extends not only to the diseased joint area, but also to the surrounding soft tissue, violating the anatomical design of the joint. |
| Pain syndrome: throbbing pain with walking and rest. | Pain has a variety of characteristics: throbbing, sharp, and painful. Partially fade with a certain posture. |
| Temporarily restrict movement (full or partial immobilization). | Permanently restrict movement. Also: provisions for savings or convenience are features. In the final stages of the disease, the joint is completely paralyzed (inability to straighten, bend and rotate the joint). |
| The temperature of the affected joint increases. | The temperature above the joint was normal (36. 6 degrees). With damage involving infection or pinched nerves, the body temperature can rise to 37-38 degrees, especially at night. |
| Radiates pain to adjacent organs and systems based on location | Characterized by radiating pain. |
| With microbial infection, an increase in body temperature as high as 38-39 degrees was observed. | Infectious pathogens are rarely added. |
| Changes in weather do not affect diseased organs. | Painful joints respond to weather conditions. |
| The patient has pain in one side of the joint. | With arthropathy, several joints or the entire system of the musculoskeletal system may be injured. |
attention! When the first symptoms of inflammation of the finger joints appear, there is no need to endure pain and wait for the joint to deform - this will lead to an irreversible process in the form of anatomical changes and physiological disturbances.
To the question: "arthritis and arthropathy, what is the difference between fingers? ", there is a solid answer: a weakened finger grip, decreased sensitivity, unbearable pain during physical exertion that does not go away after a night's rest. Treatment is only medical.
The difference between arthropathy and knee arthritis is that arthritis is pathologically eliminated after a course of treatment according to the treatment plan, and the biomechanical recovery of the joint after rehabilitation. In the case of arthropathy, depending on the degree of damage, biomechanics can only be partially restored after surgical correction of the joint structure.
These lesions affect all joints, including the toe joints. Arthritis and Arthropathy What is the difference between toes and fingers? The fingers of the lower extremities experience the same changes as the hands: inflammation, swelling and pain. In arthropathy, the joints are destroyed and deformed. Changes in anatomical shape, sharpness or pain when moving. Difficult to step on, long walks and pain. It only subsides after injection of analgesics.
Similar and different facts
Similarities of joint lesions:
- Pathological origin (joint).
- Symptoms with clinical manifestations.
- Diagnostic research.
- Precaution.
- recovery period.
- Drug therapy, exercise therapy and physical therapy.
- forecast.
Differentiating Factors:
| arthritis | joint |
| It has acute and chronic courses. | Chronic degenerative traits. |
| A joint hurts. | Joints are affected in pairs or the whole body. |
| The pain syndrome completely disappeared after medication and rehabilitation. | The pain is always there and only subsides with the administration of a strong pain reliever somewhere in the body. |
| Both adults and children can get sick. | Pathology is typical of the elderly or chronically ill patients with hormonal disturbances or metabolic changes. |
| The pathology is more characteristic of the ankle and elbow joints. | All joints are affected simultaneously. |
| This is a separate disease. | It is a consequence or complication of chronic concomitant diseases. |
| Temporary restrictions on movement. | Permanent limitation of joint biomechanics. |
| The disease has a definite cause - trauma or stress. Poisoning or body allergies are rare. | Age-related changes or chronic disease. |
| The recovery time was short and there was no deterioration. | The recovery time is long and the condition worsens. |
Patients often ask themselves a question: Which doctor treats arthritis and joint disease? For such conditions, you will need to contact a surgeon, rheumatologist (if the pathology is rheumatoid) or a surgeon. Before consulting such a doctor, you will need to be examined by the attending doctor at the clinic where you live, laboratory tests (general and biochemical), X-rays, MRI and computed tomography in three projections. Next, receive further consultation with a musculoskeletal pathologist.
medical strategy
After discovering some of their symptoms or having established a diagnosis, all patients are looking for information: "Treat arthritis and arthritis with medication. " This is the right strategy, but treatment can only be prescribed by the attending physician and in his strictureunder supervision.
Arthritis - Treatment
The treatment strategy begins after thorough instrumentation and laboratory examination. It depends on the form and stage of the pathology, so the treatment is chosen individually, namely:
- Medicines for pain relief cider, up to the narcotic group, depending on the intensity of the pain;
- non-steroidal drugs;
- Prescribing drugs of the COX1 or COX2 group (non-selective enzyme inhibitors);
- antispasmodics;
- muscle relaxants;
- chondroprotective agent;
- Vitamins: B12, B1, B6, A, D, PP;
- Antioxidants: Vitamin C;
- Immunity-boosting drugs;
- desensitizer;
- Massage and exercise therapy.
Reducing physical activity, excluding excessive salt and pepper, fried and high-fat foods from the diet, and alcohol+smoking are part of the treatment. In diabetes - follow a strict diet and take medicines that regulate blood sugar levels.
important! For the effective treatment of arthritis of any etiology, including the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin medications are recommended. It contains doses of B1, B6 and B12.
What is the essence of the efficacy of vitamin B1, B6, B12 in the treatment of arthritis? Thiamine relieves pain by reducing nerve excitability. Pyridoxine - stimulates the sphingolipids of nerve fibers, increases the metabolic level of the musculoskeletal system, improves the metabolism of amino acid components. Cyanocobalamin: Acts on brain neurons to improve red blood cell production.
Arthropathy - Treatment
Several points have been added to the specific regimen of arthritis treatment, namely:
- Strong pain relievers to reduce pain;
- corticosteroid drugs;
- Neocaine blockade;
- Intra-articular injections of drugs to restore cartilage tissue;
Surgery is the best treatment option. First, this treatment removes the destructive components of the joint, artificially adding substances that replace cartilage. Next, an arthroplasty of the diseased joint is performed. The recovery period after surgery depends on the volume of the postoperative area and the individual physiological capabilities of the body.
For both conditions, topical treatment with ointments + gels based on pain relievers, hormones and chondroprotective agents is recommended. No need to ask yourself "what's the difference between arthritis and joint disease and treatment creams" - these drugs are prescribed for both diseases.
Folk Remedies for Arthritis and Arthropathy
Once a certain joint becomes inflamed, everyone starts looking for information: What is the difference between arthritis and joint disease, treating with folk remedies. Arthritis or joint disease allows you to incorporate some folk remedies into your treatment regimen. but! These therapeutic substances should only be used concurrently with complex treatments. They are able to eliminate pain and reduce inflammation. Traditional medicine cannot completely eradicate the disease.
- Propolis tincture: Dissolve 50 g of propolis in 100 ml of vodka and let it sit for a week. The tincture is rubbed against joint pain 3-5 times a day. treatment until full recovery.
- Garlic tincture: Pass 5 large heads of garlic through a meat grinder, add a spoonful of honey and 50 ml of pure alcohol. Stick to 10 days. Rub the sore spot 2 times a day. After rubbing, place a bag on top and let it sit for an hour.
- Caucasian hellebore: 1 scoop of hellebore powder + 1 scoop of honey + 1 scoop of mustard powder and melted lard. Mix thoroughly and place in a warm and dark place for 10 days. Then use as an ointment.
- Birch buds: Pour 200 grams of white birch bud dry powder into 0. 5 liters of boiling water and hold for one day. It is recommended to drink 50 ml once or twice a day before meals.
- Burdock root tincture: Pour the crushed root into a liter of vodka and let it soak for a month. This tincture wipes the joints.
prevention
The purpose of preventive measures is to preserve the function of the cartilage layer and joints throughout life. To do this, do the following:
- Consider a nutritious diet that excludes fried foods, fat + pepper, and salty, alcohol + nicotine.
- Use natural chondroprotectants in jelly and jelly form.
- Constantly checked.
- Avoid strenuous physical exertion.
- Be careful, do not include joint damage.
- Do morning exercises, run, swim.
- Do daily exercises for your limbs and joints.
- Drink vitamins regularly.
- For preventive purposes, take chondroprotectants, calcium, potassium, and other minerals every six months.
- After a sprained joint or mechanical injury, see your doctor.
Arthritis and arthritis are related diseases, so you need to know what is arthritis and arthritis, and what is the difference in treatment. Neither condition is completely curable, especially arthropathy, which can lead to joint immobilization. However, prompt treatment will help remove the disability and lead a fulfilling life. And remember, the remedies are not the main medicine, but the auxiliary medicine. After complex treatment, each has its own advantages.