Arthritis and arthrosis are similar conditions. In fact, the two ailments have several things in common. They share similar symptoms and affect your joints, ligaments and bones. But when you’re considering arthritis vs. arthrosis, it’s important to know the key distinctions between both conditions.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the umbrella term that describes various kinds of conditions that inflame your joints. In a few rare cases, arthritis may affect your skin, muscles or organs. Three common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and gout.
Rheumatoid arthritis makes the synovial membranes surrounding your joints swell and become inflamed. If this condition isn’t properly treated, the membrane and cartilage at the end of the bones will eventually be destroyed.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the deterioration of the cartilage at the end of your bones. The cartilage is the tissue that enables your bones and joints to move smoothly. Osteoarthritis occurs more in the elderly. It can be very painful due to bone-to-bone contact in the joints. It results in swelling and stiffness.
What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis?
The symptoms you see depend on the kind of arthritis in the joints. But the symptoms that usually appear first are stiffness and joint pain. Other symptoms that accompany all kinds of arthritis with inflammation include:
- Shorter range of motion
- Red skin at the affected joints
- Swelling at the joints
What Is Arthrosis?
Arthrosis is the other name for osteoarthritis. This is the most frequently diagnosed form of arthritis. Arthrosis occurs due to wear and tear of the cartilage at the joints. It usually happens because of aging or intense use of the joints during sports, exercise or other activities. After some time, all the cartilage at the end of the bones may wear out and cause painful bone-to-bone contact. Arthrosis can affect any joint, but it’s more common in the knees, hips, hands and neck.
What Are the Symptoms of Arthrosis?
Arthrosis has symptoms that are common to all kinds of arthritis, such as:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness in the joint
- Reduced flexibility in the affected joint
- Bone-to-bone rubbing
- Swelling around the affected joint
- Bone spurs
What Is the Difference Between Arthritis and Arthrosis?
The main difference between arthritis and arthrosis is that arthritis is the term that covers all the types of arthritis, including arthrosis. Another difference is that arthrosis can affect any joint within your body, and it occurs more frequently as you get older due to wear and tear at your joints. In some cases, arthritis is used to refer to rheumatoid arthritis, while osteoarthritis is used to refer to arthrosis.
Call Us for Arthritis or Arthrosis Treatment Today
Whether you have arthritis or arthrosis, we can offer you exceptional and compassionate care. We’re well acquainted with how the pains of these two conditions affect our patients, and we’re ready to implement a treatment plan that relieves your pain, reduces inflammation and improves joint mobility and strength. Give us a call now to book an appointment.
FAQs
In addition to directly impacting bones and the surrounding tissues, arthrosis can indirectly lower life quality due to pain and stiffness. Consequences of untreated arthrosis include difficulty sleeping, an inability to perform daily chores, and weight gain.
What is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis? ›
Arthritis vs. Arthrosis. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition involving one or more joints throughout the body that causes pain, swelling and warmth in the affected areas. Arthrosis is a non-inflammatory degenerative condition associated with aging.
What's the difference between arthritis and arthropathy? ›
Arthropathy is a joint disease, of which arthritis is a type. Arthropathies can be associated with a hematologic (blood) disorder or an infection, such as Lyme disease.
What is another name for arthrosis? ›
Arthrosis is the other name for osteoarthritis. This is the most frequently diagnosed form of arthritis. Arthrosis occurs due to wear and tear of the cartilage at the joints. It usually happens because of aging or intense use of the joints during sports, exercise or other activities.
What is the best medicine for arthrosis? ›
Commonly used arthritis medications include: NSAIDs . Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).
Can arthrosis be cured? ›
Though there is no known cure for arthritis, proper early diagnosis and creation of a personalized treatment plan can help you prevent permanent joint damage. Arthritis treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication and even surgery for severely damaged joints.
Is walking good for arthrosis? ›
For people of any age with arthritis, walking is especially good medicine. It strengthens muscles, which helps shift pressure from joints and reduce pain. And a regular walking routine compresses and releases the cartilage in your knees, helping circulate synovial fluid that brings oxygen and nourishes your joints.
How can I improve my arthrosis? ›
Natural Relief for Arthritis Pain
- Eat well. It's hard to overestimate the benefits of a healthy, anti-inflammatory eating plan. ...
- Stay active. Regular exercise is just as important as diet. ...
- Take an (active) break. Balance activity with active recovery. ...
- Work on posture. ...
- Try Heat and Cold.
Most People With Arthritis Are Under 65 Years Old
Osteoarthritis onset usually occurs after the age of 40. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory type of arthritis, can develop at any age.
What is the most painful type of arthritis? ›
Rheumatoid arthritis can be one of the most painful types of arthritis; it affects joints as well as other surrounding tissues, including organs. This inflammatory, autoimmune disease attacks healthy cells by mistake, causing painful swelling in the joints, like hands, wrists and knees.
Joint wear – i.e. arthrosis – in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe is referred to as hallux rigidus, or 'stiff big toe'. Hallux rigidus is often painful, since the cartilage in the joint is being ground down with every movement. Over the long term the joint may stiffen.
Is arthrosis painful? ›
The fundamental symptom is pain, which is insidious, deep and poorly located. This pain usually appears when an effort is demanded to the sick articulation and, in general, it worsens as the day advances. With the progress of the disease, the pain can appear with the rest or the nocturnal rest.
What does arthrosis mean? ›
Arthrosis: An arthrosis is a joint, an area where two bones are attached for the purpose of motion of body parts. An arthrosis (joint) is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.
What are the levels of arthrosis? ›
There are four stages of osteoarthritis (OA): early, mild, moderate, and severe. You can also be diagnosed with a stage called pre-osteoarthritis. OA is a progressive joint disease caused by cartilage breakdown.
Is arthrosis a chronic disease? ›
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease that mostly affects joints. RA occurs when the immune system, which normally helps protect the body from infection and disease, attacks its own tissues. The disease causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints.
What are the stages of arthrosis? ›
There are four stages of osteoarthritis (OA): early, mild, moderate, and severe. You can also be diagnosed with a stage called pre-osteoarthritis. OA is a progressive joint disease caused by cartilage breakdown.
What is end-stage arthrosis? ›
End-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an advanced stage of disease in which there is severe joint damage and destruction in the absence of ongoing inflammation.
How do you heal arthrosis? ›
There is no cure for arthritis. But it's important to help keep joints working by reducing pain and inflammation. Work on a treatment plan with your healthcare provider that includes medicine and therapy. Work on lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life.
What is end-stage degenerative arthrosis? ›
End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.
