What is the difference between arthritis and knee osteoarthritis, and how to treat them? Many people confuse arthritis with knee osteoarthritis, especially since both cause pain and difficulty moving. Arthritis is the sensation of pain and swelling when touching one or more joints in the body, while knee osteoarthritis is a chronic condition resulting from the wear and tear of the cartilage covering the knee bones. We will explain the difference between them, their symptoms, and appropriate diagnosis and treatment methods.
What is arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation that can affect the knees, the joints of the hand, or a portion of the spine. The two most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which cause pain and joint aches and pain, the primary symptoms of arthritis.
What is knee osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic condition resulting from the wear and tear of the cartilage covering the knee bones, causing bone-to-bone friction, pain, and difficulty moving. It can be treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
Symptoms of Arthritis and Knee Osteoarthritis
The most common symptoms of arthritis depend on the type and severity of inflammation and include:
- Reduced range of motion.
- Swelling.
- Pain.
- Stiffness.
- Redness.
While symptoms of knee osteoarthritis include:
- Pain in the knee that worsens after sitting for long periods or when beginning movement.
- Difficulty moving in general.
- Difficulty walking.
- A feeling of stiffness in the joint, especially in the morning.
- Bone spurs around the joint in advanced stages.
What are the causes of arthritis
Joint diseases occur due to various causes, including infection, in which germs or bacteria can enter the joint through the bloodstream from another infection in the body. They may also occur as a result of injections or surgery.
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis can be a cause, as the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue. Repeated and excessive use of the joints can damage the cartilage in the joint.
Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis
Factors that cause knee osteoarthritis include:
- Some congenital deformities, such as bow legs, put pressure on the joint.
- Excess weight on the knee joint, which leads to cartilage erosion.
- Injuries to the cruciate ligament or meniscus may increase the risk of early osteoarthritis.
- Some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Overuse of the joint or repeated bad joint habits.
- As you age, the tissue's ability to regenerate decreases, leading to the onset of osteoarthritis.
Risk Factors for Arthritis
- Overweight and obesity put pressure on joints, especially the knee and hip joints, increasing the risk of arthritis.
- Smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Aging: The risk of developing arthritis increases with age.
- Weakening of the muscles surrounding the joint due to lack of movement.
- Family history: A person may develop arthritis due to genetics.
- Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men.
- Smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.
Effective Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis
Effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis includes lifestyle changes:
- Physical therapy through therapeutic exercises to improve the strength of the muscles surrounding the knee.
- Taking pain relievers prescribed by your doctor, such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Using topical creams containing anesthetics such as lidocaine or capsaicin.
- Losing excess weight to reduce the load on the knee joint.
- Using cold or warm compresses helps reduce inflammation and swelling.
- Prescribing steroid injections to reduce inflammation or techniques such as radiofrequency ablation may be recommended.
- In some advanced cases, knee joint replacement surgery may be the only solution.
Diagnosing Arthritis
Doctors recommend conducting some detailed tests depending on the type of arthritis. These tests include:
- Laboratory tests to analyze various body fluids (blood, urine, and joint fluid) to determine the type of inflammation.
- Arthroscopy.
- X-rays.
- MRI.
How is knee osteoarthritis diagnosed
The cause of knee osteoarthritis must be determined to develop an appropriate treatment plan. The doctor determines the cause of the osteoarthritis through:
- Clinical examination.
- Blood tests.
- X-rays.
- The doctor may recommend a rheumatologist or a surgeon if the patient requires surgery.
What are alternative treatments for arthritis
Many people resort to alternative treatments to treat arthritis, and they help alleviate the symptoms of only certain types of arthritis. Some of the best alternative treatments are:
- Physiotherapy can be effective in treating certain types of arthritis.
- Exercise increases range of motion and strengthens the muscles surrounding the joint.
- Electrical nerve stimulation through the skin.
- Acupuncture can be effective.
What is the best herb for knee osteoarthritis
Ginger is an important spice for knee osteoarthritis. Drinking ginger has many antiseptic uses, including reducing pain and alleviating redness and swelling in the joints. It is also an important plant used in natural herbal treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
Summary of the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a broad term that encompasses joint problems such as inflammation and swelling of the joints. It can have various causes, such as autoimmune diseases that cause joint swelling and bone erosion.
Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, is a specific type of arthritis caused by the erosion and damage of cartilage over time. The main difference between the two is that osteoarthritis focuses on cartilage damage.