Osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis are exactly the same disease, but in the past they were believed to be different diseases, because arthrosis supposedly had no signs of inflammation. However it has been discovered that there are small points of inflammation in osteoarthritis and therefore whenever there is osteoarthritis, there is also inflammation.
Thus, it was decided that the generic term arthritis will be used as a synonym for arthrosis. But types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis and psoriatic arthritis continue to be called arthritis and do not mean the same as arthrosis because they have a different pathophysiology.
Arthritis is the same as osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. But it is not the same as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile arthritis, for example.
Main differences
See the table below for the main differences between the types of arthritis and osteoarthritis:
| Symptoms | Treatment | |
| Osteoarthritis / Osteoarthritis |
Difficulty performing movements with the joint due to pain and stiffness that can last all day or improve with rest Joint deformity, which may become larger and misshapen |
Anti-inflammatories, Painkillers, Corticosteroids, Physiotherapy, Exercises |
| Rheumatoid arthritis |
Joint pain, stiffness, difficulty in movement in the morning, inflammatory signs such as redness, swelling and increased temperature There may be difficulty in moving the joint, especially in the morning, and lasts for about 20 minutes. |
Anti-inflammatories, Analgesics, Disease course modifiers, Immunosuppressants, Physiotherapy, Exercises |
| Psoriatic arthritis |
Symptoms appear 20 years after psoriasis appears: joint stiffness and difficulty in moving it Presence of psoriasis on the skin, nails or scalp |
Anti-inflammatories, Analgesics, Antirheumatics and Corticosteroids |
How to fight joint pain
In both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, treatment may include the use of medications, physiotherapy sessions, weight loss, regular physical exercise, infiltration of corticosteroids in the joint and, ultimately, surgery to remove the injured tissue or place a prosthesis..
In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor may recommend the use of anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressants and corticosteroids, but when there is only damage to the joint, without signs of inflammation, with only arthrosis, the medications may be different, and if the pain is really disabling and physiotherapy is not enough to relieve symptoms and improve the person's quality of life, the doctor can indicate if surgery is done to place a replacement prosthesis.
Physiotherapy can also be done differently, as it will have different therapeutic goals. However, the treatment chosen will depend on some factors, such as age, financial situation, degree of joint impairment and the type of activity that the individual practices in their daily lives. The diet should also be rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as orange, guava and tuna. See more tips on how eating can improve arthritis.
Who has arthritis or osteoarthritis can retire?
Depending on the type of work activity that the individual performs daily at his / her workstation and the joint that is injured, the person may be removed from work to undergo treatment and in some cases may even ask for retirement before the date legally provided by the inability to perform their function for health reasons.
