Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis — symptoms, differences and treatments

Osteoarthritis is a widespread degenerative disease that can affect anyone. Osteoarthritis makes it difficult for patients to walk and reduces the mobility of their hands and legs. This medical condition generally affects the joints of your limbs as you grow old. It is important to understand osteoarthritis to understand its treatment methods. Let us understand why it affects the joints of patients.

Why does it affect the joints?

• Our joints can move the way they do because of a thin layer of cartilage between the bones. This cartilage layer lets the bones of your joints slide over each other smoothly. Osteoarthritis occurs when this cartilage is damaged.
• Though damaged cartilage is the most common reason behind this problem, it can also occur when other parts of your joints such as tendons, joint capsules, etc., are affected.
• There could be several reasons for this damage such as injury, regular wear and tear, obesity, etc.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

• Pain and swollen joints: A common symptom of osteoarthritis that you will recognize is the swollen joints. A person with damaged cartilage or joint tissues will have some swelling around that joint. Pain always accompanies this swelling. In some cases, patients might experience pain before their joints swell.
• Rigid or stiff joints: Osteoarthritis makes your joints rigid. You may have noticed old women who have stiff hips and are unable to walk or move comfortably.
• Spurs: Spurs, visible like lumps, can be seen around the affected joint. Extra pieces of bone growth form in the joints.

These symptoms of osteoarthritis usually occur in the hips, hands, spine, and knees. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to contact your doctor immediately.

What are the treatment methods for osteoarthritis?

• Some of the most widely used treatments for osteoarthritis are weight loss, exercise, pain medication, therapies, and surgery.
• It is vital to understand that every patient is different, and doctors recommend treatments depending on the condition and its severity.
• Surgery is probably the last resort. Doctors suggest surgery only when the patient suffers from permanent damage that cannot be fixed with other treatment methods.

What is difference between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis?

• Though the names sound similar, they are two different medical conditions.
• Osteoarthritis arises when there is a problem with the joints of your limbs.
• Osteoporosis is a condition or disease where the strength in your bones deteriorates along with the bone mass.
• Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by porous bones. When a person is affected with this disease, their bones start developing holes, leaving their bones highly vulnerable to fractures.
• Roughly 54 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis.
• These bone losses often occur in the hips, wrists as well as the spine. It can also affect other bones.
• There are several causes of osteoporosis such as a genetic predisposition, autoimmune disorder, cancer, among several others.
• Both osteoarthritis and osteoporosis share some common symptoms such as pain and swelling in joints, weakness, deformities in bones, etc.

As we have learned about the treatments for osteoarthritis, it is equally important to know about the latest treatment methods for osteoporosis.

What are the treatment methods for osteoporosis?

• Medication is often used to treat osteoporosis. According to NOF.org, the medicines will differ depending on the patient’s gender.
• Doctors or healthcare providers recommend medication based on your age, the current loss of bone mass, your current health condition, and multiple other factors.
• Doctors also teach the patients some exercises which will help them with their regular movements.

These are the primary differences between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. It is essential to address these diseases separately. The sooner these conditions are diagnosed, the better one can get with time. If you are facing any of these symptoms of osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, you should consult your healthcare provider immediately.