Difference between osteoarthritis and osteoporosis

Osteoarthritis is defined as a condition in which there is a degeneration of joint cartilage tissue along with the underlying bone with no associated bone loss. Whereas osteoporosis is defined as a condition in which bones become fragile and brittle, which is associated with bone loss.

In a normal joint structure, articular cartilage is present between two joints, which functions as a lubricant material to protect the joint cavity from an external shock.

Arthritis causes the break in this articular cartilage leading to a bone spur and wear and tear phenomena.

Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis- different forms of arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition characterized by stiff joints accompanied by inflammation in the joints. Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are two different forms of arthritis.

The most common form of arthritis is

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis-the difference

Osteoarthritis as explained above, is the degeneration of joint cartilage, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in which the synovial membrane which provides lubrication to the joint structure gets inflamed. The stiffness and pain of rheumatoid arthritis worsen with time as compared to osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis usually involves multiple joints like that osteoarthritis. Omega 3 fatty acids can be taken as management for rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis-severity of pain

Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, both have stages in the severity of pain. We termed as

  • Mild pain
  • Moderate pain
  • Severe pain

Bone loss and bone fracture are commonly associated with osteoporosis, hence the osteoporosis condition is considered to be the worse in terms of pain. However, osteoarthritis is a condition that includes joints, and hence joint destruction with the passing of time is worse than any other condition. The lumbar joint is most commonly involved.

Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis

The sign and symptoms of osteoarthritis usually differ from osteoporosis.

  • Pain, mostly in hands, feet, knee, lumbar spine, and hips respectively
  • Joint stiffness
  • Tenderness, including swelling in joints
  • Joints deformity
  • Limping while walking
  • Crackling sounds in the joints of the knee and foot while walking
  • Arthritis of the lumbar spine

Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a silent disease as it is progressive for years and contributes to the loss of bone density.

  • Fractures of bones occur, as the bones are much more fragile and brittle in this condition
  • Decreased bone density
  • Reduced spinal bones compression
  • Extreme back pain and related pains
  • Posture is changed, lordosis and scoliosis may occur
  • Dependent on others, unable to walk properly.
  • Bone loss

Major causes of osteoarthritis

Multiple causes contribute to osteoarthritis.

Osteoporosis's major cause is the wear and tear in the joints structure. Osteoporosis is categorized into four stages

  • normal stage
  • mild stage
  • moderate stage
  • severe stage
Bone loss and reduced bone density

Major risk factors of osteoarthritis

The major risk factors for osteoarthritis are

  • Gieatratic population
  • Injuries in the joint
  • Repeated stress on the joint integrity
  • Overweight
  • Bone deformities
  • Family history
  • Female gender, or those suffering from postmenopause
  • Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus

Major risk factors for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is primarily caused by the following factors

  • Smoking
  • Use of alcohol
  • Fractures of bone over the age of 40
  • Those will thin body structure
  • Postmenopausal women
  • Low intake of calcium naturally or through supplements
  • Low intake of vitamin D naturally or through supplements
  • Conditions like hyperthyroidism

Diagnostic procedure for osteoarthritis

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis is very easy. It initially includes

  • History
  • Physical exam or procedure
  • Imaging tests such as X-ray, CT scan, and MRI
  • No blood test is performed as a diagnostic procedure for osteoarthritis

Diagnostic procedure for osteoporosis

The diagnostic procedure for osteoporosis is more or less the same as for osteoarthritis. It includes

  • History
  • Physical exam or procedure
  • Blood test
  • BMD, bone mineral density test
  • Bone biopsy, if required
  • Conventional X-ray of a bone

Medical and surgical treatment of osteoarthritis.

The basic medical and surgical treatment of osteoarthritis includes some over-the-counter pain-relieving medications such as

  • NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for instance, ibuprofen, ansaid, etc
  • Narcotic treatment, if the pain is severe
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Arthroscopy
  • Surgical joint replacement

Medical and surgical treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is mainly treated with the bisphosphonates such as

  • Alendronate
  • ibandronate
  • risedronate
  • zoledronic Acid

The prognosis for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis-is it curable?

The prognosis for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are listed below

  • Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are not curable
  • The prognosis for osteoarthritis and osteoporosis is fairly satisfactory, depending upon the patient's response to the treatment, and also the severity of the disease
  • Medications can slow the progression of osteoarthritis, but cannot stop it. Whereas, osteoporosis is a disease that can be stopped through medications and advanced treatment

Prevention of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis

It is said, prevention is better than cure

  • Osteoporosis may be slowed through over-the-counter medications such as bisphosphonates and must be treated at an early stage
  • Osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative disease, which can be prevented through regular exercise and appropriate supplements. Right exercise without stressing the joints is necessary is osteoarthritis.

Advanced management of osteoarthritis

The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. This is very painful and causes joint degeneration in major joints such as the hip, knee, feet, lumbar spine, etc.

Certain steps can be taken to reduce the effects of osteoarthritis

  • Exercise-regular exercise and weight-bearing exercises are important to manage osteoarthritis. Bear in mind, the right exercise is very necessary to avoid any stress on the joint leading to a major injury. Staying active is always a better cure
  • Avoid the frequent falls- Take steps to avoid frequent falls. This can be done by putting less pressure on the bones and joints which are weak.
  • Reduction in weight-weight loss is most important in managing osteoarthritis since it takes away excess pressure on the joints. In a recent study, if an obese person loses 5 percent of the total weight,  he will see a 25 percent reduction in the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Preventing osteoporosis at a border level

If you are suffering from osteoporosis, the risk factor for fractures increases with increasing age, as the bone loss increases. Osteoporosis causes loss in bone density and hence the risk of injury increases. Multiple factors which contribute to osteoporosis are not in our control. However, certain factors can be taken down with appropriate measures. The testosterone deficiency in males increases the risk of osteoporosis, whereas the deficiency of estrogen mainly increases the risk in postmenopausal women.

You are at a higher risk if you are

  • Have a history of previous fractures
  • On glucocorticoid therapy for a long time
  • Weighting fewer than 127 pounds or 57 kg
  • Family history of hip fracture

Measures to prevent the bone loss

Certain precautionary measures can be done to control osteoporosis

These steps are listed below

  • Avoiding and cutting down the excessive intake of alcohol and other beverages
  • Avoid smoking
  • Intake of calcium supplements
  • Intake of vitamin D supplements
  • Doing weight-bearing exercise
  • Doing the resistance training
  • Avoiding the use of contraceptive medicines.

Conclusion.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative disease, whereas osteoporosis is a brittle bone disease. Lumbar spine arthritis is common in osteoarthritis. Fractures are common in both diseases. Osteoarthritis involves the joint structure, whereas osteoporosis involves the underlying bone.  Both conditions can be prevented at an early stage through over-the-counter medications and other relevant treatments.