Do you suffer from arthritis or osteoarthritis? It’s time to get the facts straight.
First, it’s important to mention that these are two different conditions, even though osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis—and certainly the most common one.
Arthritis is an umbrella term that encompasses more than 100 different joint diseases that all differ in terms of their intensity, location, age of onset, symptoms, etc.
Osteoarthritis affects more Canadians than all other forms of arthritis combined—roughly 1 in 6 people, according to the Arthritis Society. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International describes it as “the body’s failed attempt to repair damaged joint tissues.” Cartilage, the rubbery substance at the end of your bones, gradually deteriorates with age or following an injury. Your weight also plays a major role in the progression of this disease, along with your occupation and any pre-existing joint deformities. There are 4 stages of osteoarthritis:
(Image source: https://www.santeplusmag.com/le-moyen-le-plus-simple-pour-prevenir-larthrose/_ )
The other forms of inflammatory arthritis are mostly what are known as “autoimmune diseases,” where the body attacks normal, healthy tissues as though they were invaders. Inflammatory reactions normally occur as flare-ups, causing damage at a much faster rate than osteoarthritis. The most common forms are juvenile arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout, to name a few.
Here’s a (non-exhaustive) table that sums up the main differences:
| Arthritis | Osteoarthritis | |
| Diagnosis | Based on symptoms, family history (genetics), imaging tests, and blood tests | Based on symptoms and x-rays |
| Schedule | Pain at night | Pain during the day |
| Morning stiffness | Souvent plus de 1 heure | 30 minutes or less |
| Pain |
|
|
| Location | Inflammation of one or more joints, depending on the type of arthritis | Very gradual onset in joints that bear the most stress (knee, hip, spine, hand) |
| Symptoms | Pain, joint stiffness, joint swelling (potentially rapid and severe), heat, redness in the affected area, relatively rapid joint deformities (over a few years), loss of range of motion, systemic symptoms (fever, digestive problems, etc.) | Pain, morning stiffness, very gradual joint deformities (over many years), joint cracking during specific movements, loss of range of motion over time, long-term loss of mobility |
| Age of onset | Varies depending on the type of arthritis (forms affecting children, adults, and seniors) | Gradual onset with age |
| Treatments |
|
|
In both cases, your doctor and health professional (physiotherapist, osteopath, etc.) can help you slow the progression of the condition and maintain a good quality of life. That being said, once damage has already occurred, it’s not usually reversible.
To help you raise the issue with your doctor or health professional, you can answer the 6 questions in this symptom checker: https://arthritis.ca/about-arthritis/signs-of-arthritis/symptom-checker/.
So, is it arthritis or osteoarthritis?
Sources :