Bones make up the major part of human skeletal system, which help to maintain shape and posture of the human body, provide defense and produce blood cells. Bones undergo a lot of wear and tear process. Previously a rough term was used for medical diseases of bones called ‘osteopathy’ but it is an obsolete term now.  Bone diseases are widely classified into inflammatory diseases, hormonal diseases and age related diseases.

Three of the most common and the most misinterpreted diseases affecting bones are ‘arthritis’  ‘osteoporosis’, and ‘Rheumatoid arthritis’. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease, while osteoporosis is a metabolic disease, whereas, Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. All of these diseases cause osteophavoc to some one’s life as they create problems in mobility and motility.

What is Arthritis?

It is a disease of inflammation of bones ultimately affecting joints. It is the most common disease of the bones and joints. It is not age specific disease. Presenting complaints of patient are joints pain and swelling. There are some over hundred forms of arthritis but two of its main types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Number of people affected by this disease is in millions. Osteoarthritis most commonly involves larger joints like knee and wrist joints. People have difficulty walking as joints which bear weight i.e. knee and hip are diseased.

What is Osteoporosis?

It is a disease which is mineral disease in origin which affects density of bones. Bones assume the shape of a sponge which get fragile and are prone to fractures. It is a disease which most commonly affects older people.  Factors leading to development of Osteoporosis include hereditary predilection, inactive life style, diet deficient in Calcium and Vitamin D, addiction to alcohol and smoking and improper weight.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

It results from autoimmunity, and is a chronic inflammatory disease. It is characterised deforming and symmetrical polyarthritis. It is commonly seen in females compared to males, with a ratio of 2:1. This bone disease is also known for increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 2-3 folds. Common symptoms include, stiffness of small joints of the limbs (often worse in the morning), pain in joints, symmetrical joints affected, and swelling of the joints. All these symptoms combined produce a great hinderance in mobility and motility.

Arthritis Vs Osteoporosis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Definition:

Arthritis is a bone disease which causes inflammation around joints and causes demolition of cartilage.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease which reduces bone density and allows them to get fractured easily.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a bone disease causing symmetrical polyarthritis.

Symptomatolgy:

Arthritis causes soreness, inflammation and in ability to walk around.

Osteoporosis is mostly asymptomatic until advanced.

Rheumatoid arthritis has many symptoms, from most common like joint pain, joint swelling, stiffness of small joints to less common ones like persistent mono-arthritis, recurring polyarthritis, recurrent soft tissue problems, etc

Diagnosis:

Arthritis is diagnosed through history, patient examination and X-ray picture of affected joint.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed through a test called ‘bone mineral density test’.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is diagnosed by history, investigations like Rheumatoid factor, titres, etc, and it’s own diagnostic criteria.

Risk factors:

Arthritis causing factors include family predilection, weight disturbances and addiction.

Osteoporosis may be caused in advanced age, injury or hormonal imbalance in females.

Risk factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis include, age, gender, genetics, family history, autoimmune disease, etc

Relationship with medicines:

No medicine is known to cause arthritis.

Some medicines e.g. anti-seizure and steroids cause osteoporosis.

There are no potent facts known for any drug to induce Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Menopause:

Arthritis is not caused by menopause.

Menopause causes primary osteoporosis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis may occur before or after menopause.

Inactivity:

Arthritis has nothing to do with inactive life standards.

Osteoporoses may be caused by inactivity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis has strong associations with family history, and autoimmunity.

Autoimmune disease:

A form of arthritis is autoimmune i.e. rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoporosis is never autoimmune.

Height loss:

Arthritis does not affect height of an individual.

Osteoporosis causes loss in height.

Rheumatoid Arthritis has no effect on the height of a person.

Treatment:

Arthritis treatment includes pain killer drugs, heat and cold packs and weight reduction.

Osteoporosis treatment includes diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, hormone substitute in menopausal females.

The treatment is mostly symptomatic and to prevent further progress of the disease. Mostly it includes pain killers, DMARDs, Vitamin D supplements, Calcium and dietary changes.

However, we strictly warn you against the use of medicines without prescription and consulting your doctor.

Conclusion

All of these three diseases are getting common day by day as a result of decline in healthy attitude towards life. These need to be prevented and if at all a person acquires the disease, immediate treatment strategy is needed to avoid long term complications like immobility. What is your opinion?