Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis
Despite the fact that osteoporosis, arthritis and
osteoarthritis (a form of arthritis) are completely different conditions, they
are frequently confused, in particular osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, because
both names start with “osteo.”
A few basic facts:
- Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which the amount
and quality of the bone is reduced, leading to fractures (broken bones).
Osteoporosis produces no pain or other symptoms unless a fracture has
occurred.
- Arthritis (arth = joint; itis = inflammation) is a disease of the joints
and surrounding tissue. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most
common forms of arthritis.
- A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact and allows for movement of the bones.
- A person can have osteoporosis and osteoarthritis at the same time.
- Both diseases may cause pain and limit mobility, but the cause of this
pain and the way it is treated are quite different.
- An accurate diagnosis of your pain is very important. With an accurate
diagnosis, you will be better able to develop a pain management program that
works for you.
- The prefix “osteo” (which means “bone”) is the only thing that
osteoporosis and osteoarthritis have in common.
Learn more about osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
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