Osteoarthritis and Spondylosis or Prolapsed (Slipped) Disc
Whereas osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease which develops most commonly in the larger weight-bearing joints- chiefly the hips, knees, or spine of older people, prolapsed disc and spondylosis are also sometimes confused with arthritic diseases because these conditions are also the result of degenerated vertebrae. The only relation between osteoarthritis and spondylosis or prolasped (slipped) disc is the degenerative factor. Spondylosis or prolapsed discs are not arthritic diseases. These conditions can occur even due to injury or over straining.
Gout
Gout develops only after years of elevation of serum uric acid. The high uric acid level (The normal range of uric acid in blood serum is 3.0 to 6.0 mg per 100 ml) sometimes results from a hereditary defects in the body chemistry or after use of certain types of medications. Only about one out of 10 people who have an elevation of serum uric acid develop needle-like crystals in their joints, which lead to the severe inflammation, swelling, and tenderness, characteristic of gout. Although gout can affect almost any part of the body, the large joint of the big toe is usually attacked first.
Gout can be controlled very effectively. Treatment calls for medications directed at reducing the level of uric acid in the system, thereby preventing subsequent attacks of gout. While dietary changes were once a mainstay of gout treatment, the effectiveness of the medications in lowering serum uric acid now makes special diets unnecessary.
Corelations of Arthritis
| Causes | Rheamatoid Arthritis | Osteoartheritis | Arthritis Due to Specific Infection | Gout | |
| Family History Sex | Often most commin in women | Often either sex | no. Either Sex. | Often most common in men. | |
| Age at Onset | any age but usually 20-40 | usually over 40. | Any age | Usually over 35 | |
| Signs/Symptoms | Onset | insidious (subacute), usual, acute, atypical | insidious (slow) | acute infection: sudden, chronic infection slow | sudden (improvement of symptoms also sudden) |
| Fever | ocassionally | no | yes (especially acute) | ocassionally during acuse episodes. | |
| Chills | only in children | no. | yes | no | |
| Joints Involved | involvement of small joints of hands and feet, especially proximal finger joints | usually the large weight-bearing joint also end joints of fingers. | most often the knee or shoulder. | joint at base of great toe (bunion joint) | |
| Muscle Airophy | yes | yes (local) | yes (local) | no | |
| Deformities | yes | yes (late) | yes (late) | yes (late) | |
| Skin Changes | Thin and shiny over joints | no | no | local scaling and itching with recovery from acute attach. |