Difference Between Osteoarthritis And Osteoporosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis occurs when the struts which make up the mesh-like structure within bones become thin causing them to become fragile and break easily, often following a minor bump or fall. These broken bones are often referred to as ‘fragility fractures’. The terms ‘fracture’ and ‘broken bone’ mean the same thing. Although fractures can occur in different parts of the body, the wrists, hips and spine are most commonly affected. It is these broken bones or fractures which can lead to the pain associated with osteoporosis. Spinal fractures can also cause loss of height and curvature of the spine.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

There typically are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you might have signs and symptoms that include:

Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra

Loss of height over time

A stooped posture

A bone that breaks much more easily than expected

Causes

Comparing the interior of a healthy bone with one that has become porous from osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis weakens bone

Your bones are in a constant state of renewal — new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When you're young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone and your bone mass increases. After the early 20s this process slows, and most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30. As people age, bone mass is lost faster than it's created.

How likely you are to develop osteoporosis depends partly on how much bone mass you attained in your youth. Peak bone mass is somewhat inherited and varies also by ethnic group. The higher your peak bone mass, the more bone you have "in the bank" and the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.

Risk factors

A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you'll develop osteoporosis — including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatments.

Unchangeable risks

Some risk factors for osteoporosis are out of your control, including:

Your sex. Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men.

Age. The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.

Race. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Asian descent.

Family history. Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mother or father fractured a hip.

Body frame size. Men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they might have less bone mass to draw from as they age.

What is osteoarthritis?

One of the common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis; a painful condition that can affect the joints, especially the hips, knees, neck, lower back, or hands and feet. When osteoarthritis develops in a joint the cartilage (the soft tissue that protects the surfaces of the bone) begins to thin and roughen. This loss of a protective cushion between the ends of the bones can cause them to rub together and result in joint damage.

The joints can become painful and swollen as the body tries to repair the damage. Over time this can sometimes lead to bony outgrowths called spurs or ‘osteophytes’ developing on the ends of the bones which may also cause damage to the soft tissues around the joint including the ligaments (the tough bands that hold the joint in place). Gradually, smooth movement of the joint becomes difficult.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness. Pain related to osteoarthritis is usually worse following exercise or activity. The pain can prevent people from sleeping well which can cause tiredness and lead to some people feeling low in mood. The symptoms of osteoarthritis may vary, perhaps for no clear reason. There may be times of feeling well followed by a worsening of symptoms before feeling better once more.

What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Symptoms of osteoarthritis most often develop gradually and include:

Joint aching and soreness, especially with movement

Pain after overuse or after long periods of inactivity

Stiffness after periods of rest

Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers (which may or may not be painful)

Joint swelling

Risk factors for osteoarthritis

Age – Osteoarthritis is more common among the elderly, but even young adults can develop osteoarthritis.

Obesity – Excessive weight can put stress on joints and promote cartilage damage.

Injury – Significant injury, such as ligament damage, can eventually lead to osteoarthritis.

See Below Links for Detailed Info
webmd theros mayoclinic brighamhealthhub