Difference Between Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are both conditions that deal with the bones, although one affects mainly the joints in one area of the body and another can affect the entire length of the bone in numerous areas of the body.

Both osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are common to age individuals, caused by wear and tear of the bones and joints, while in other cases, even younger people can be diagnosed with either condition, depending on previous injuries, weight, and lifestyle.

Procedure of Osteoarthritis involve in:

Osteoarthritis is classified as a degenerative joint disease that causes a gradual deterioration of joint cartilage.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of the disease, affecting millions of individuals in their 40s, 50s and beyond. Men tend to be diagnosed with arthritis in their hips, knees and spine joints, while women most often experience arthritis in her hands or knee joints.

Osteoarthritis also causes a wearing away of the cartilage that cushions joint surfaces and prevents the edges of bones from rubbing against one another.

 

Procedure of Osteoporosis involve in:

In medical terms, osteoporosis is known as a condition of porous bones, or loss of bone density and mineral content. In most cases, osteoporosis is caused by gradual wear and tear caused by aging.

The condition leads to loss of density of bone tissues, which in turn creates a higher risk of fractures or brittleness in the body, most often located in the spine, the hips, or the wrist joints.

Numerous factors can increase an individual's risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis, including age, body type (such as women who are thin or small framed), heredity, race, activity levels, and smoking).

 

Which Treatments for Osteoporosis or Osteoarthritis are best for me?

Treatments for osteoporosis are preventive in nature, or in other words, recommend lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of bone loss or density.

Weight-bearing exercises are ideal to maintain bone strength, range of motion, and flexibility.

Medications to treat bone loss and prevent further bone loss are often recommended to women who have entered menopause, due to loss of hormones.

Bone-building drugs such as alendronate may be recommended and may increase the bone density of the hip. 

In cases where surgery is recommended, it's not meant as a curative or preventive measure, but to address bones or joints that are damaged by the disease and severely inhibit or restrict mobility and/or range of motion and mobility.

When it comes to treatment options for osteoarthritis, pain relief is of major concern, as is protecting joints against further damage through the use of splints, mobility devices, or even suggested weight loss.

Physical therapy or exercise may improve muscle tone to help stabilize the arthritic joint.

Surgery may be recommended for individuals experiencing pain caused by misaligned joints, and joint replacement procedures have been performed on numerous joints and locations in the body. 

 

How Much do Treatments Cost?

The cost of treatments for either osteoporosis or osteoarthritis depends on recommendations of your doctor.

For example, medications, cortisone injections, and other approaches may be recommended.

Medications such as Celebrex, used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis may cost approximately $ 0.75 a pill while Fosamax, a medication commonly prescribed for osteoporosis, costs an average of $80 a month, or up to even $900 a month, depending on medication, whether it's an injectable, and so forth.

Surgical procedures, such as joint replacement, also differ in cost, depending on the joint replaced.

For example, a hip replacement procedure may cost roughly $43,000 in the United States, although patients traveling to the Asian locations such as Thailand, India or Singapore may receive the same procedure for between $9,000 and $12,000. 

Knee surgery or replacement procedures can cost up to $30,000 in the US, while a knee replacement surgery procedure performed in India may cost approximately $12,000.

 

Who Performs such Treatments?

Doctors who specialize in orthopedics generally treat osteoarthritis and osteoporosis conditions.

Orthopedic physicians and surgeons focus on and correct bone or joint anomalies through a variety of treatments and procedures including casts, braces, medication, and surgery.

An orthopedist should be certified by his or her country of origin as well as I the country of his or her practice.

When it comes to facilities, clinics or hospitals, the location of the surgery, these should also be accredited by domestic and/or international associations or organizations such as the Joint Commission International.

 

Learn more about Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis!