Pain in the joints can be a symptom of either arthritis or bursitis. Along with the pain in the joints, some signs indicate a more precise cause.
Sometimes, arthritis and bursitis come along as they are dependent on each other.
However, they are two different inflammation caused due to various reasons. Arthritis is a chronic disease, while bursitis recovers within a few weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Arthritis involves joint inflammation and pain, while bursitis affects the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) cushioning the joints.
- Arthritis commonly results from wear and tear, autoimmune conditions, or infections, whereas bursitis stems from overuse, trauma, or infection.
- Treatment for arthritis focuses on managing symptoms and reducing inflammation, while bursitis treatment targets the underlying cause and provides relief through rest and physical therapy.
Arthritis vs Bursitis
The difference between Arthritis and Bursitis is that arthritis causes inflammation in the bone and cartilage of the joints, while bursitis causes inflammation in the bursae. Secondly, Arthritis gets worsens with time, while bursitis recovers within a few weeks. Thirdly, Arthritis affects the hands, hips, knees, wrists, and shoulders and can also occur in other parts of the body. Meanwhile, bursitis affects the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, heels, big toes, and including other parts. Fourthly, stiffness, swelling, and warmth around the joint can be seen in arthritis. Meanwhile, stiffness, swelling, and redness around the joint can be seen in bursitis. Lastly, tenderness is accompanied when joints are touched in arthritis. Meanwhile, pain is accompanied when pressure is applied to the joints.
Arthritis is inflammation in the bone and cartilage of the joints. But, it gets worsens with time, although there are two types of arthritis; osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
It affects the hands, hips, knees, wrists, and shoulders and can also occur in other parts of the body. As for the symptoms, Stiffness, swelling, and warmth around the joint can be seen in arthritis.
Additionally, tenderness is accompanied when joints are touched in arthritis.
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursae. But it heals on its own within a few weeks. It affects shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, heels, big toes, and also other parts.
As for the symptoms, Stiffness, swelling, and redness can be seen in arthritis. Additionally, pain is accompanied when pressure is applied to the joints.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Arthritis | Bursitis |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Arthritis causes inflammation in the bone and cartilage of the joints. | Bursitis causes inflammation in the bursae. |
| Duration | Arthritis becomes worse with time. | Bursitis recovers within a few weeks. |
| Affect | Arthritis affects the hands, hips, knees, wrists, shoulders, and can also occur in other parts of the body. | Bursitis affects the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, heels, big toes, and including other parts. |
| Symptoms | Stiffness, swelling, and warmth around the joint can be seen in arthritis. | Stiffness, swelling, and redness around the joint can be seen in bursitis. |
| Pain | Tenderness is accompanied when joints are touched in arthritis. | Pain is accompanied when pressure is applied to the joints. |
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation in the bone and cartilage of the joints. There are several forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Although, Rheumatoid arthritis is more inflammatory than osteoarthritis.
Symptoms are considerably similar in both of them. However, treatment of both is given according to the patient’s actual condition.
It cannot be cured wholly, but the symptoms lessen over time.
As for the symptoms, arthritis can cause inflammation in the hands, hips, knees, wrists, and shoulders. However, it can happen in other parts of the body also.
But, the general location of the pain is mentioned above.
The inflammation is accompanied by pain and aching in the joints. Also, stiffness, swelling, and warmth can be experienced. Besides, tenderness while touching the joint can also be experienced.
Moreover, arthritis is chronic, so the illness can’t be cured. However, it can be maintained. Although symptoms may disappear and appear again, the condition can worsen sometimes.
So these symptoms are called flares.
Other symptoms may be experienced in rheumatoid arthritis, such as weakness, tiredness, fever, and weight loss. The other symptoms are unrelated to the joints.
In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, there’re no other symptoms experienced in osteoarthritis.
What is Bursitis?
Bursitis is the inflammation in the bursae that results in a fluid-filled sac near the joints. It can be caused due to many reasons, such as overuse, prolonged posture, or inflammatory conditions.
Symptoms are considerably similar in bursitis and arthritis. However, treatment of both is provided according to the condition of the patient, but bursitis is curable.
Bursitis sometimes, goes away in a few weeks on its own. But, it may require medications if the condition worsens.
As for the symptoms, bursitis can cause inflammation in the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, heels, and big toes.
However, it can happen in other parts of the body also. But, the general location of the pain is mentioned above.
The inflammation is accompanied by pain and aching in the joints. Also, stiffness, swelling, and redness can be experienced.
Besides, putting pain around the joint while pressure on it can be experienced. Moreover, bursitis is not chronic.
So it can be cured within a few weeks with proper treatment. However, if left untreated, it can be sustained or cause other problems. And there are no other symptoms of bursitis.
Many situations can increase the risk of bursitis, such as pressure on other parts due to kneeling, repetitive motions, and advancing age.
Main Differences between Arthritis and Bursitis
Pain in the joints can be caused by arthritis or bursitis. However, it is very hard to tell them apart as they are very similar to each other.
They share common symptoms as well come along with each other. People tend to misunderstand the symptoms. Thus it is advised to get it checked by a doctor. But they are different from each other.
- Arthritis causes inflammation in the bone and cartilage of the joints, while bursitis causes inflammation in the bursae.
- Arthritis gets worsens with time, while bursitis recovers within a few weeks.
- Arthritis affects the hands, hips, knees, wrists, and shoulders and can also occur in other parts of the body. Meanwhile, bursitis affects the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, shoulders, heels, big toes, and also other parts.
- Stiffness, swelling, and warmth around the joint can be seen in arthritis. Meanwhile, Stiffness, swelling, and redness around the joint can be seen in bursitis.
- Tenderness is accompanied when joints are touched in arthritis. Meanwhile, pain is accompanied when pressure is applied to the joints.
- https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-020-02359-w
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03009740510026805
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Pain in the joints can be a very concerning symptom. It is important to be able to differentiate between arthritis and bursitis, as the treatments could be different based on the diagnosis.
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