What is the difference between Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis?

Many people confuse osteoporosis with osteoarthritis and vice versa. Osteoporosis is a disease that mostly occurs in women following menopause, in which bones become extremely porous and are subject to fracture.

Osteoporosis is caused due to increase in bone resorption caused by a decrease in estrogen, old age, certain medical conditions (such as hyperparathyroidism, multiple myeloma, hyperthyroidism, and malabsorption syndrome) and use of certain drugs.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed by bone mineral density measurement by DEXA. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis, affecting mainly older people, caused by chronic degeneration of the cartilage and synovial membrane of the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.

This chronic wear and tear lead to inflammation with inadequate repair. The affected person often present with pain in weight-bearing areas after use, such as the knees. The pain improves with rest.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition occurring in the joints of the body and causing moderate to severe pain. Osteoporosis is thinning of the bone, primarily in females after menopause. These disorders affect people in the later stage of life.

In osteoarthritis, the patient will have pain and joint deformity in the later stage. Osteoporosis is a disease condition that primarily affects females after menopause. The bones can be broken with a small amount of stress or an accidental fall.

Osteoarthritis demonstrates symptoms, especially pain, from the start of the disease. Osteoporosis may be asymptomatic until a bone fracture occurs sometime after. Osteoarthritis is more common in males, while osteoporosis is more common in females.