Possible causes of osteoarthritis and its treatment.

Osteoarthritis is a pathology in which there is a progressive deformation of the joints. In the initial stages, cartilage and ligaments are destroyed. The process proceeds slowly, so the disease is detected already at a late stage of development. In the future, this can lead to loss of mobility and disability.

The risk of developing osteoarthritis increases with age. The disease affects men and women equally.

Symptoms

Joint pain during movement is the main symptom of the disease, which is why many seek medical help in time. Discomfort manifests itself during long walks or strong physical exertion.

What is arthrosis, the doctor will tell you during the diagnosis of the disease. Pathology can be suspected when the following symptoms appear:

• night pains resulting from stagnation of venous blood and increased pressure inside the joint;
• the appearance of a crunch due to the friction of the collapsed cartilage;
• increased pain during heavy loads, this is especially expressed in arthrosis of the knee during squats, sports (running, jumping, lifting weights), carrying weights;
• weather dependence, when the affected joints begin to ache when the weather changes, especially before rain or heavy snowfall, cold snaps;
• morning stiffness.

The difference between osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis, the doctor's answer

A doctor and popular health television presenter says that the terms "osteoarthritis" and "osteoarthritis" mean a disease in which cartilage is damaged and bone tissue grows.

With arthrosis, the cartilage tissue on the surface of the joints is destroyed, the mobility of the limb is limited, and severe pain appears. Pathology is diagnosed in men and women over 40 years old (the main reason in women is the onset of menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the body).

Osteoarthritis manifests itself as a consequence of the deformation of the joint cartilage and affects the bone tissue, affecting the entire joint, causing disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

There are a number of diseases that have signs similar to those of osteoarthritis:

1. Humeroscapular periarthritis, cervical osteochondrosis, osteoporosis and arthritis of the shoulder joint.
2. Elbow epicondylitis, deforming osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis of the hand.
3. Coxarthrosis.
4. Rheumatoid and infectious arthritis in children.

Types of osteoarthritis by location.

The varieties of the disease vary depending on the location of the diseased joint. The mildest type of pathology is the shoulder. Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed:

• cervical region;
• knee joint (affects both legs, but develops to varying degrees);
• ankle;
• hip joint (a pathology characteristic of the elderly).

Causes of the disease

The disease can develop without causes (idiopathic or primary). Pathological processes in the body often provoke a secondary form of pathology. Reasons for the development of arthrosis:

• injuries (sprains, bruises, fractures, torn ligaments, meniscus damage);
• congenital abnormalities in the development of the joints (dysplasia);
• metabolic disease;
• autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus);
• inflammatory processes (acute purulent arthritis);
• infectious diseases (tuberculosis, encephalitis, gonorrhea, syphilis);
• pathology of the endocrine system (thyroid disease);
• hemophilia;
• age-related changes in the body;
• frequent hypothermia.

Diagnosis

There are several diagnostic methods:

• X-ray examination;
• arthroscopy (examination with a video camera inserted into the joint through a 4-5 mm incision);
• blood test;
• histological examination of the synovium (with arthrosis, the integumentary cells do not regenerate, atrophic villi appear, the number of vessels decreases).

The degree of damage to the joint.

A classification is used that includes 4 degrees of disease development.

The first stage (the disease does not affect the ability to work):

• slight limitation of joint movement in one direction;
• there are no bone growths on the x-ray;
• cartilage surfaces are irregular;
• joint space narrowing begins.

The second stage (affects the ability to work):

• average movement restriction;
• strong crunch when changing the position of the limb;
• partial atrophy of nearby muscles;
• bone growths, osteophytes;
• the lumen of the gap is less than the norm by 2-3 times.

Third stage (invalidity):

• joint deformity;
• movement is limited;
• pain during movement and at rest (relieved by analgesics);
• there is no joint space;
• the muscles are atrophied;
• Ossification of the articular surface.

Fourth stage:

• severe pain that does not go away after taking pain medicine.
• complete destruction of the joint.

basic treatments

Arthrosis therapy includes various methods. To achieve a positive result, it is necessary to take medication, control weight. Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy are prescribed. In severe cases, surgical treatment is performed.

medical

The main task in the treatment of arthrosis is the elimination of pain. For this, drugs of different groups are prescribed:

1. Non-steroidal drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories, ointments, gels, injections. Long-term use of these drugs negatively affects cartilage tissue.
2. Corticosteroids. They are used in severe cases to relieve pain, they do not slow down the development of the disease. With uncontrolled use, the cartilage thins.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. It relieves inflammation poorly, but is effective in relieving pain.
4. Chondroprotectors. These are the main drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis, they provide nutrients to cartilage tissues and stimulate cell regeneration. They do not have a quick effect, the condition of the joints gradually improves. Effective even in stage 3 of the disease.
5. Vasodilator drugs. Necessary to improve blood circulation, eliminate spasms of small vessels. Enhance the action of chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapy

With arthrosis, physiotherapy is used effectively. Procedures include heating of the joints. Dry heat slows down the destruction of bone and cartilage tissue, reduces pain and improves the general condition of the patient.

The following methods are used to treat the disease:

1. ultrasonic impact. High-frequency sound acts on the body's tissues, causing a series of beneficial effects. With the micromassage the muscles are heated, the blood flow in the capillaries improves and the metabolic processes are accelerated.
2. Electrophoresis. Under the influence of a low-voltage current, drugs are injected into the problem area without affecting other parts of the body.
3. magnetic therapyThe application of the method helps reduce inflammatory reactions, strengthens blood vessels, improves blood flow and accelerates cell regeneration in the problem area.
4. Exposure to radiation (use of infrared, ultraviolet or laser radiation). It is used as a complement to other physiotherapy methods or when there are contraindications for its use.

Surgical

In the absence of positive dynamics in the treatment of arthrosis, surgical methods are used:

1. Operational interventions. There are 4 types: joint preservation, joint replacement, joint resection, joint strengthening. The choice depends on the degree of development of the disease, the intensity of pain, the individual characteristics of the patient.
2. Puncture. It is performed with progressive osteoarthritis. It performs 2 functions: relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension within the capsule, removing substances that destroy cartilage tissue. It is an informative diagnostic method. During this procedure, after local anesthesia, medications are injected into the joint.
3. arthroscopy. It is often done on an outpatient basis. During the procedure, sections of cartilage or bone can be removed from the joint, the meniscus can be treated, the ligamentous apparatus reconstructed, and the joint surfaces deformed during osteoarthritis can be cleaned. It is performed under general or local anesthesia.
4. Arthrotomy. The opening of the joint is performed if the arthroscopy did not give a positive result. It is indicated for prolonged swelling of the joint and constant severe pain that is not stopped by medication. It is recommended if you want to remove large fragments of cartilage or bone tissue.

Operations to change the position of the joint are performed in cases where it is necessary to correct the position of the bones, with defects in the structure of the joints, as prevention of arthrosis.

exercise therapy

Physiotherapy exercises can help in the early stages of the disease, when the joint is not yet deformed. Active movements slow down the course of the disease, but with joint damage, when the disease has passed into later stages, physical exercises can contribute to the development of exacerbation and destruction of tissues in the problem area.

He should do this only after consulting with a specialist who will help him choose a set of exercises and master the implementation methodology. The first training must take place under the supervision of an instructor.

When performing exercises, you must follow the rules:

1. Avoid stress on the injured joint.
2. A moderate pace of exercise does not cause the destruction of the joints.
3. Rest and exercise must be balanced.
4. Strong loads and high intensity of movement lead to increased pain and lead to swelling of the joint.
5. In any position of the body, it is necessary to remember the correct posture.

Regular exercise therapy exercises help increase range of motion, relax muscles and improve the general condition of the patient.

Manual therapy

In combination with drugs in the treatment of arthrosis, manual therapy methods are used that increase the mobility of damaged joints, prevent muscle atrophy and positively affect the entire body of the patient.

During the session, the following manipulations are performed:

1. Relaxation (complete relaxation) of the muscles involved in the work of the diseased joint.
2. Performing low-frequency mobilizations of the joint surface to expand the range of motion of the joint to the limit of its mobility.
3. Acupressure according to the Schwartz method to bring the muscles to a state of rest.
4. The use of laser therapy and apparatus.

ethnoscience

Folk remedies are actively used in the treatment of arthrosis to activate the production of collagen, the base of the tendons and cartilage. They also relieve joint swelling and reduce pain. Recipes include plants such as thyme, cinquefoil, dandelion (root), strawberry and birch leaves, and willow bark.

There is a simple but effective way to use birch leaves. To do this, you need to choose comfortable clothes that fit well on the area affected by arthrosis (socks or high stockings are suitable for the ankle, tight-fitting stockings for the treatment of the knee, and tight tights for the hip joint) . At night, you need to cover the diseased joint with leaves and wear suitable clothing. You can not wrap the fabric with polyethylene.

The leaves remove salts, toxins and cholesterol deposits from the diseased joint, the skin after the procedure becomes smooth and velvety. The course of treatment is 6-7 procedures, before use, a doctor's consultation is necessary, because. there may be contraindications to its use.

In folk medicine, ointments, infusions, freshly squeezed juices and compresses are used to combat arthrosis, which are often recommended by doctors in combination with medications. The action of all non-traditional remedies is aimed at reducing pain and swelling of damaged joints, repairing tissues and improving the general condition of the patient.

But you can not self-medicate, otherwise complications may arise.

Is it necessary to revise the diet?

With arthrosis, it is necessary to adjust nutrition, which should be aimed at improving metabolic processes, reducing body weight if necessary, strengthening connective and cartilaginous tissues and ligaments. There is no special diet. To achieve good results in treatment, the following rules must be observed:

1. Take into account the caloric content of meals so that in patients with normal weight it remains stable, and in overweight patients it returns to normal.
2. Fatty, smoked dishes, semi-finished products containing flavor enhancers, dyes and preservatives are prohibited.
3. Products should be natural: low-fat varieties of fish and meat, seafood rich in minerals and vitamins, fresh fruits and vegetables, hard cheese, butter, low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, chicken eggs, rye and bran bread, high quality Vegetable oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
4. It is necessary to limit the daily intake of salt to 8 g.
5. Drink at least 2-2, 5 liters of water a day.
6. Include foods in the diet that include natural chondroprotectors: lean chicken, cartilage, red fish, hard cheese. Increase the use of gelatin, which normalizes the structure of cartilage tissue, strengthening it. To do this, you need to include various jellies, jellies, aspic fish, kissels in the menu.
7. It is necessary to spend 2-3 unloading days per week (day of cottage cheese, kefir, fruits and vegetables).

What are the dangers of the different stages of the disease?

In the initial stage of the disease, arthrosis is manifested by periodic pain in the joints and partial limitation of mobility. The danger of the disease is that if you ignore its first symptoms, then in the later stages of development the pathology will lead to the destruction of joint tissues. Consequences - complete loss of mobility. The patient is assigned a disability group depending on the degree of development of the disease and the state of the joints.

Prevention

The prevention of osteoarthritis is as follows:

1. Body weight control.
2. Proper balanced nutrition.
3. Moderate physical activity.
4. Avoid hypothermia of the joints.
5. Wear comfortable shoes.
6. Healthy life style.

conclusion

The danger of the disease is that a person can completely lose mobility. Knowing the symptoms of the disease, the causes of its development and the methods of its struggle, you can get rid of the pathology in the early stages.