Possible causes of osteoarthritis and their treatment

Arthrosis is a pathology in which there is a gradual deformation of the joints. In the early stages, cartilage and ligaments are destroyed. The process is slow, so the disease is detected 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

Pain in the joints during movement is the main symptom of the disease, which is why many seek medical help in a timely manner. Discomfort is expressed during long walks or heavy physical exertion.

What arthrosis is, the doctor will tell when diagnosing the disease. Pathology can be suspected if the following symptoms appear:

• night pain due to stagnation of venous blood and increased pressure in the joint;
• the appearance of a crunch due to the friction of the collapsing cartilage;
• increased pain with heavy loads, this is especially manifested in arthrosis of the knee during squats, sports (running, jumping, lifting weights), carrying weights;
• meteorological dependence, when the affected joints begin to hurt 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 host of a popular health television program says the terms "osteoarthritis" and "osteoarthritis" mean a disease in which cartilage is damaged and bone tissue grows.

With arthrosis, the cartilage tissue of the joint surface is destroyed, the mobility of the extremity is restricted, and severe pain occurs. 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 result of deformation of articular cartilage and affects bone tissue, affecting the entire joint and leading to disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

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

1. Periarthritis humeroscapular, 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 localization

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

• cervical region;
• knee joint (affects both legs, but develops at different rates);
• Ankle;
• Hip joint (a pathology characteristic of the elderly).

causes of the disease

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

• Injuries (dislocations, bruises, fractures, torn ligaments, meniscus damage);
• congenital anomalies 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 analysis;
• histological examination of the synovia (with arthrosis, skin cells do not regenerate, atrophic villi appear, the number of vessels decreases).

The degree of damage to the joint

A classification is used, which includes 4 degrees of development of the disease.

The first stage (the disease does not affect working capacity):

• slight restriction of joint movement in only one direction;
• no bone growths can be seen on the x-ray;
• Cartilage surfaces are uneven;
• The narrowing of the joint space begins.

The second stage (affects working ability):

• average restriction of movement;
• severe crunching when changing position of the limb;
• partial atrophy of adjacent muscles;
• Bone growths, osteophytes;
• the lumen of the gap is 2–3 times smaller than the norm.

Third level (disability):

• joint deformity;
• movement is limited;
• pain with movement and rest (relieved with painkillers);
• there is no joint space;
• muscles have atrophied;
• ossification of the articular surface.

Fourth stage:

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

Basic Treatments

Osteoarthritis therapy includes several methods. To get a positive result, it is necessary to take medication and monitor weight. Physiotherapy, kinesitherapy 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. Nonsteroidal drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories, ointments, gels, injections. Long-term use of these drugs has a detrimental effect on cartilage tissue.
2. corticosteroids. They are used in severe cases to relieve pain, do not slow down the development of the disease. With uncontrolled use, the cartilage becomes thinner.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. Mildly reducing inflammation, but effective for pain relief.
4. chondroprotectors. These are the main drugs used in the treatment of arthrosis, they provide nutrients to cartilage tissues and stimulate cell regeneration. They do not act quickly, the condition of the joints gradually improves. Effective even in stage 3 of the disease.
5. vasodilator drugs. Needed to improve blood circulation, eliminate spasms of small vessels. Enhance the action of chondroprotectors.

physical therapy

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

The following methods are used to treat the disease:

1. ultrasonic exposure. High-frequency sound acts on the tissues of the body and has a number of beneficial effects. The micro-massage warms up the muscles, improves blood circulation in the capillaries and accelerates metabolic processes.
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. magnetotherapy. Using the method helps to reduce inflammatory reactions, strengthen blood vessels, improve blood circulation and accelerate cell regeneration in the problem area.
4. Exposure to radiation (use of infrared, ultraviolet or laser radiation). It is used as an adjunct to other methods of physiotherapy or when there are contraindications to their use.

surgical

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

1. surgical interventions. There are 4 types: joint-preserving, joint-replacing, joint-resecting, joint-strengthening. The choice depends on the degree of development of the disease, the intensity of pain and the individual characteristics of the patient.
2. puncture. It is carried out with progressive arthrosis. It performs two functions: relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension in the capsule, removing from it substances that destroy cartilage tissue. It is an informative diagnostic method. In this procedure, medication is injected into the joint after local anesthesia.
3. arthroscopy. Often performed on an outpatient basis. During the procedure, cartilage or bone parts can be removed from the joint, the meniscus can be treated, the ligaments can be reconstructed and the joint surfaces deformed by arthrosis can be cleaned. It is performed under general or local anesthesia.
4. arthrotomy. Opening of the joint is performed if arthroscopy did not give a positive result. It is indicated for persistent swelling of the joint and persistent severe pain that is not stopped by medication. It is advisable when you want to remove large fragments of cartilage or bone tissue.

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

exercise therapy

Physiotherapeutic exercises can help in the initial stages of the disease, when the joint is not yet deformed. Active movements slow down the progression of the disease, but with joint damage, when the disease has moved to later stages, physical exercises can contribute to the development of aggravation and destruction of tissues in the problem area.

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

When performing exercises, you must follow the rules:

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

Regular exercises in movement therapy help to increase the range of motion, relax the muscles and improve the patient's general well-being.

Manual therapy

In combination with medication in the treatment of arthrosis, manual therapy methods are used that increase the mobility of damaged joints, prevent muscle atrophy and have a positive effect on the patient's entire body.

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 mobilization of the articular surface to expand the range of motion of the joint to the limit of its mobility.
3. Acupressure according to the Schwartz method to put the muscles into a state of rest.
4. The use of laser and device therapy.

ethnoscience

Folk remedies are actively used in the treatment of arthrosis to activate the production of collagen - the basis of tendons and cartilage. They also reduce swelling in the joints 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 tightly to the area affected by arthrosis (high socks or stockings are suitable for the ankle, tight stockings for the treatment of the knee, and closed leggings for the hip joint). At night, you need to cover the diseased joint with sheets and wear appropriate clothing. You can not wrap the fabric with polyethylene.

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

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

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

Is it necessary to revise the diet

With arthrosis, adjustment of diet is required, which should be aimed at improving metabolic processes, if necessary, reducing body weight, strengthening connective and cartilage tissue, ligaments. There is no special diet. In order to achieve good treatment results, the following rules must be observed:

1. Consider the calorie content of meals so that it remains stable in normal-weight patients and returns to normal in overweight patients.
2. Fatty, smoked dishes, semi-finished products with flavor enhancers, coloring 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 daily salt intake to 8 g.
5. Drink at least 2-2. 5 liters of water a day.
6. Include in the diet foods that contain natural chondroprotectors: lean chicken, cartilage, red fish, hard cheese. Increase the use of gelatin, which normalizes and strengthens the structure of cartilage tissue. To do this, you need to include various jellies, jellies, aspic fish and kissels in the menu.
7. 2-3 unloading days per week are required (cottage cheese, kefir, fruit and vegetable day).

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

In the early stages of the disease, arthrosis manifests itself as periodic pain in the joints and partial restriction of movement. The danger of the disease is that if you ignore the first symptoms, then in the subsequent stages of development the pathology will lead to the destruction of joint tissues. Consequences - complete loss of mobility. The patient is assigned to a disability group depending on the degree of development of the disease and the condition of the joints.

prevention

Prevention of osteoarthritis is as follows:

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

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 methods of struggle, you can get rid of the pathology in the early stages.