Possible causes of osteoarthritis and its treatment

Osteoarthritis is a pathology characterized by a progressive deformation of the joints. In the initial stages, cartilage and ligaments are destroyed. The process proceeds slowly, so the disease is already detected at an advanced 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 both men and women equally.

Symptoms

Joint pain during movement is the main symptom of the disease, because of which many seek medical help in time. Discomfort is manifested during long walks or intense physical exertion.

What is arthrosis, the doctor will tell when diagnosing the disease. The 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 crack due to friction of the collapsing cartilage;
• increased pain during heavy loads, this is expressed, in particular, in arthrosis of the knee during squats, sports (running, jumping, lifting weights), weight bearing;
• weather dependence, when the affected joints begin to hurt when the weather changes, especially before heavy rain or snow, cold snap;
• morning stiffness.

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

A doctor and popular health TV host says the terms 'osteoarthritis' and 'osteoarthritis' refer to 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, 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 as a result of a deformation of the articular cartilage and affects the bone tissue, affecting the entire joint, resulting in disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

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

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

Types of osteoarthritis by location

Varieties of the disease vary depending on the location of the diseased joint. The most benign 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 (pathology characteristic of the elderly).

Causes of disease

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

• injuries (dislocations, bruises, fractures, torn ligaments, meniscus injuries);
• 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);
• haemophilia;
• age-related body changes;
• frequent hypothermia.

Diagnostic

There are several diagnostic methods:

• radiological examination;
• arthroscopy (examination with a video camera inserted into the joint through a 4-5 mm incision);
• blood test;
• histological examination of the synovia (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, including 4 degrees of disease development.

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

• mild limitation of joint motion in one direction only;
• there is no bone growth on the x-ray;
• cartilaginous surfaces are uneven;
• narrowing of the joint space begins.

The second stage (affects working capacity):

• medium movement restriction;
• loud crunch when changing the position of the limb;
• partial atrophy of neighboring muscles;
• bony growths, osteophytes;
• the light of the gap is lower than the standard by 2-3 times.

Third stage (disability):

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

Step Four:

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

Basic treatments

The treatment of osteoarthritis includes several methods. To achieve a positive result, it is necessary to take medications, monitor weight. Physiotherapy, physiotherapy 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 negatively affects 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 thins.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. Poorly relieve inflammation, but effective in relieving pain.
4. Chondroprotectors. These are the main drugs for the treatment of arthrosis, they provide nutrients to cartilage tissues, 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. Vasodilating drugs. Necessary to improve blood circulation, eliminate spasms of small vessels. Improve the action of chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapy

With arthrosis, physiotherapy is effectively used. Procedures include warming up 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 shock. High frequency sound acts on the tissues of the body, causing a number of beneficial effects. With micromassage, muscles are warmed up, blood flow in capillaries improves, and 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. magnetotherapy. Applying 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 in addition 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. Operational interventions. There are 4 types: joint preservation, joint replacement, joint resection, joint reinforcement. 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 carried out with progressive osteoarthritis. It performs 2 functions: relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension inside the capsule, eliminating substances that destroy cartilage tissue. It is an informative diagnostic method. During this procedure, after local anesthesia, drugs are injected into the joint.
3. Arthroscopy. Often performed 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 joint surfaces deformed during osteoarthritis can be cleaned. It is performed under general or local anesthesia.
4. Arthrotomy. The opening of the joint is carried out if the arthroscopy did not give a positive result. It is indicated in case of prolonged swelling of the joint and constant severe pain that is not stopped by medication. It is advisable if you want to remove large fragments of cartilage or bone tissue.

Operations aimed at changing 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 a 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 to later stages, physical exercises can contribute to the development of exacerbation and tissue destruction 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 methodology for their implementation. 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 exercise pace does not cause joint destruction.
3. Rest and exercise should be balanced.
4. Heavy loads and high intensity of movement cause increased pain and cause swelling in the joint.
5. In any position of the body, it is necessary to remember the correct posture.

Regular exercises of exercise therapy help to increase the range of motion, relax the 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 to increase the mobility of damaged joints, prevent muscle atrophy and positively affect 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. Perform low-frequency mobilization of the joint surface to extend 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 device.

ethnosciences

Folk remedies are actively used in the treatment of arthrosis to activate the production of collagen - the basis of tendons and cartilage. They also relieve joint swelling and reduce pain. Recipes include herbs 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 will perfectly fit the area affected by osteoarthritis (high socks or stockings are suitable for the ankle, tight stockings for the treatment of the knee, and sealed leggings for the joint of the ankle). hip). At night, you need to cover the diseased joint with sheets and wear appropriate clothes. You cannot wrap the fabric with polythene.

The leaves extract 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 medical consultation is necessary, because. there may be contraindications for use.

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

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

Should we review 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 cartilage 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 of 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, breadrye and bran, high quality vegetable oil products rich in unsaturated fatty acids.
4. Daily salt intake should be limited to 8g.
5. Drink at least 2-2. 5 liters of water a day.
6. Include in the diet foods containing 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 in the menu various jellies, jellies, aspic fish, kissels.
7. It is necessary to spend 2-3 unloading days per week (cottage cheese, kefir, fruit and vegetable day).

What are the dangers of different stages of the disease

At 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 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 condition of the joints.

Prevention

Prevention of osteoarthritis is as follows:

1. Body weight control.
2. Good balanced nutrition.
3. Moderate physical activity.
4. Avoid joint hypothermia.
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 the methods of its struggle, you can get rid of the pathology in the early stages.