Possible causes and treatment of arthrosis

Arthrosis is a pathology in which there is a gradual deformation of the joints. At the initial stage, 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 both men and women equally.

Symptoms

Joint pain during movement is the main symptom of the disease, so many consult a doctor in time. Discomfort manifests itself during a long walk or vigorous physical exertion.

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

• night pains caused by stagnation of venous blood and increased pressure in the joint;
• the appearance of a crisis due to the friction of collapsing cartilage;
• increased pain during heavy loads, this is especially expressed in knee arthrosis during squatting, sports (running, jumping, lifting weights), carrying weights;
• meteorological dependence, when the affected joints begin to hurt when the weather changes, especially from rain or heavy snow, before the cold;
• morning stiffness.

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

The doctor and popular health TV host says that the terms "arthrosis" and "osteoarthritis" mean a disease in which cartilage is damaged and bone tissue grows.

With arthrosis, the cartilage tissue of 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 the age of 40 (in women, the main reason is the onset of menopause, when hormonal changes occur in the body).

Osteoarthritis manifests itself as a result of deformation of articular cartilages and affects bone tissue, affects the entire joint, and causes disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

There are a number of diseases similar to the symptoms of arthrosis:

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 arthrosis according to localization

The types 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 (both legs are affected, but develop to different degrees);
• ankle;
• hip joint (pathology characteristic of the elderly).

Causes of the disease

The disease can develop without a cause (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 anomalies in the development of 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;
• often hypothermia.

Diagnostics

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, 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 the development of the disease.

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

• mild limitation of joint movement in only one direction;
• there are no bone growths on X-ray;
• cartilage surfaces are uneven;
• the narrowing of the joint space begins.

The second stage (affects working capacity):

• moderate movement restriction;
• strong crisis when changing the position of the limb;
• partial atrophy of nearby muscles;
• bone growths, osteophytes;
• the lumen of the cavity is 2-3 times less than normal.

Third stage (disability):

• joint deformation;
• movement is limited;
• pain during movement and at rest (relieved by painkillers);
• no joint space;
• muscles undergo atrophy;
• ossification of the articular surface.

Fourth stage:

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

Basic Treatments

Treatment of arthrosis consists of several methods. To get a positive result, you need to take medicine and control your weight. Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy is prescribed. In severe cases, surgical treatment is performed.

medical

The main task in the treatment of arthrosis is to eliminate 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 has a negative effect on 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 becomes thinner.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. It reduces inflammation but is effective in relieving pain.
4. Chondroprotectors. These are the main drugs for the treatment of arthrosis, they provide cartilage tissues with nutrients and stimulate cell regeneration. They do not have a quick effect, the condition of the joints gradually improves. It is effective even in the 3rd stage of the disease.
5. Vasodilator drugs. It is necessary to improve blood circulation, eliminate spasms of small vessels. Improve the activity of chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is effectively used with arthrosis. Procedures include heating 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 in the treatment of the disease:

1. ultrasound effect. High-frequency sound affects the tissues of the body and causes a number of beneficial effects. Micromassage warms up muscles, improves blood flow in capillaries, and accelerates metabolic processes.
2. Electrophoresis. Under the influence of low-voltage current, drugs are injected into the problem area without affecting other parts of the body.
3. magnetic therapy. 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 rays). It is used in addition to other physiotherapy methods or if there are contraindications for 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 protecting, joint changing, joint resecting, joint strengthening. The choice depends on the degree of development of the disease, intensity of pain, individual characteristics of the patient.
2. Puncture. It is carried out with progressive arthrosis. Performs 2 functions: relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension within the capsule, removing from it substances that destroy cartilage tissue. This is an informative diagnostic method. During this procedure, drugs are injected into the joint after local anesthesia.
3. Arthroscopy. It is often performed on an outpatient basis. During the procedure, cartilage or bone fragments can be removed from the joint, the meniscus can be treated, the ligament apparatus can be reconstructed, and the joint surfaces deformed during arthrosis can be cleaned. It is performed under general or local anesthesia.
4. Arthrotomy. If arthroscopy does not give a positive result, the joint is opened. It is indicated for long-term swelling of the joint and constant severe pain that does not stop with medication. It is recommended if you want to remove large cartilage or bone tissue.

Operations to change the joint position are performed in cases where it is necessary to correct the position of bones with defects in the structure of the joints, such as preventing 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 progression of the disease, but with joint damage, when the disease progresses to the later stages, physical exercises can contribute to the aggravation and destruction of tissues in the problem area.

You should do this only after consulting a specialist who will help you choose a set of exercises and master the implementation methodology. The first exercise should be done under the supervision of an instructor.

When performing the exercises, you must follow the rules:

1. Avoid stress on the injured joint.
2. A moderate pace of exercise does not cause joint destruction.
3. Rest and exercise should be balanced.
4. Heavy loads and high movement intensity cause increased pain and cause swelling of the joint.
5. It is necessary to remember the correct posture in any position of the body.

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 the treatment of arthrosis, together with drugs, manual therapy methods are used, which increase the mobility of the damaged joints, prevent muscle atrophy, and have a positive effect on the patient's whole body.

The following manipulations are performed during the session:

1. Relaxation of the muscles involved in the work of the diseased joint (complete rest).
2. Carrying out low-frequency mobilization of the joint surface, expanding the range of motion of the joint to its limit of mobility.
3. Acupressure according to the Schwartz method to bring the muscles to a state of relaxation.
4. The use of laser and hardware 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 relieve joint swelling and pain. Recipes include herbs such as thyme, cinquefoil, dandelion (root), strawberry and maple leaves and willow bark.

There is a simple but effective way to use birch leaves. To do this, it is necessary to choose comfortable clothes that will closely fit the area affected by arthrosis (high socks or stockings are suitable for the ankle, tight socks for knee treatment and sealed leggings for the hip joint). At night, you should cover the affected joint with leaves and wear suitable clothes. You cannot wrap the cloth 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 necessary before use, because. There may be contraindications for use.

In folk medicine, ointments, infusions, freshly squeezed juices, compresses are used to fight arthrosis, which are often recommended by doctors together with medicines. The action of all non-traditional means is aimed at reducing pain and swelling of damaged joints, restoring tissue and improving the general condition of the patient.

But you can not engage in self-treatment, otherwise complications may arise.

Do you need to rethink your 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. No special diet. In order to achieve good results in treatment, the following rules should be followed:

1. Take into account the caloric content of food so that it remains stable in normal weight patients and normalizes in overweight patients.
2. Oily, smoked foods, semi-finished products with flavor enhancers, dyes and preservatives are prohibited.
3. Products should be natural: low-fat fish and meat types, seafood rich in minerals and vitamins, fresh fruits and vegetables, hard cheese, butter, low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, chicken eggs, rye and bran bread, with high-quality unsaturated fatty acidsrich vegetable oil.
4. Daily salt intake should be limited 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 jelly, jelly, aspic fish, kissel in the menu.
7. It is necessary to spend 2-3 emptying days per week (cottage cheese, kefir, fruit and vegetable days).

What are the dangers in 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 the later stages of development, the pathology will lead to the destruction of articular tissues. Results - 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 arthrosis is as follows:

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

The result

The danger of the disease is that a person can completely lose the ability to move. By knowing the symptoms of the disease, the causes of its development and methods of combating it, you can get rid of the pathology in the early stages.