Possible causes of arthrosis and its treatment

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

Symptoms

Joint pain during movement is the main symptom of the disease, due to which many seek medical help on time. Discomfort is manifested during long walking or strong physical exertion.

What is arthrosis, the doctor will tell 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 friction of collapsing cartilage;
• increased pain during heavy loads, this is especially expressed 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 snow, cold snap;
• morning stiffness.

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

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

With arthrosis, the cartilaginous 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 40 years old (the main reason in women is the onset of menopause, when hormonal changes in the body occur).

Osteoarthritis is manifested as a result of deformation of the articular cartilage and affects the bone tissue, affecting the entire joint, leading to disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

There are a number of diseases that have signs similar to those 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 by localization

Varieties 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 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 (dislocations, bruises, fractures, torn ligaments, damage to the meniscus);
• 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.

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 analysis;
• histological examination of synovia (with arthrosis, integumentary cells are not regenerated, atrophic villi appear, the number of vessels decreases).

The degree of damage to the joint

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

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

• slight limitation of joint movement in only one direction;
• there are no bone growths on the x-ray;
• cartilage surfaces are uneven;
• narrowing of the joint space 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 (disability):

• joint deformity;
• movement is limited;
• pain during movement and at rest (relieved by painkillers);
• there is no joint space;
• muscles are 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

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

medical

The main task in the treatment of arthrosis is the removal 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 adversely affects cartilage tissue.
2. Corticosteroids. They are used in severe cases for pain relief, do not slow down the development of the disease. With uncontrolled use, cartilage thins.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. Poorly relieve inflammation, but effective for pain relief.
4. Chondroprotectors. These are the main drugs for the treatment of arthrosis, they provide cartilage tissues with nutrients, stimulate cell regeneration. They do not have a quick effect, the condition of the joints improves gradually. Effective even at stage 3 of the disease.
5. Vasodilator drugs. Needed 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 impact. High-frequency sound acts on the tissues of the body, causing a number of beneficial effects. With micromassage, muscles are warmed, blood flow in the 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. magnetic therapy. The application of the method helps to reduce inflammatory reactions, strengthens blood vessels, improves blood flow and accelerates cell regeneration in the problem area.
4. Radiation exposure (use of infrared, ultraviolet or laser radiation). It is used as an adjunct to other methods of physiotherapy or when 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-preserving, joint-replacing, joint-resecting, joint-strengthening. The choice depends on the degree of development of the disease, on the intensity of pain, the individual characteristics of the patient.
2. Puncture. It is carried out with progressive arthrosis. It performs 2 functions: relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension inside the capsule, removing substances from it 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 bones can be removed from the joint, the meniscus can be treated, the ligamentous apparatus reconstructed, and the joint surfaces deformed during 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 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 to change the position of the joint are carried out 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 initial 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 moved to later stages, physical exercises can contribute to the development of exacerbation and destruction of tissues in the problem area.

You need to do it 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 stress on the injured joint.
2. A moderate pace of exercise does not cause destruction of the joints.
3. Rest and exercise must be balanced.
4. Strong loads and high intensity of movement cause increased pain and provoke swelling of 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 muscles, and improve the general condition of the patient.

Manual therapy

In combination with medications 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 that are involved in the work of the diseased joint.
2. Carrying out 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 bring the muscles to a state of rest.
4. The use of laser and apparatus 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 swelling of the joints and reduce pain. The 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 will tightly fit the area affected by arthrosis (high socks or stockings are suitable for the ankle, tight stockings for the treatment of the knee, and sealed leggings for the hip joint). At night, you need to cover the diseased joint with leaves and wear suitable clothes. You can not wrap the fabric with polyethylene.

The leaves draw out 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 for use.

In folk medicine, ointments, infusions, freshly squeezed juices, 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, tissue repair, and improving the general condition of the patient.

But you can not engage in self-medication, 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 must be natural: low-fat varieties of fish and meat, seafood rich in minerals and vitamins, fresh fruits and vegetables, durum 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 per day.
6. Include in the diet foods 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 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 the subsequent stages of development, the pathology will lead to the destruction of articular 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 arthrosis is as follows:

1. Body weight control.
2. Proper balanced nutrition.
3. Moderate physical activity.
4. Avoid hypothermia of the joints.
5. Wearing 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.