Possible causes of osteoarthritis and its treatment

Osteoarthritis is a pathology in which there is a gradual deformation of the joints. In the early stages, cartilage and ligaments are destroyed. The process proceeds slowly, so that the disease is detected already at a late stage of development. In the future, this could 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, due to which many seek medical help in time. Discomfort is manifested during a long walk or strong physical exertion.

What is osteoarthritis, 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 within the joint;
• the appearance of a crisis due to the friction of the collapsing cartilage;
• increased pain during heavy loads, this is especially expressed in knee arthrosis during squats, sports (running, jumping, lifting weights), carrying weights;
• weather dependence, when affected joints begin to ache 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 television presenter says the terms "arthrosis" and "osteoarthritis" mean a disease in which cartilage is damaged and bone tissue grows.

With arthrosis, the cartilaginous tissue on the surface of the joints is destroyed, limb mobility is limited, severe pain appears. The 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 deformation of articular cartilage and affects bone tissue, affecting the entire joint, leading to disability.

Other diseases with similar symptoms

There are several diseases that show signs similar to those of osteoarthritis:

1. Humeroscapular periarthritis, cervical osteochondrosis, osteoporosis and arthritis of the shoulder joint.
2. Elbow epicondylitis, osteoarthritis deformans, 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 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 disease

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

• injuries (dislocations, bruises, fractures, torn ligaments, damage to the meniscus);
• congenital anomalies in joint development (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:

• radiographic examination;
• arthroscopy (examination with a video camera inserted into the joint through a 4-5 mm incision);
• blood analysis;
• 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 disease development.

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

• slight limitation of joint movement in only one direction;
• there are no bony growths on the radiograph;
• cartilage surfaces are irregular;
• joint space narrowing begins.

The second stage (affects the ability to work):

• medium restriction of movement;
• strong crunch when changing limb position;
• partial atrophy of nearby muscles;
• bone growths, osteophytes;
• the gap lumen is smaller than normal 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;
• the muscles are atrophied;
• ossification of the articular surface.

Fourth step:

• severe pain that doesn't 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, monitor weight. Physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy are prescribed. In severe cases, surgical treatment is performed.

doctor

The main task in treating osteoarthritis is the removal of pain. For this, drugs from different groups are prescribed:

1. Non-steroidal drugs in the form of tablets, suppositories, ointments, gels, injections. Prolonged use of these drugs adversely affects cartilage tissue.
2. Corticosteroids. They are used in severe cases for pain relief, they do not delay the development of the disease. With uncontrolled use, the cartilage becomes thinner.
3. Analgesics, antispasmodics. Badly relieving inflammation but effective for pain relief.
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. Vasodilator drugs. Necessary to improve blood circulation, eliminate spasms of small vessels. Improve the action of chondroprotectors.

Physiotherapy

With osteoarthritis, physical therapy is used effectively. Procedures include warming up the joints. Dry heat slows down the destruction of bone and cartilage tissue, reduces pain and improves the patient's general condition.

The following methods are used to treat the condition:

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. Applying the method helps to 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 an adjunct 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, and the individual characteristics of the patient.
2. Puncture. It is performed with progressive osteoarthritis. It performs 2 functions: it relieves pain in the damaged joint and relieves tension inside the capsule, removing from it 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. 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 ligament apparatus reconstructed, and joint surfaces deformed during osteoarthritis can be cleaned. It is performed under general or local anesthesia.
4. arthrotomy. Opening the joint is performed if arthroscopy does not give a positive result. It is indicated for prolonged joint swelling 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 bones, with defects in the structure of the joints, such as preventing arthrosis.

exercise therapy

Physical therapy exercises can help in the early stages of the disease, when the joint is not yet deformed. Active movements slow the course of the disease, but with joint damage, when the disease progresses to later stages, physical exercise can contribute to the development of exacerbation and tissue destruction in the problem area.

You need to do this only after consulting an expert who will help you 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 joint destruction.
3. Rest and exercise must be balanced.
4. Strong loads and high intensity of movement cause increased pain and cause swelling of the joint.
5. In any position of the body, it is necessary to remember the correct posture.

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

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 patient's entire body.

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. Performing low-frequency mobilization 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 resting state.
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 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 to the area affected by osteoarthritis (high socks or socks are suitable for the ankle, tight socks for the treatment of the knee and sealed leggings for the hip joint). At night, you need to cover the diseased joint with sheets and wear suitable clothing. You cannot wrap the fabric with polyethylene.

The leaves extract salts, toxins and cholesterol deposits from the diseased joint, the skin after the procedure is smooth and velvety. The course of treatment is 6-7 procedures, before use, a medical consultation is required, 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 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 cannot self-medicate, otherwise complications may arise.

It is necessary to review the diet

With arthrosis, it is necessary to adjust nutrition, which should aim to improve metabolic processes, reduce body weight if necessary, strengthen connective and cartilaginous tissues and ligaments. There is no special diet. To obtain good results in treatment, the following rules must be observed:

1. Take into account the caloric content of meals so that in normal weight patients it remains stable and in overweight patients it returns to normal.
2. Fatty, smoked, semi-finished products containing flavor enhancers, colorings 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, hard cheese, butter, low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, chicken eggs, rye bread and bran, 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 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 days of unloading a week (curd, kefir, fruit and vegetable day).

What are the dangers of the different stages of the disease

In the early stage of the disease, osteoarthritis is manifested by periodic joint pain 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 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

Osteoarthritis prevention is as follows:

1. Body weight control.
2. Proper balanced diet.
3. Moderate physical activity.
4. Avoid joint hypothermia.
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 the methods of fighting it, you can get rid of the pathology in the early stages.