Arthrosis is called distribution changes in the joints, which are inherent in the destruction of the cartilage. With such disease, inflammatory processes develop slowly and suspension tissues are degeneration. According to statistics, osteoarthritis is the most common disease in people 30 years or older, it affects all segments of the population, regardless of sex, at this time, 80% of the total population of our planet has the pathology under consideration.
The causes of osteoarthritis
The osteoarthritis of the joints begins due to a violation of the metabolic processes directly in the joints. This may be due to usual hormonal disorders, a hereditary factor and an advanced age.But doctors identify the most possible reasons for the development of the process in question:
- dislocations, bruises, joint ligaments and, in general, any anamnesis injury;
- Too much body weight: this increases the load in the joints many times;
- Arthritis previously adopted acutely and purulent nature;
- Autoimmune classification diseases, for example, red sclerodermia or lupus;
- colds that occur often and difficult;
- Regular hypothermia: this may be due to the details of the work activity;
- Inflammatory processes in the body, which are specific, for example, syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick -transmitted encephalitis;
- Blood supply altered to the femoral head: Pertes's disease;
- Disorders in the operation of the thyroid gland;
- Hemophilia - deteriorated blood coagulation.
It is not worth excluding the fact of lower nutrition: this can lead to disorders in metabolism, which serves as the main cause of osteoarthritic development. A high probability of the appearance of the pathological process in consideration is available for miners, blacksmiths, metallurgists and all people who regularly experience great physical activity. The doctor tells about the mechanism for the development of the deforming osteoarthritis of the joints:
Symptoms of osteoarthritis and degree of osteoarthritis
The main sign of the disease in consideration is painful: it occurs with excessive physical effort in the specific joints, at rest it can decrease, periodically, at the bottom of pain in the area of the articulation affected by the inflammatory process, hyperemia (redness of the skin) and swelling can occur.In general, doctors identify 4 main groups of osteoarthritis development signs:
- Pain. Of course, this symptom is characteristic of many diseases, but with osteoarthritis there are some characteristics of articulation pain:
- Unpleasant sensations arise only when making a movement;
- As soon as a person presents the resting joint, the syndrome disappears. Keep in mind: the pathological process under consideration develops very slowly, therefore, at the beginning of its course, osteoarthritis is concerned only with periodically the pain in the joints exclusively with excessive loads. At night, the pain of the patients does not bother, the dream is not disturbed. Then, with the progression of osteoarthritis, morning pain begins to appear: they are characterized by patients as "shots", differ in the short term and occur only in the early morning. If osteoarthritis is in a careless state, then pain syndrome acquires acute and constant nature, including powerful pain of pain cannot reduce its intensity.
- Reducing joint mobility. It is also considered one of the characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis, but it already seems in the stage of active progression of the disease. During the development of osteoarthritis, the growth/germination of bone neoplasms occurs, which leads to muscle tissue spasms, reducing light in the joint bag: the restriction of the movement in this place is guaranteed.
- Crunch.The joints shout even in absolutely healthy people, but for osteoarthritis there is a distinctive characteristic of the crunch: it is "dry", it does not click and always accompanies acute pain.
- Joint deformation. This phenomenon occurs with the growth of osteophytes and is considered one of the last signs of osteoarthritis, which appears in the stage of the decompensated development of the pathological process under consideration.
The radiological image of osteoarthritis in each of the 4 degrees is represented below:
A specialist has more about the symptoms of osteoarthritis:
Keep in mind: the course of the disease in consideration is very slow and in the first stage it can not be characterized by any symptoms, and the pain of inconsistent joints and the increase in fatigue can be inherent even healthy people with great physical effort. Therefore, the independent diagnosis of osteoarthritis is almost impossible.
The processes that occur in the tissues of the joints in each of the stages of osteoarthritis are represented in the diagram:
The principles of treatment of osteoarthritis
- Physicians argue that painful articulations should be treated at the early stage of the development of pathology: this is the guarantee not only of getting rid of inflammatory processes, but also for the restoration of already lost functions. Doctors can use several methods to treat osteoarthritis, this is the prescription of medicines and physiotherapy, and regular sanatorium resorts treatment. In any case, the therapy for the pathology in consideration must be integral and based on the following basic methods:
- It is necessary to eliminate the painful articulation of the load. This does not mean that the patient should maintain strict bed rest, but it is necessary to maximize the load in the problematic part of the body, for example, change the work or rejection training.
- Clearly, he adheres to the medical physical education schedule: the doctor who is such appointments and the specialist must perform classes.
- The mandatory treatment of osteoarthritis should include physiotherapy-magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser and shock wave therapy.
- Visiting specialized resorts: the treatment of sanitarium will not only successfully perform the recovery/rehabilitation period after the main treatment dish, but also to prevent the relapse of osteoarthritis.
- Clear execution of all doctor's recipes in relation to drugs.
- Realization of the intra -articular block.
- Diet correction.
Drug treatment
In the complex of pharmacological therapy, the following medications should be used:
- Anti -inflammatory. This drug group performs two functions at the same time: it relieves pain and eliminates the inflammatory process. Doctors use non -steroid anti -inflammatory drugs for osteoarthritis, and do not recipe them orally (in tablets); This category of medications acts irritating for the gastric mucosa. Taking into account that the course of osteoarthritis therapy is quite long, the patient can get rid of the underlying disease, but "win" gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa) and even peptic ulcer. Therefore, depending on the specifically selected drug, they are prescribed intravenously or intramuscularly. In pharmacy networks, you can buy non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs and local purposes: such ointments can be used, but do not give a powerful effect or long -term time.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. This drug group is more effective during the exacerbation period of osteoarthritis. But a similar category of drugs in pharmacies is also represented in the form of plasters, ointments: they are used only externally, you can expect a fairly fast and powerful effect.
- Condroprotector. These drugs contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT: The course of therapy with these medications is very long, but if there are no positive results within 6 months, then the condoprotector cancels or completely adjusts its dose.
Very often, in the process of treatment of osteoarthritis, specialists recipe medications that contribute to the degrading of cartilage tissue. But doctors warn their patients that they should not expect a quick effect: notable positive changes will begin not before two weeks after taking the medication.
Keep in mind: if the patient was hospitalized with osteoarthritis in the most serious stage of development and pain syndrome, doctors cannot eliminate any analgesic, then narcotics analgesics can be prescribed, but this is extremely rare.
Diet
The importance of adequate nutrition for osteoarthritis is difficult to evaluate: if the patient ignores the recommendations of nutritionists, then the treatment of the pathological process into consideration can be delayed for years, and the results will not be very high.
What should be remembered by those patients who are forced to undergo osteoarthritis:
- Be sure to correct your weight: it is strictly forbidden to die of hunger (cartilage tissue nutrition in the joints will break), but it is worth abandoning the flour and sweet dishes;
- It is forbidden to drink alcohol, especially beer, are not compatible with many drugs and can cause an active allergic reaction and, secondly, it is alcohol and beer that serve as causes of an additional set of kilos;
- In the diet, it is necessary to introduce a jelly: this product restores connective tissue and strengthens the cartilage.
- Be sure to control the intake of sufficient vitamin B. Vitamin B. You can, of course, use vitamin complexes, but it is very possible to obtain the required amount of this substance and products: fish, beans, legumes, cabbage and tomatoes must be present in the menu every day.
- The diet must have bananas, nuts, liver of corral birds, milk, eggs and fungi. Folic acid, riboflavin and pyridoxin will enter the body of these products: they help a lot in the treatment of the pathological process under consideration
Popular treatment of osteoarthritis
There are several dozen popular methods to treat osteoarthritis, but all will only relieve unpleasant symptoms, but they will not eliminate inflammation or the main cause of the development of the disease. Of course, compresses and applications, ointments and gels with a chestnut of horses, a lilac cabbage and tincture sheet will have an analgesic effect and even allow the patient to return to the usual rhythm of life for a while.But the doctor's consultation will be needed:
- First, it is necessary to ensure that the joints are accurately affected by osteoarthritis;
- Secondly, taking specific medications significantly reduces the recovery process;
- Third, doctors may establish the true reason for the development of the destructive process in the joints, direct the forces to eliminate them, which leads to a complete cure.