Osteoarthritis: Among joint diseases, osteoarthritis is well known and widespread. What is it and how to treat it? What are the symptoms of the disease and what are its main causes?
what is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disease that has a devastating effect on the joints, causing a degradation of the cartilage inside.
A long period of the course of the disease leads to a change in bone endings, and inflammatory processes destroy nearby tissues.
The list of joint diseases related to arthrosis is not small, and it is a group of ailments that have a similar destructive effect, but have different causes and course processes.
According to the statistics obtained, up to 80% of the population suffers from various types of osteoarthritis, which makes it the most frequent joint disease. The disease is so common that it is placed third after oncology and cardiovascular diseases.
Due to non-compliance with a healthy lifestyle, over time, the risk of disease increases significantly.
Osteoarthritis is not a bulkhead disease and can affect both men and women, acting more faithfully only on the interphalangeal joints. People who have reached the age of 30 are susceptible to the disease, and over time their number increases without hindrance.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The reason for the appearance of such arthrosis and treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joint. This leads to a loss of strength and elasticity of the cartilage.
The reason for this is a significant decrease or complete disappearance of proteoglycans due to large cracks in the cartilage.
Other reasons can also contribute to this, for example, a violation of the normal production of proteoglycans by the cells themselves.
Additional causes that have a devastating effect on the joints:
- violation of metabolic processes throughout the body;
- deterioration of the hormonal background;
- slowing of blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary causes;
- advanced age;
- various injuries;
- Rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is non-compliance with normal loads on the joints in everyday life.
Due to his unpreparedness, the unwillingness of a person to perform physical exercises in a timely manner, warm-ups to strengthen the joints - the cartilage is not able to fully perform its functions.
A wide list of causes that can provoke arthrosis:
- previously received injuries, such as dislocations, fractures, contusions, torn ligaments and others;
- violation of metabolic processes that support viability;
- excessive body weight, which leads to excessive stress on the joints;
- acute purulent arthritis leading to inflammation of the joint;
- old age;
- malnutrition;
- prolonged excessive decrease in body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- body poisoning;
- frequent colds;
- special diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick-borne encephalitis;
- thyroid diseases;
- hemophilia;
- peter's disease
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- arthrosis of the hands and fingers can be hereditary, as shown by scientists who have studied Bouchard and Heberden nodes;
- in the case of dysplasia, which has developed as a result of a violation of joint formation in the prenatal period, excessive wear of the joints and the development of arthrosis may occur;
- Mutations in type 2 collagen can lead to alteration of the internal structure of connective tissue fibrillar protein and cartilage degradation.
If you are a bricklayer, miner, fisherman, loader or your activity is related to some extent with excessive physical exertion, then, without taking any preventive measures, there is also the possibility of getting osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis symptoms
For a complete understanding of what osteoarthritis is and how it is treated, we will deal with the external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are: the manifestation of pain during tension in the joint, which can subside at rest; deterioration of the motor functions of the joint; the appearance of creaks; feeling of muscle tension around the affected joint.
The main thing is not to allow long-term tumors, as they can lead to early deformity of the joint.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Manifestations of pain. They are considered the first message at arthrosis of joints. Although the culprits of the pain can be a variety of reasons, but in the case of arthrosis, the pain has certain characteristics. The main thing is the presence of sharp pains that appear during movement at the site of the damaged joint. The pain disappears after minimizing functional activity. At night, the pain practically does not manifest itself in any way, only slight discomfort can appear with blows from one side to the other. In a state of immobility, pain can only manifest itself in advanced forms. At this time, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms reappear early in the morning. As the disease progresses, the person needs more and more time to rest and recover. Even later, even at rest, the pain does not stop, turning life into constant torment. There is almost complete wear of the cartilage, as a result of which the bone is exposed, osteophytes are erased.
- The appearance of cracks.. A symptom that should not be overlooked. The crunch appears due to the friction of the bones against each other, because the smoothness between them decreases; as a result, a distinctive "dry" sound appears. Although, it can also occur with other ailments, and sometimes even when the joints are healthy. In severe forms of the disease, the sound can become more pronounced, and the pain intensifies.
- Decreased joint mobility. This is an additional symptom that does not accompany arthrosis in the initial stages, however, in a neglected state, it stimulates the overgrowth of interosseous formations, which leads to spasm, and the gap between the joints is almost completely covered. And this is the main reason for the loss of mobility.
- joint deformity. This symptom involves degrading changes in the joint surfaces due to the growth of osteophytes and the flow of synovial fluid. It is one of the last symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Due to the alternation of periods of remission and exacerbation, self-diagnosis of arthrosis is much more difficult. Therefore, relying only on personal feelings is not enough: the help of a specialist doctor is required.
Diagnosis - osteoarthritis
To detect possible signs indicating the presence of the disease and the degree of its complexity, an X-ray study is used:
- In the first stage, osteophytes are not yet present and the gap between the joints is minimally reduced.
- The second stage is characterized by a decrease in joint space, with a slight appearance of osteophytes.
- At the third stage, the decrease in joint space is clearly noticeable, a large number of osteophytes are formed, and deformation processes begin to occur.
- At the last fourth stage, the gap between the joints almost completely disappears, the maximum possible number of osteophytes appears, the deformation processes are in full swing.
Negative consequences of osteoarthritis
Ignoring timely treatment of osteoarthritis involves not only complete irreversible damage to the joint, but also leads to damage to the spine.
Herniated discs can form in the intervertebral discs. Osteoarthritis can spread to other still healthy joints.
Treatment methodology
As with any other dangerous disease, it is better not to start treatment, but to carry it out at an early stage.
Treatment methods must be comprehensive and aimed at eliminating the links that contribute to the progression of the disease, as well as strengthening those factors that help to heal.
What is special about the treatment of osteoarthritis? An integrated approach to therapy involves the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
However, physiotherapy courses are mandatory. In the case of opting for the treatment by the sanitary spa method, the climatic conditions must be selected in such a way that the effect on the joints is as favorable as possible.
The program should include procedures in mineral waters and mud baths.
The essence of the treatment of arthrosis is as follows:
- Diseased joints should be subjected to loads as little as possible, it is especially important to take this into account in the treatment process;
- The orthopedic regimen cannot be ignored;
- Mandatory physical exercises to improve health;
- Carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electroprocedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium recovery - prescribed by a doctor and recommended to spend in special resorts once a year;
- Conducting oxygen therapy - the introduction of oxygen into the joint;
- Medical treatment;
- intraosseous blockade;
- Switch to a healthy diet.
Types of pharmacological treatment.
- Means that eliminate inflammatory processes.. By conducting complex treatment, there is a chance to significantly slow down the course of the disease, thereby avoiding pain in the future. The medicinal method of treatment involves pain relief and the elimination of inflammatory processes in the joints. For these purposes, drugs of non-steroidal origin are selected. They are often given intravenously or intramuscularly, as oral use can cause irritation of the stomach lining. Various ointments are used as an additional remedy, but due to their poor absorption by the body, they are of poor effectiveness, therefore they are used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease is exacerbated. They are inserted into the joint. An ointment, plaster or tincture with hot pepper is applied to the damaged joint from the outside.
- The use of chondroprotectors. They will help with the regeneration of cartilage, in addition, they will improve the properties of synovial fluid. Medications such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are prescribed.
The time of use of these drugs can be long and does not stop until the patient improves markedly.
If the drugs do not provide the expected positive effect, their use is canceled.
In parallel with chondroprotectors, you need to take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps create cell membranes in articular cartilage.
In very rare cases, when no other drug has a positive effect, narcotic pain relievers may be prescribed.
Healthy nutrition for patients with osteoarthritis.
Nutrition is perhaps the most important issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible when the condition worsens with arthrosis. Regardless of what drugs the patient is treated with, with improper nutrition, all these efforts may be in vain.
First of all, eat in moderation. For those who are overweight, they urgently need to lose weight, but do not force themselves to starve, since the body needs to constantly receive all trace elements in sufficient quantities.
You should limit yourself in the use of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods, as well as in flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing low-fat varieties, and fish should not be cooked fried.
The use of gelatin is recommended for osteoarthritis. Since it contains a large number of trace elements, it will be useful for diseased joints.
The collagen it contains is of natural origin, which means that it is easily absorbed by the body and will serve as the basis for connective tissue. With prolonged use of gelatin, the joints will become more mobile, and the nearby tissues will become elastic and durable.
An important factor in treatment is the timely use of a sufficient amount of vitamins, especially of group B. They ensure the normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine, contained in beans and peas, will improve the metabolic process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
For hemoglobin to be produced in the blood, pyridoxine is needed. This substance is rich in potatoes, bananas, cabbage and nuts. Riboflavin is rich in eggs, liver, dairy products and mushrooms.
Legumes and vegetables will provide folic acid to the body. The industry offers a wide range of vitamin preparations and dietary supplements.
However, vitamins and microelements obtained from food are better absorbed by the body, which is an important factor in the process of restoring cartilage tissue.
It is necessary to adhere to certain rules of nutrition in the treatment of arthrosis.
- Eating should be frequent and in small portions;
- You can not eat before bedtime, you need to refuse heavy food for the stomach;
- To relieve the burden of sore joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after eating during remission is a useful prevention of exacerbation of joint diseases;
- The selection or adjustment of the diet together with the doctor will ensure a correct balanced nutrition.
Therefore, it is possible to defeat arthrosis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the advice of the attending physician.