Osteoarthritis - among the diseases of the joints, arthrosis 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 arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a disease that has a devastating effect on the joints, due to which cartilage degradation occurs inside them.
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 articular diseases related to arthrosis is not small, and 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 arthrosis, which makes it the most common joint disease. The disease is so common that it is put in third place after oncology and cardiovascular diseases.
Due to non-compliance with a healthy lifestyle, over time, the risk of disease increases significantly.
Arthrosis is not such a bulkhead disease and can affect both men and women, acting more loyally only on the interphalangeal joints. People who have reached the age of 30 are susceptible to the disease, and over time their number increases unhindered.
Causes of arthrosis
The reason for the occurrence of such arthrosis and treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joint. This leads to a loss of cartilage strength and elasticity.
The reason for this is a significant decrease or complete disappearance of proteoglycans from them 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;
- worsening hormonal levels;
- slowing down blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary causes;
- elderly age;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is non-compliance with normal loads on the joints in everyday life.
Due to their unpreparedness, the unwillingness of a person to perform physical exercises in a timely manner, warm-ups to strengthen the joints - cartilage is not able to fully perform its functions.
A wide list of causes that can cause arthrosis:
- previously received injuries, such as dislocations, fractures, bruises, 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;
- Peters disease.
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- arthrosis of the hands and fingers can be inherited, as proven by scientists who have studied Bouchard and Heberden's nodules;
- in the case of dysplasia, which has developed as a result of a violation of the formation of joints in the prenatal period, excessive wear of the joints and the development of arthrosis may occur;
- Mutations in type 2 collagen can lead to disruption of the internal structure of the connective tissue fibrillar protein and cartilage degradation.
If you are a bricklayer, miner, fisherman, loader, or your activity is to some extent connected with excessive physical exertion, then without taking any preventive measures, there is a chance to get arthrosis as well.
Symptoms of arthrosis
For a complete understanding of what arthrosis is and how it is treated, we will deal with external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of arthrosis are: the manifestation of pain during stress on the joint, which can subside at rest; deterioration of the motor functions of the joint; the appearance of crunches; sensation of muscle tension around the affected joint.
The main thing is not to allow long-term tumors, as they can lead to an early deformity of the joint.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Pain manifestations. They are considered the first message to arthrosis of the joints. Although the culprits of 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. Pain disappears after minimizing functional activity. At night, the pain practically does not manifest itself in any way, only with coups from side to side, slight discomfort may appear. In a state of immobility, pain can manifest itself only in advanced forms. At this time, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms reappear at early morning. As the disease progresses, a 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 crunches. A symptom that should not be ignored. The crunch appears due to the friction of the bones against each other, because the softness between them decreases - as a result, a distinct "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 may 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 excessive growth of interosseous formations, which leads to spasms, and the gap between the joints is almost completely overgrown. And this is the main reason for the loss of mobility.
- Joint deformity. This symptom implies degrading changes in the surfaces of the joints due to the growth of osteophytes and the flow of synovial fluid. It is one of the latest symptoms of arthrosis.
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 - arthrosis
To detect possible signs indicating the presence of the disease and the degree of its complexity, a study using radiography is used:
- At the first stage, osteophytes are not yet present, and the gap between the joints is minimally narrowed.
- The second stage is characterized by a decrease in the joint space, with a slight appearance of osteophytes.
- At the third stage, the decrease in the 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 arthrosis
Ignoring the timely treatment of arthrosis entails not only complete irreversible damage to the joint, but also provokes damage to the spine.
Herniated discs can form in the intervertebral discs. Arthrosis can spread to other, still healthy joints.
Treatment methodology
As with any other dangerous disease, it is best not to start treatment, but to carry it out at an early stage.
Treatment methods should 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 cure.
What is so special about the treatment of arthrosis? An integrated approach to therapy consists in the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
At the same time, it is mandatory to conduct physiotherapy courses. In the case of choosing treatment by the sanitary-resort method, the climatic conditions should 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:
- Sick joints should be subjected to loads as little as possible, it is especially important to take this into account in the treatment process;
- You can not ignore the orthopedic regimen;
- Mandatory health-improving physical exercises;
- Carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electroprocedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium recovery - prescribed by a doctor and recommended for passing at special resorts once a year;
- Carrying out oxygen therapy - the introduction of oxygen into the joint;
- Medical treatment;
- Intraosseous blockade;
- Switching to a healthy diet.
Types of drug treatment
- Means that eliminate inflammatory processes. By conducting complex treatment, there is a chance to significantly slow down the course of the disease, thereby saving yourself from pain in the future. The medicinal method of treatment involves pain relief and removal of inflammatory processes in the joints. For these purposes, drugs of non-steroidal origin are selected. Often they are administered intravenously or intramuscularly, since their oral use can cause irritation of the stomach walls. Various ointments are used as an additional remedy, but due to their poor absorption by the body, they are of little effectiveness, therefore they are used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease becomes 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 the synovial fluid. Drugs 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 becomes noticeably better.
If the drugs do not provide the expected positive effect, their use is canceled.
In parallel with chondroprotectors, you should take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps create cell membranes in the articular cartilage.
In very rare cases, when no other drugs have a positive effect, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed.
Healthy nutrition for arthrosis patients
Nutrition is perhaps the most important issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible when the condition worsens with arthrosis. Whatever drugs the patient is treated with, with improper nutrition, all these efforts can be in vain.
First of all, eat in moderation. For those who are overweight, you need to lose weight urgently, but you should not force yourself to starve, as the body needs to constantly receive all the trace elements in sufficient quantities.
You need to limit yourself in the use of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods, as well as flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing low-fat varieties and the fish should not be cooked fried.
The use of jelly is recommended for arthrosis. Since it contains a huge amount of trace elements, it will be useful for diseased joints.
The collagen contained in it is of natural origin, which means that it is easily absorbed by the body and will serve as a foundation for connective tissue. With prolonged use of jelly, the joints will become more mobile, and nearby tissues will become elastic and durable.
An important factor in the treatment is the timely use of a sufficient amount of vitamins, especially 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.
In order 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 greens will provide the body with folic acid. 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 cartilage tissue restoration.
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 should refuse food that is heavy for the stomach;
- To ease the load on 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 proper balanced nutrition.
Thus, it is possible to defeat arthrosis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the advice of the attending physician.