“What tests should be taken for arthrosis?” This question worries many patients diagnosed with deforming osteoarthritis. An examination is required to clarify the preliminary diagnosis; without it, treatment of joint disease cannot begin. The patient will have to undergo biochemical and clinical blood tests, as well as modern types of tomography - computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and necessarily x-rays.
Before taking various tests, it is necessary to undergo primary medical examinations, after which the picture of the disease can become clearer. We are all familiar with the laboratory test of human organs and systems, which involves donating blood from a vein. This is done for arthrosis on an empty stomach, allowing it to rest for 6-12 hours. BAC allows you to identify inflammatory processes that may accompany the disease, and will also help distinguish arthrosis from arthritis.
In rheumatoid arthritis, a biochemical blood test reveals an increased level of C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins, and seromucoid, which do not change with deforming arthrosis. Arthritis will almost always be reflected in the results of a blood test, so donating blood from a vein must be done in order to eliminate assumptions about the presence of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, which are sometimes very close in symptoms to arthrosis.
A clinical blood test will provide a more complete picture of the patient’s health; with arthrosis, it does not differ much from the normal state, but sometimes changes in the sedimentation rate of red blood cells (erythrocytes) are observed. A medical analysis that reveals a slight increase in the ESR value in the presence of pain that torments a person at night may indicate the occurrence of a rheumatic process, which is more likely arthritis than osteoarthritis.
However, this blood test cannot give clear answers whether the patient has arthrosis, but it sweeps aside other diseases, narrowing the range of possible diagnoses.
Without an x-ray, it is impossible to accurately diagnose arthrosis, since it is the most important analysis for this disease. An X-ray can reveal bone deformations and the presence of osteophytes - bone growths that occur only with arthrosis. It also provides a basis for determining the degree of arthrosis of the joints. X-rays clarify the situation with the joint space, which narrows as the health of the musculoskeletal system deteriorates. But the image does not show deformations of the cartilage tissue, or its thinning and absence at the last stage, the soft tissues of the bones are not displayed, so MRI and CT will help clarify the diagnosis.
Magnetic waves help doctors confirm or refute previous tests about the presence of arthrosis. MRI highlights the soft tissues of the joints - menisci, cartilage, ligaments, joint capsules. Improvements in computer diagnostics have brought MRI to the highest degree of accuracy not available with radiography.
In parallel with the MRI, a computed tomography scan called “enhanced x-ray” can be performed. A CT scan uses the same X-rays as an X-ray machine. This analysis for arthrosis takes three-dimensional images. Computed tomography is noticeably inferior in information content to magnetic resonance imaging. Typically, a CT scan is performed if it is not possible to perform an MRI: there is no machine in the hospital, or the patient has a pacemaker.
In addition to other tests to confirm arthrosis, an ultrasound of the joints is sometimes performed. If an x-ray cannot “enlighten” a person’s soft tissues, then an ultrasound examination, like a magnetic resonance examination, displays on the monitor deformation changes in hyaline cartilage, damage to the meniscus, and bone matrix, giving a more or less clear picture of the degenerative processes occurring in the body patient. The disadvantage of this analysis is that it is often subjective due to the lack of professionalism of the doctor.
No matter how trivial this may seem, at present there is no single analysis that will detect arthrosis of the hip, knee and other joints. A blood test from a finger and a vein screens out diseases with similar symptoms. X-ray reveals osteophyte spines and bone damage, but does not give the whole picture of the processes. To clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct at least a computed tomography scan, or better yet, a magnetic resonance imaging scan along with an ultrasound scan.
Deformable arthrosis is a disease in which irreversible changes occur in the cartilage tissue of the joint and over time its functions are completely disrupted. The pathogenesis is based on various causes of disorder in the formation of hyaline cartilage and synovial tissue.
The pathological effect of deforming arthrosis can affect any of the folded orifice systems of the body, but most often the hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, shoulder joint, as well as the spine, elbows and hands are affected. It is explained here that this articulation is itself physically attractive.
Deformable - means that under pressure, through the incorrect functioning of the cartilage, the edge of the brush stepwise forms osteophytes around itself, thereby appearing to change. As a rule, deforming arthrosis develops over decades and manifests itself with minor pain. For example, if the knee joint is damaged, the joint width changes by 0.3 mm per r.
In some cases, doctors have noticed a decline in the cartilage, which is something to watch out for in erosive osteoarthritis. This is due to genetic inferiority, menopause and severe obesity of the patient.
In the case of skin, the illness is irreversible and can lead to ankylosis - permanent infirmity of the skin.
The only reason that leads to deformable arthrosis of the elbow, hip joint, knee joint and other joints is the disruption of the vitality of the hyaline (subfrontal) cartilage. As a result, those that are inherent in nature cease to fail, and the normal functioning of the entire circulatory system will be awakened.
However, the reason is not entirely unknown, but there are external and internal factors that contribute to the manifestation of deforming arthrosis of the shoulder and other joints:
At the earliest stages, deformable arthrosis practically does not manifest itself in any way; in some cases there may be minor discomfort when turning or turning the toe.
Further, when the illness passes into the 2nd stage, signs of illness become noticeable due to the intensification of the pain sensations, with slight pressure, and with the remaining (third stage), there is no sign of pain at night with complete calm.
To the point of pain, looseness becomes apparent, and the progression of the disease leads to complete looseness in the area of the forehead surfaces.
The causes and factors of deforming arthrosis can be either the most important or the first symptom - pain. Moreover, the cartilage itself does not contain blood vessels or nerves, and the main symptoms appear only when the pathological process involves excessive joints and tissues.
At the 1st stage, only the child begins to feel at rest when repositioning on a corner and remains calm. Types of pain:
When classifying deforming arthrosis, it is customary to divide it into stages:
Reliable information about the joints can be obtained through additional MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy. In this case, the doctor can easily treat the surface changes that have stuck to the cartilage tissue. Ultrasound diagnostics is only effective for disorders of the great joints - the shoulder and hip joints.
X-ray examinations are more accessible and often carried out, but the disadvantage is that the cartilage is not visible on the image, so the folded doctor means only on the stand the size of the cartilage fissure, obviously st, osteophytes and ossification of the capsule.
Diet for deformable osteoarthrosis and any localization is necessary mainly for the correction of the vagina in order to reduce tension on the joint.
When treating any form of deformable arthrosis, there are general principles, but rather than loosening the joints, make your own adjustments to the skin. What is the difference between the process and the reliability of the forecast? For example, disability, most often, is “cut off” from the ends.
Methods that are simple and effective in some cases can slow down the pathological process in others, which is why treatment may be indicated only by the doctor after complete fastening.
Deformation of changes in the hip joint is commonly called coxarthrosis. Sickness is diagnosed in almost half of all cases of chronic illness, and with unilateral severe disability occurs in 70%, and with bilateral disease - in 100% of cases.
Main symptoms by stage:
How to treat deforming arthrosis of the hip joint? First of all, in the early stages, muscle relaxants are prescribed instead of analgesics, because the sickness syndrome results from muscle spasms. For progressive episodes, the following are prescribed: physiotherapy, pain management, exercise therapy.
At stage 3 – it is more effective to remove the endoprosthesis.
Gonarthrosis or deformation in the area of the knee joint, enlargement in 30% of all types of non-painful illness of the musculoskeletal system.
The main symptoms that characterize the stages of the disease:
Treatment for deformable arthrosis of the knee should be carried out at the stage of illness, but therapy for the ignition process is of primary importance. Steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (blockades) and NSAIDs are prescribed.
After the swelling is relieved, physiotherapy and exercise therapy can be prescribed. Three courses are considered chondroprotectors.
In the remaining stage, osteoarthritis of the knee can only be treated surgically.
When changing the ankle joint and its deformation, a person ultimately loses disability, since the process will almost always end in ankylosis. Pain syndrome, the presence of osteophytes and foot deformities are of great importance for the prognosis.
Bathing is carried out in a standard manner, with an emphasis on individual selection of medications, massage and physiotherapy.
Surgical intervention is indicated when there is a positive dynamics of debridement, vicarious arthrodesis, arthroscopic sanitation and endoprosthesis replacement.
Deforming arthrosis in the shoulder (oarthrosis) - rarely leads to the loss of illness, as long as its localization is in the place, it is little susceptible to attention.
Most often, omarthrosis is post-traumatic in nature without deformation, but with pain of varying intensity. In Russia, obedience is formed step by step.
Therapy follows a standard regimen, but conservative therapy prevails. Prompt delivery is only indicated if the patient's life expectancy is reduced.
Deforming arthrosis of the hands appears in the form of Heberden and Bouchard knots, which appear on the side surfaces of the joints. For illness, the characteristic part of the synovitis is with pulsating pain and movement of the phalanges of the fingers.
The disease of “non-hearing” fingers will end, with which other activities become impossible (impairment of fine motor skills). Treatment is standard for all types of arthrosis.
Deformable osteoarthritis is a disease that requires early diagnosis and timely treatment, only in which case an increased progression of the disease is possible. Conservative therapy in the later stages is ineffective, so surgery is preferred.
Arthrosis. Tipi arthrosis. Causes and symptoms. Treatment of rheumatoid arthrosis.
Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis) is a dystrophic disease of the cartilage, associated with extensive degeneration and destruction of the internal cartilage. Over time, there is a breakdown of the subglobular ends of the brushes, inflammation and degeneration of the subglobular tissues. Osteoarthrosis of the knee joints is called coxarthrosis , osteoarthritis of the knee joints is called gonarthrosis . Osteoarthritis can be primary - against the background of age-old and/or biomechanical changes, or secondary, for example, after injury, against the background of cervical diabetes or thyroid disease.
Characteristic symptoms are pain during exercise, which subsides with rest, between looseness and crunchiness in the joint, tension in the area of the joint, possible periodic appearance of swelling, postural deformation of the joint. Without proper treatment, joints susceptible to arthrosis will not only collapse on their own, but also destroy the biomechanics of the spine and other joints; symptoms of herniation of the intervertebral discs and arthrosis of other joints. Therefore, treatment with a rheumatologist is a sign of starting yakmoga earlier. In the early stages of arthrosis, it is possible to develop symptoms.
Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis) , as a rule, occurs more easily on the neck, lower coxarthrosis, and usually leads to disability. More often than not, women suffer from this disease - women and those who have varicose veins of the lower ends. In this case, arthrosis primarily affects the injured knee, but it happens that for a long time only pain is felt in one knee. One begins to suffer from gonarthrosis due to minor pain when walking, descending and ascending on exits, sometimes due to standing for a long time. When the knee is swollen (synovitis), the blood flow may be disrupted and illness may occur. “Twist” the castings especially hard at night. Step by step the slope becomes deformed, and the pain intensifies. The ability to bend your leg normally changes. When you try to bend the knee “all the way,” you get a crunch and a sharp pain in the corner. In addition, at the third stage of illness, the ability to fully extend and straighten the leg disappears. It is bad for a person to walk on slightly bent legs for the entire hour. Often an o-shaped curvature of the legs (“legs like a wheel”) develops, and sometimes an x-shaped curvature. Gonarthrosis often occurs in parallel with meniscopathy of the knee joints, which is manifested by tearing or tightening of the menisci. Professional athletes especially suffer from this illness . In the near future, the meniscus will become damaged , which will eventually lead to arthrosis .
Arthritis is a inflammatory disease of the tissues of the joints and ends. Characteristic symptoms are pain, severe tightness, swelling of the corners, red and hot skin in the area of swelling, looseness in one or several corners, deformation of the corners over time. Arthritis affects people of all ages, and can be mild or severe, affecting one corner or neck, and includes types such as:
The causes of arthritis are as varied as they manifest. It is important to note that flammable ailments of the suglobs may arise at the onset:
Rheumatoid arthritis (which, despite its name, has no relation to rheumatism) may present signs (in addition to the indicated signs of inflammation): damage to three or more smaller angles of the hand, which stretches more than three months; In the pathological process, symmetrical joints of both hands often occur (for example, injury to the first joints of the vulva fingers on the left and right hands); Characteristic is the sparseness of the rivers in the narrow slopes of Vranza, as they pass step by step throughout the day. Having started from one joint, with a lack of treatment, arthritis moves step by step to other ones, getting more and more joints of the arms, causing the pain in the arms to become impossible. Often, the process can be carried out not only on the hands, but also on the corners of the fingers, legs, and soles of the feet. Large joints (collar, hip, shoulder) practically do not suffer at all. In addition to hypoglycemia, rheumatoid arthritis may result in serious disorders in the functioning of internal organs (surgery, nerves, legions, etc.). Therefore, it is now extremely important to start treatment in terms of preventing the progression of illness.
The medical and rehabilitation program consists of comprehensive medications and physiotherapy, the main method of which is chondroprotective and vascular therapy that protects cartilage from damage. The program covers the treatment of arthritis, arthrosis, arthrosis-arthritis of rheumatoid, gouty, traumatic origin, coxarthrosis at stages 1-2.
Modern medicine does not stand still; the new millennium brings many discoveries and knowledge. And sometimes it can be difficult to understand the information, definitions and numbers. Therefore, it is not surprising that some people confuse the concepts of arthritis and arthrosis. So what is the difference between arthritis and arthrosis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints that causes further damage to the entire body. Inflammation occurs in the synovial capsule and begins to spread to the cartilage, joint capsule, tendons and bursa. Pain is transmitted from one joint to another, involving an increasing number of locations.
Joint pain occurs with both arthritis and arthrosis
Arthrosis is a pathology characterized by the slow destruction of cartilage inside the movable joint of bones and bone deformation. As a rule, the disease occurs due to age-related degeneration of cartilage tissue, as a result of which the normal functioning of the joint is disrupted, pain appears, and range of motion decreases.
Thus, arthritis is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process, while arthrosis is characterized by a deforming process.
According to statistics, women aged 30–40 years develop arthritis. It can be passed on genetically.
At the initial stage, the disease may affect one joint (monoarthritis). Polyarthritis is a pathology that affects two or more joints.
There are several types of arthritis:
Both the inflammatory and degenerative nature of the pathology leads to dysfunction of the joint
Modern classification of more than 150 types of this disease.
Arthrosis, as a rule, affects people of mature and old age (45 years and above). The disease can be primary (or idiopathic) and secondary. The idiopathic nature is due to disturbances in the restoration processes in cartilage tissue and does not affect the functioning of the entire organism. Secondary arthrosis develops under the influence of processes occurring in the body, or as a result of destruction of the surfaces of the bones that form the joint.
Examples of the most common localizations of arthrosis:
As mentioned above, arthritis is characterized by inflammatory processes, arthrosis - by deforming ones. Despite some similarities, pathologies can be distinguished by a number of signs discussed in the table.
When examining a patient and taking a medical history, it is important to differentiate between arthritis and arthrosis.
In some cases, doctors note rheumatoid arthritis as the cause of arthrosis. Thus, sometimes the causes of arthritis are prerequisites for arthrosis.
It often happens that arthritis and arthrosis affect the same joints. But each pathology has certain signs that characterize it.
With arthritis, the pain is pulsating; with arthrosis, it is aching.
With arthritis, pain usually occurs at night. One of the signs of the onset of the inflammatory process is the suddenness and pulsating nature of pain that occurs for no apparent reason. It can start suddenly (acute arthritis) or develop gradually (chronic arthritis). In the morning, the patient may feel stiffness in the limbs, which disappears in the first hours of awakening. As the disease progresses, a person may notice swelling of the joint due to swelling of the soft tissues. Symptoms are characterized by migration: after a few days, manifestations of the disease can be detected in another location.
Common symptoms include a slight increase in body temperature, chills, and sweating. An important sign is also the relief of pain and other manifestations during active movement and physical work.
Treatment of arthrosis differs from that of arthritis due to the reasons that trigger the development of pathology
With arthrosis, pain appears during movement and when loading the joint. In a state of rest and comfortable fixation, the pain gradually fades away. Sometimes a characteristic crunching sound is heard when moving. More often, this symptom occurs in the early stages of the disease. In advanced cases, the range of movements is reduced.
The x-ray clearly visualizes growths - osteophytes, which lead to deformation of the articular surfaces of the bones.
To clarify and confirm the diagnosis, as well as to determine the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, the following studies are usually prescribed:
X-ray of hands and feet, blood test from a finger (clinical blood test) + blood test from a vein (for rheumatic tests).
Usually, in the advanced phase of rheumatoid arthritis, specific signs of the disease are clearly visible on x-rays: in the wrist joints, the joint spaces “melt”, that is, the distance decreases and the boundaries between the small articulating bones of the wrist become blurred. And “usures” appear in the fingers and toes, that is, erosions of the bones occur in the area of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. This is a very characteristic sign of this disease.
In the most severe cases, we can see on x-ray the fusion of the joint bones with each other. This fusion is called "ankylosis". With ankylosis, joint mobility is practically absent.
In a blood test taken from a finger prick, in rheumatoid arthritis we usually detect an increase in ESR (ESR) above 20-25 mm/hour, with an active rheumatoid process - even above 40 mm/hour. This sign indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. However, I draw your attention to the fact that ESR (ROE) can be increased with any inflammation, and not only with the rheumatoid process.
ESR (ROE) - erythrocyte sedimentation rate (reaction) is an important indicator of inflammation in the body. If human blood is placed in a glass tube and secured in a vertical position, then the red blood cells, which make up the bulk of blood cells, will settle, leaving a column of clear liquid at the top. In a healthy person, red blood cells settle slowly. And the development of inflammation is accompanied by an increase in sedimentation rate. This is due to changes in the protein composition of the blood.
To date, ESR remains the most reliable laboratory indicator of the degree of inflammation. In addition to ESR, several biochemical parameters reflecting disease activity (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, seromucoid) are often determined. Together they allow us to give a more reliable assessment of the patient’s condition. The listed tests are used for almost all inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
In a blood test taken from a vein, we often detect in rheumatoid arthritis an increase in the listed “ inflammatory markers ”: increased levels of C-reactive protein, seromucoid, fibrinogen, immunoglobulins, etc.
“Inflammation markers,” like ESR, also indicate the presence of inflammation. Including, possibly, rheumatoid. But an increase in their level again does not allow us to reliably confirm the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, because “inflammatory markers” also react to other inflammatory diseases of the joints. That is, all of these are nonspecific signs that only allow us to narrow the circle of the diagnostic search.
A specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be the detection of rheumatoid factor . Having discovered rheumatoid factor, many doctors immediately, without any doubt, diagnose the patient with rheumatoid arthritis. And they forget one circumstance: rheumatoid factor is found in the blood in other diseases. It is even found in the blood of completely healthy people (about 5-7% of healthy people). Therefore, this sign cannot be absolutely reliable. Just like its absence: in half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid factor is not detected.
Therefore, rheumatoid factor is important, but still just an additional sign of the disease. And the diagnosis is established only by the totality of all clinical symptoms and changes in the x-ray of the joints, supplemented by a number of indicators from blood tests.
Article by Dr. Evdokimenko© for the book “Arthritis”, published in 2003.
How to treat joint diseases at home . Pain in the joints of the legs is familiar to many of us. Previously, it was believed that diseases of the musculoskeletal system were the lot of older people, but in recent years there has been a rapid “rejuvenation” of such ailments. And today every second or third person in the world has similar problems.
Treatment of arthritis using folk methods . Arthritis – inflammatory and inflammatory-dystrophic disease of the joints. Causes of illness - osteoarthritis are the result of structural changes in the spinal and knee cartilages and joints of the inheritance of great vantage. Rheumatoid arthritis is the result of inflammation of the cartilage of the joints as a result of infection (tuberculosis, brucellosis), metabolic disorders (for example, gout), trauma.
Treatment of the sciatic nerve with folk remedies. The sciatic nerve is considered the largest in size in the human body. It begins in the lumbar spine and travels down the leg, dividing into smaller nerves. Sciatic neuralgia causes severe pain in the legs and lower back.
Back and joint pain - traditional treatment. Back and lower back pain is a common problem among young and old people. According to statistics, no fewer patients turn to doctors with such complaints than with the flu or a cold. This is because there is a large list of reasons that provoke the occurrence of such an unpleasant problem.
Diet for joint diseases . Joint diseases first begin to bother a person after an average of 45-50 years, when a lot of waste accumulates in the joints, and the cartilage tissue is no longer so strong. As traditional healers assure, after cleaning courses, the joints become mobile, elastic, discomfort and pain when moving disappear.
Treating rheumatism using folk methods . Rheumatism is a chronic illness that is characterized by damage to the affected tissue due to the essential damage to the cardiovascular system and joints. The main cause of rheumatism is the presence of toxins in the blood as a result of improper eating. Rheumatism can also be caused by streptococcal infections (sore throat, scarlet fever, pharyngitis) and genetic differences in the body. When overcooled, the disease will become inflamed.
Radiculitis - recuperation at home . Radiculitis is one of the most widespread diseases of the peripheral nervous system. In this disease, bundles of nerve fibers that exit the spinal cord are affected. The most common cause of radiculitis is osteochondrosis. At the places where the ridges are connected, salts are added to the replacement discs to encourage the growth of the cysts.
How to treat sore joints with folk remedies. Sick joints, unfortunately, are a fairly common ailment today, which increasingly makes itself felt with age. The most common are pain in the knee joint, pain in the hip joint, pain in the shoulder joint, pain in the elbow joint. Joint pain can be acute or chronic.
Cleansing the body of salts . During life, our body accumulates inorganic deposits of salts in tissues, joints and bloodstream. Salt deposition is one of the main causes of diseases of the kidneys, joints, liver and biliary tract, as well as a general deterioration in health and appearance. This leads to deterioration of health, to changes in joints and blood vessels.
Treating osteochondrosis using folk methods . Osteochondrosis is a disease in which the cartilaginous and, in later stages, cystic elements of the ridge are affected. With age, the intervertebral discs lose their strength and become less lumpy and firm, which negatively affects the function of the ridge. Osteochondrosis is caused by damage to the cartilage of the intervertebral disc, which causes pain. Osteochondrosis is classified according to location into thoracic, cervical and transverse.
People's celebration of arthrosis of the suglob . Arthrosis is a disease of the protrusive cysts, which is caused by damage to the cartilaginous tissue of the protrusive surfaces, which can arise either as a result of injury or inflammation. The causes of arthrosis include injury, stress, trauma, infections, and allergic reactions. Various joints can be affected - from the most important to the intervertebral discs, but most importantly, the great ones are affected - hip joints, columns, spines. Like arthritis, arthrosis can be primary or secondary.
Bil in suglobah - rejoicing using folk methods . Sickness of joints, ligaments and meats is called in vain terms - rheumatic disease. This illness can be detected in a variety of ways. Most common: arthrosis (change of joints), arthritis (inflamed joints), rheumatism, gout, cervical rheumatism. With arthrosis, we most often talk about worn-out joints, painful eyelids, which tend to swell slightly and hurt when stressed. Renewal of worn-out corners is impossible. In case of illness that lasts, deformation of the joints occurs, meaning frailty and persistent pain.
Treating osteoporosis with folk remedies . Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in the value of the cysts. Current illness can be avoided if osteoporosis prevention is followed. Osteoporosis is a type of arthrosis that is characterized by atrophy and thinning of bone tissue. In general, the Duma, which was formed about those who were vulnerable to osteoporosis in the summer century, is not so.
Gout - cure by folk methods . Gout is a chronic illness that is characterized by disruption of purine metabolism, which is accompanied by an increase in the level of sechoic acid in the blood, and the accumulation of sechoic acid in the cartilage of the tendons and other tissues. In typical attacks, gout is prevented from attacking acute arthritis. It is more important to suffer from gout in people (85-90%) who are hypersthenic and aged 30-50 years.
Human joints are an integral organ, without which it is impossible to fully carry out movements. They not only allow us to move, run, sit, but also take an important part in the support function.
The incidence of arthritis is more than 2%, and arthrosis is about 10% . Gonarthrosis, a pathology of the knee joint, is more common. After the age of 70-75, almost every second person suffers from arthrosis.
Arthritis is recognized less frequently than arthrosis. The treatment of these diseases also has its own characteristics.
Osteoarthritis (arthrosis) refers to a degenerative pathology that leads to the destruction of cartilage tissue. The basis for the development of the pathological process is considered to be damage to the joint tissue and the subsequent development of inflammation. The clinical picture begins with pain when walking, running, or any other physical activity. As it progresses, complete immobility may occur.
On the left is a healthy surface of the joint, on the right is affected by arthrosis.
Arthritis is a collective term characterized by damage to the articular surfaces. It has an acute course and a chronic form, often affecting several joints at the same time. At the very beginning of the development of the disease, the symptoms are not clear, pain appears after prolonged physical activity, then, as it progresses, the pain syndrome increases and begins to bother you even at rest. Swelling, redness, and stiffness in the morning appear at the site of the lesion.
The name speaks for itself - this is an inflammatory process of the joints. Its common causes are injury and previous infections - purulent tonsillitis, syphilis, measles and others.
Important: severe pain in arthritis is characteristic not only during movement, but also at rest. It can be chronic, exacerbating several times a year, for example, after hypothermia.
The chronic form develops in the absence of drug treatment and can threaten the development of deforming osteoarthritis and disability.
The pathology is common, especially in older people. Accompanied by the development of an inflammatory pathological process followed by degenerative changes in the joint and loss of mobility.
Arthrosis in dynamics.
Osteoarthritis affects men and women equally. There are two forms - primary and secondary . Primary occurs for no apparent reason; pathology can be detected in a healthy joint. Develops against the background of increased physical activity. The cause of secondary forms are injuries of various etiologies and inflammation.
Primary changes begin with metabolic disorders in the structure of the cartilage itself. Over time, it loses elasticity and dehydrates. In the joint, in order to increase its strength, osteophytes - bone growths - begin to grow. This is how the joint tries to become stronger. As a result, the articular joint is deformed and its shape changes.
Arthrosis or osteoarthritis is a pathological, slowly progressive process. If left untreated, it inevitably leads to loss of function. The disease develops gradually, unnoticeably. Despite significant changes, cartilage continues to fulfill its role in full for a long time.
The main cause of arthritis is the presence of inflammation, due to various etiologies. Arthrosis, in turn, occurs as a consequence of metabolic disorders for various reasons.
When the cause is an infection, antibacterial agents are prescribed; a properly selected regimen will quickly and effectively eliminate the pathological process. The goal of anti-inflammatory therapy is to relieve swelling and relieve pain. Medicines for oral administration and local action are appropriate here - Diclofenac, Ortofen. Chondroprotectors Artron and Chondroitin will help stop the destruction of cartilage.
During stable remission, exercise therapy, a complex of therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy procedures are prescribed - magnetic therapy, applications, electrophoresis.
At the initial stage, it is quite possible to cope without medication. It will consist of following a diet - excluding alcohol, fried foods, spicy, too salty. In addition, it is necessary to observe a rest regime, physical activity on sore joints should be minimal. A good addition would be physical therapy, for example, applications with topical medications or mud baths.
As for the use of pharmaceutical drugs, symptomatic drugs are selected for the treatment of arthrosis - painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as chondroprotectors, the purpose of which is to reduce the destructive effect on the joint and, as much as possible, preserve cartilage tissue.
As a supplement, you can use traditional medicine methods. In the most extreme cases, when the patient has undergone long-term treatment without the desired effect, surgical intervention is prescribed. The most common surgical method is arthroplasty. An operation that allows you to completely eliminate pathology by replacing a joint with an implant, partially or completely.
The goal of arthroplasty is to restore function and eliminate pain. Partial resection can be performed, removing only the destroyed part and installing a special orthopedic structure. Complete replacement can also be performed - an implant is installed in place of the destroyed joint. The second type of surgery is more often recommended for patients over 50 years of age.
Therapy involves the use of ointments or gels. They are auxiliary agents and enhance the effect of other drugs. These include:
Injections are prescribed during the period of exacerbation of the disease and in the absence of a pronounced effect from oral or local use of drugs. The most popular are the following:
Important! The drug is not administered intravenously; it can be fatal.
The active ingredient is betamethasone, there are two forms in one ampoule - fast-acting (days) and long-acting (several months). After administration, already after 15-20 minutes, there is a noticeable elimination of symptoms.
In 90% of cases, the drug has positive reviews, patients did not observe the development of side effects, and pain relief was long-lasting and of high quality.
Osteoarthritis and arthritis can destroy articular surfaces and worsen a person’s quality of life. In this they are similar. But, at the same time, they have their own clinical manifestations and different approaches to treatment.
In the first case, the goal of the therapeutic effect is to preserve the joint articulation; for the second, it is to eliminate inflammation and infection. Also in both cases, it is important to restore nutrition to the cartilage tissue, thereby improving metabolic processes and increasing motor activity.