Medicine identifies about a dozen types of osteoarthritis that affect human joints. Each type of arthrosis has common symptoms , which we will discuss in a separate article. But there are differences in the course of the pathology and treatment features.
So, let’s highlight the main types of arthrosis:
Gonarthrosis is called osteoarthritis of the knee joints. One of the most common types of arthrosis group. Most often, people who have crossed the 45-year mark suffer. There are statistical data that women get sick somewhat more often than the male part of the population. The risk group includes people with excess body weight who have suffered injuries and bruises to their legs. Varicose veins also negatively affect the condition of cartilage tissue and bones. Gonarthrosis usually affects both legs, but pain can only be felt in one of the knees.
To identify the disease, a thorough x-ray examination is carried out, including images from three sides of the diseased knee, bent at an angle of 60 degrees. With deviations of knee arthrosis, “drawer syndrome” occurs, affecting about a third of patients. At the same time, the ligaments are weakened and stability deteriorates.
Coxarthrosis leads among types of arthrosis in this sad statistics. Damage to the hip joints is recognized as the most severe type of osteoarthritis, difficult to treat. Considering the incidence from a gender perspective, we can say that the ratio between men and women is approximately the same, but the female gender suffers coxarthrosis more difficultly, and they are more likely to experience severe stages of the disease. Coxarthrosis mainly affects people of middle and retirement age, but the disease can also occur among young people, then most often joint dysplasia occurs, i.e. congenital disorders in the structure of bone and cartilaginous apparatus.
A striking symptom of coxarthrosis is sharp, severe pain in the hip area. This can cause a limp in a person's gait. Touching the sore spot causes pain, but no significant swelling is observed. As the disease progresses, atrophy of the adjacent muscles occurs, this contributes to the fact that a person involuntarily leans forward to reduce pain, further aggravating the condition of the joints not only of the hip, but also of the knee. Osteoarthritis of this type negatively affects the health of the spine, causing its curvature. The defeat of both joints by arthrosis and the curvature of posture causes a person to limp, from the outside it looks like a “duck walk”.
Cervical arthrosis is often called uncovertebral. This type of arthrosis is directly related to the natural aging processes in the human body, therefore the main group of patients with this disease are older people. With age, the structure of cartilage tissue loses its elasticity, the synovial fluid contracts, the layer between the bones becomes thinner, which causes dystrophic changes in the joints.
If cervical arthrosis is not dealt with in time, it can cause severe headaches, arterial hypertension, tinnitus leads to deterioration of vision, a decrease in the amplitude of neck mobility, heaviness in the shoulders, and curvature of the patient’s posture.
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is also very common among the population. However, it is easier to cure than, for example, coxarthrosis. In a neglected state, hand movement is affected. Elderly people suffer from this type of arthrosis, and it has been noticed that men suffer from it more often. Two thirds of patients have deformity of the hand joints.
The causes of shoulder arthrosis are the following:
Osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joints is another type of osteoarthritis. This disease is also called Heberden's nodes. Usually occurs in women during menopause. It occurs on several fingers; when palpated, you can feel pea-sized nodules that cause painful effects. Bone formations - osteophytes - also occur, as in other types of arthrosis. Symptoms of the disease include burning, tingling in the phalanges of the fingers, and decreased joint mobility.
Arthrosis of the proximal interphalangeal joints is a special case of the development of arthrosis of the distal phalangeal joints. Otherwise called Busher's nodes due to the formation of nodules in the fingers on the outer side, noticeable upon palpation. The disease significantly limits the amplitude of the fingers.
Spondyloarthrosis affects one or more vertebrae of the spinal column and may be associated with cervical osteoarthritis or with damage to the upper thoracic region. When the disease occurs, the cartilage tissue and the condition of the joints suffer, which is typical for all types of arthrosis. The causes of this type of disease are said to be overload of a specific part of the spine, for example, with scoliosis and other postural disorders.
The following subtypes are distinguished in spondyloarthrosis:
Pain due to spondyloarthrosis is of a permanent, aching nature, subsiding during rest and intensifying during bending of the body, when performing various actions that affect changes in the position of the spinal column.
This type of arthrosis is most often caused by foot injuries, subluxations, and bruises of the leg, which a person does not want to pay attention to. Sprains, osteochondrosis, herniated intervertebral discs negatively affect the condition of our ankles. Among the causes of arthrosis of the foot are also dysplasia, diabetes, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Long-term wearing of high heels by women automatically puts beautiful ladies at risk for arthrosis of the ankle joints. Participation in certain types of professional sports (football, hockey, figure skating) also threatens to affect the ankle with osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of the disease: crunching in the ankle; the appearance of aching pain when walking, subsiding at night; limitation of joint mobility; swelling of the foot; atrophy of adjacent muscles.
Primary polyosteoarthrosis, otherwise known as Kellgen's disease, is characterized by weakening of the ligaments and degeneration of the muscles affected by arthrosis. It mainly occurs in women at the time of menopause. This pathology occurs in the form of general arthrosis of the limbs, discopathy and tendinopathy.
Having considered the main types of arthrosis, we hope that now you will not get confused by the frightening names of joint diseases and will be able to distinguish coxarthrosis from gonarthrosis. You can find out more about each group of deforming osteoarthritis on our website.
Inflammation of one or more joints is called arthritis. Today, more than a hundred different arthritis are known. Before we dwell on the most common ones, let’s talk in more detail about what arthritis actually is, the causes of its occurrence, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Arthritis is the collective name for any inflammatory diseases of the joints. Arthritis can affect joints in any part of the body where two different bones meet. Regardless of the causes of arthritis, the metabolism in the joints is disrupted and the intra-articular cartilage becomes thinner. This is followed by its inflammation, i.e. swelling occurs, the smoothness of movement is paralyzed or destabilized, and subsequently deformation of the joint occurs. All arthritis is divided into two types: monoarthritis, when only one joint is affected, and polyarthritis, when there are many such joints. In addition, joint disease can be acute or chronic. Acute twists a person in a few weeks, or even days. Chronic symptoms do not appear so sharply and can drag on for years, reminding of themselves only from time to time.
Joint inflammation can result from:
— Consequences of injuries and fractures
— Infections, bacteria or viruses
There may be several risk factors. Perhaps there is a disease of the nervous system. There may even be a malfunction in the immune system or a metabolic disorder. Very often, the trigger for arthritis is injury, hypothermia, infection or lack of vitamins. If we talk about the most common causes, we should keep in mind an infection that causes inflammation in the joints.
When a harmful bacteria, virus or fungus enters the human body, the body tries to get rid of it on its own. For this, a person has a special weapon - immunity. So our immune system begins to prepare its arsenal: it produces special substances or immune complexes that begin to fight “alien” foreign particles. But as soon as the immune system weakens or becomes defective, its own “troops” multiply very quickly and begin to destroy everything, without delving into where the friend is and where the enemy is. This ability to destroy does not go away even when the infection has already left the body, and the body’s protective substances do not want to admit that the war is over and attack the joints. This is a classic arthritis pattern.
After all, arthritis is correctly called a “crafty disease”: one morning, waking up, a person notices that his fingers seem to be someone else’s, he can’t feel them. It feels like I lost my hand in a dream. But time passes, and the feeling of “someone else’s hand” remains. And small movements are not possible. What do we do then? Let's start developing the hand. And we achieve success. During the day we don’t notice anything at all. Several days pass and... And in the morning the same picture. Only it takes more than half an hour to restore the function of the hand. It happens that only after three hours our fingers obey us. The growth of “disobedience” and “alienation” has been progressing for a long time. Even later, we begin to feel pain in the joints of our fingers and toes. And then we are forced to admit that visually our fingers have changed - they have become knotty, their articulations have increased. This is where many people sound the alarm: they go to the doctor.
Main symptoms of arthritis may include:
- Joint pain
- Swelling in the joint area
— Stiffness and limitation of movement in the joint area
- Redness of the skin around the joint
- Numbness of the joints, especially in the morning
— Local increase in temperature.
The visit will begin with an examination: the doctor should see the condition of your joints. It will detect the presence of liquid around them. Pay attention to the skin: is there any redness, is there an increased temperature around the joint. You will have to “demonstrate manual dexterity” and movement ability. Then it will be time for the blood test.
An x-ray will be ordered to help check if there is an infection or other causes of arthritis. In some cases, you will need to use a syringe to take a sample of the accumulated bluish liquid in order to conduct a laboratory examination. When the doctor has all these indications, then he will prescribe treatment.
— Lifestyle changes. The most important thing that a patient expects from treatment is relief from pain. He also hopes to restore the functions of his limbs. The patient no less strongly wants to forget about arthritis once and for all, so that it does not return in the future. At the same time, he places his participation in treatment on some twenty-fifth plane. And here the patient makes a mistake: changing the lifestyle towards a healthy one means almost no less than powerful medications. And the first thing in the “healthy lifestyle” set is physical education. This is something everyone should think about. Morning exercises, evening walks and water procedures do not incur any material costs. But the fact that they protect and help health does not need proof. That is why, when starting to treat arthritis, you need to listen to the exercises recommended by your doctor. They will help reduce joint stiffness and pain, strengthen muscles and bone strength.
- Physical exercise. The doctor will not recommend anything that would require you to exert yourself too much. But endurance exercises with a gentle level of aerobic activity, in which the pulse and level of muscle effort are controlled, so that unwanted muscle gain does not occur. These aerobic exercises are aimed at improving blood circulation, tightening and strengthening muscles. They will help burn extra calories and fat. Typically, these are quick and easy body movements, similar to a combination of dancing and physical exercise. You will have to pay attention to developing flexibility through an increased range of motion. You will also need to include strength training to tone your muscles.
— Physiotherapy. Physical therapy will recommend alternating heat and ice and teach you how to do it correctly. Massage works very well.
— Normalization of sleep. Those who are used to getting by with a minimum of sleep need to adjust to longer and deeper sleep - from 8 to 10 hours a day. With its help, you can smooth out the negative effect of an outbreak of arthritis that has already attacked you and prevent the next one.
— Developing the correct postures and movements. It is necessary to control the change of positions and movements: with arthritis, you cannot stay in one position for a long time. Learn to dose the load on sore joints. Even such a seemingly “trifle” as grab bars in a bath or shower will be your helpers in the fight for health. Stop being skeptical about yoga and meditation. Remember how nimble and active the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Tibetans are: it’s not a matter of medicine, but a matter of lifestyle.
- Balanced diet. Review what you eat. Try to “lean on” vegetables and fruits - there are a lot of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin E. Train yourself to eat foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids: fish (salmon, herring, mackerel), flax seeds, rapeseed oil, soy , soybean oil, pumpkin seeds and walnuts.
- Fighting excess weight. Try to lose excess weight - you will feel a significant improvement, including lightness in your legs and feet.
— Pain-relieving creams and ointments. You can rub a special cream recommended by your doctor into painful joints. After 3-7 days you will feel the pain subsiding. The most famous ointments include Fastum gel, Chondroxide, Ketoprofen, Artrosilene, Diclofenac.
- Medicines. Now about medications. Without them, arthritis cannot be overcome. But you shouldn’t take medications blindly or in large quantities. First of all, these should be the drugs that your doctor prescribed to you. And he prescribed them, recommending treatment in combination with the physical exercises and diet discussed above. So, the first medicine for arthritis is acetaminophen. It must be taken as prescribed. However, under no circumstances should you increase the dose or combine the medicine with alcohol: your liver will not tolerate such a “tandem”.
Today’s most “democratic” aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen will also help. These non-steroidal, i.e. anti-inflammatory drugs belong to a group of drugs that have analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects, reduce pain, fever and inflammation. However, they have many potential risks, especially if used for a long time. Potential side effects include heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers, and gastrointestinal and kidney bleeding.
There is also a whole group of drugs sold exclusively by prescription - enteracept, infliximab, adalimumad, abatacept, rituximab, etc. A person who does not have a special medical education should not even remember these names: such drugs must be taken strictly as prescribed by the doctor: to relieve pain for arthritis, helping to get rid of this disease, the above-mentioned medications “shoot” at other organs, i.e. have side effects.
Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids (“steroids”), which are tetracyclic bioactive compounds produced by the adrenal cortex.
Depending on the type of arthritis, medications may vary. But whatever they are, the condition remains unchanged: take as prescribed by a doctor. Even if the medicine is over the counter, ask your doctor whether it is right for you or not.
— Surgery and other procedures. Arthritis is not always treated without surgery: if other methods do not help, then a drastic decision has to be made. As a rule, this is endoprosthetics, i.e. complete or partial replacement of the affected knee joint.
Now let’s talk about the difference between arthritis and arthritis or the types of arthritis.
This is a “long-term” disease during which the joints and surrounding tissue become inflamed. But rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other organs.
The exact causes of this disease have not yet been determined. One thing is clear: during rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly but actively attacks healthy tissue. Age is not a barrier to such arthritis - the disease can develop at anyone, although statistics highlight the average age. Moreover, women are much more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Infections, genes and hormonal changes are believed to cause this disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects joints on both sides of the body. It especially hits the wrists, fingers, knees, feet and ankles. The disease creeps up slowly, so far only “hinting” with minor pain in the joints, mild stiffness and almost imperceptible fatigue. However, if you are attentive to your condition, you may notice morning stiffness in movements. It lasts about an hour. At this time, the joints feel rough and warm to the touch. Moreover, often on both arms or legs. After time, it becomes clear that the joints can no longer move in their usual range and become deformed.
There are other signs: chest pain during a deep breath, dry mouth and eyes, the appearance of nodules under the skin (this is a clear sign of a serious illness), numbness, tingling and burning in the limbs, insomnia.
Unfortunately, rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to diagnose. A person with RA may have normal results when tested. And only sometimes these results cause concern.
If rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, laboratory tests are required - testing for rheumatoid factor, when an analysis of blood taken on an empty stomach is performed, and for Anti-CCP antibodies, determined using a highly specific marker of rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to these tests, a clinical blood test is prescribed for C-reactive protein, red blood cells, ultrasound and MRI, x-ray, sinusoidal fluidity analysis.
The results obtained serve as the basis for determining treatment tactics for rheumatoid arthritis. But you need to be mentally prepared for it.
Why do you need to prepare especially for RA treatment? Because this is a lifelong treatment. It includes taking medications, physiotherapy, exercise and sports. In some cases - surgery. And the more intensively and earlier the treatment begins, the greater the chance of delaying the destruction of blood vessels.
- Antirheumatic drugs. The first medications are usually modifying antirheumatic drugs. Doctors recommend taking them in parallel with physical, strengthening exercises and anti-inflammatory medications. Methotrexate, leflunomide and chloroquine are prescribed. But with an obligatory caveat: these drugs cause serious side effects. This is why it is necessary to have regular blood tests.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. The course of treatment for RA also includes anti-inflammatory drugs - aspirin, ibuprofen and naprosyn, which have anti-inflammatory properties. But long-term use of such drugs is dangerous on the other hand: problems with the heart, stomach, even ulcers and bleeding may occur. As for celecoxib, which has anti-inflammatory properties, you need to be careful: the annotation clearly states that its use is excluded for heart disease, since it can cause a stroke. When taking hydroxychloroquine, which is usually prescribed in combination with methotrexate, you should not hope for quick results: improvement occurs after several weeks or even months. Corticosteroids are prescribed to relieve joint swelling and reduce inflammation. But you can take these drugs for a very short time and in small doses so as not to cause side effects.
— Biological drugs. Rheumanoid arthritis is also treated with biological drugs that affect the immune system. They are used when other medications have not given the desired effect. Typically, most biological drugs are used as an intramuscular or intravenous injection. The doctor decides which biological drug to prescribe to a particular patient. He has a choice: abatacept and rituximab are white blood cell modulators. Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, golimumab and certolizumab work against tumor necrosis. There are other biological drugs. Their actions are assessed as positive, but nevertheless, they carry a risk factor - the possibility of developing infection from bacteria, viruses and fungi, leukemia and lymphoma, psoriasis.
- Surgery. Surgery must be resorted to when it is necessary to correct serious damage to the joints. Sometimes partial removal is enough, but there are also hip or ankle replacements, shoulder replacements, etc.
— Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is also a treatment for RA. Using a dosed and specially selected set of physical exercises and loads, the physiotherapist helps the patient delay the loss of joint function, strengthen and maintain strength in the muscles.
— Auxiliary methods and means. Splints or other orthopedic devices may be used to support and realign the joints, as well as electrical stimulation and heat treatments. A sleep schedule of at least 8-10 hours a day will also help.
- Nutrition. The importance of proper nutrition for RA cannot be ignored. But do not forget that some patients are allergic to a number of foods. However, the emphasis must be placed on a balanced diet, which also includes fish oil.
But no efforts of doctors and the most effective medications will bring results if the patient himself falls into despair because, for example, he discovers such a sign of RA as subcutaneous nodules, which are usually very depressing for a person, or if the disease began at an early age, does not “slow down” as much as I would like. Refusing treatment is unacceptable. But it’s worth starting it as early as possible.
So, you cannot fall into despair. But taking the disease lightly is also not the best option. You need to be informed and prepared for potential complications in order to meet them head on. This may include damage to the lung tissue, the risk of hardening of the arteries, a back injury when there is damage to the cervical vertebrae, or inflammation of the blood vessels (rheumatoid vasculitis). The latter will lead to skin, nervous, and heart problems. If there is swelling and inflammation of the outer lining of the heart - pericarditis and the heart muscle - myocarditis, congestive heart failure is quite likely.
You should talk about all these nuances with your doctor. And trust his recommendations.
But prevention is better than any treatment. It is much easier to prevent illness. Or at least start active treatment at its early stage.
This is a disease of children, and, unfortunately, long-term, often becoming chronic, when the joints hurt and swell. The disease has several names - Still's disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, idiopathic arthritis, JRA. But the essence is still the same: swollen and painful joints.
The body's immune system finds the wrong doctor, i.e. attacks “one of its own”, thereby destroying healthy tissues of the body. JRA is usually defined as diagnosis before age 16. And the first bell, the first symptoms may appear at 6 months.
Ovenal rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) comes in several types. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis differs from adult rheumatoid arthritis in both articular and extra-articular manifestations. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a disease with an extremely wide range of manifestations, spanning several broad clinical subgroups. Rheumatoid factor-positive polyarthritis most closely resembles adult rheumatoid arthritis; polyarthritis without rheumatoid factor also occurs in adults.
Type II oligoarthritis resembles the diseases grouped in adults as “spondyloarthropathies” (including early ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, and arthritis associated with colitis). Arthritis that begins with systemic manifestations is rare in adults. In addition, cases of oligoarthritis (type I) combined with chronic iridocyclitis have not been described in adults. Knowledge of these characteristic features can be useful in making a diagnosis, monitoring the course of the disease, and for adequate treatment of children with chronic arthritis.
Often polyarticular JRA, which is characterized by damage to many joints, develops into rheumatoid arthritis, affecting five or more large and small joints of the arms and legs, and sometimes the neck and jaw.
The polyarticular JRA includes many joints. This form of JRA can develop into rheumatoid arthritis. It may include five or more major and minor joints of the arms and legs, as well as the jaw and neck.
Polyarticular JRA is a mild form, but it is the most common. Typically, a child experiences pain in four or fewer joints. Most often these are the knees and wrists. But the eyes can also be affected. Typically, this type of JRA involves four or fewer joints, most commonly the wrists or knees.
This disease begins with swollen joints, limping, outbreaks of fever and rashes on the skin of the extremities. Stiffness of movements appears. Movements are generally difficult. Their range is narrowing. The joints feel hot to the touch and look reddened. If a child feels pain in his hand, he intuitively stops using it. If there is pain in the leg, there is a pronounced limp when walking. And every day there is a high temperature. She is accompanied by fever. Along with it, a rash appears on the limbs and torso. Lymph nodes enlarge. The child is pale and even looks unhealthy. In addition, JRA can affect vision: the eyes turn red, pain, and photophobia appear.
In addition to the visual signs already mentioned, JRA can be diagnosed by enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. If you do a blood test, then rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), general analysis and antigen analysis will give a more accurate determination of the suspected disease. But it is possible that the indicators will be normal - such cases do occur in JRA. The presence of the disease can be determined using fluid removed from the swollen joint. At the same time, this procedure relieves pain. The disease can be determined by x-rays, osteoscintigraphy, ECG, and regular monitoring by an ophthalmologist (even if there are no complaints or visual signs of eye diseases).
- Drug therapy. At the very beginning of the disease, when a minimal number of joints are affected, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - ibuprofen or naproxen - will help. In a later phase, corticosteroids can be prescribed.
Children whose arthritis has spread to several joints, have a fever, a rash that does not go away, and enlarged tonsils are also prescribed other medications: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Including biological ones - etanercent, infliximab. It is very important for children that their muscles do not weaken.
— A set of exercises. Physical exercise will also help keep your muscles toned. And for training the small muscles of the hand, a mobile phone will be very useful. Walking, cycling, and swimming cannot be excluded from the life of a child with JRA. This is a load necessary for his condition, with the proviso that it will not be excessive. A physiotherapist will help determine this load.
- Psychological support. A family in which a child suffers from JRA will play a very important role: he needs moral support much more than physical support. It would be very good if such a child received maximum positive emotions every day.
- Operation. One cannot reject such a necessity as surgery: sometimes a child’s sore joints can only be treated in this way.
Many children who have undergone JRA, when only part of the joints were affected by the disease, go into remission with a slight loss of function of these damaged joints. If the number of joints affected by arthritis is significant, the chances of complete remission are reduced. And with a positive rheumatoid factor, the disease is likely to become chronic. Then we will talk about disability, about individual classes at home, and not at school.
With JRA, you need to be prepared for complications: slow growth of the child, different-sized arms and legs, loss or deterioration of vision, anemia, swelling around the heart (pericarditis). And chronic pain will become an obstacle to attending school.
A fungal or bacterial infection causes joint inflammation. This disease is called septic arthritis.
When bacteria or pathogens enter the joints through the bloodstream, septic arthritis develops. The cause may also be infection from a wound or during surgery. The most common sites for this type of infection are the knee and hip. Most cases of acute septic arthritis are caused by bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus.
Chronic septic arthritis (less common) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida Albicans (a yeast-like fungus).
The risk of septic arthritis increases with artificial implants, from a bacterial infection elsewhere in the body, or from a chronic illness (eg, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease). Intravenous injections, especially drugs, can trigger septic arthritis. This disease can be caused by medications that suppress the immune system, injury, and surgery.
There is no specific age for septic arthritis: it can occur throughout your life, starting at age 3.
Septic arthritis manifests itself quite quickly: fever begins, joints swell, and, as a rule, only one. When moving, the pain increases sharply. An infected joint limits or makes it impossible to move an arm or leg. Intense pain is felt in the joints. They swell and the skin turns red. The person is shivering.
The pain of septic arthritis causes the baby to cry—even changing a diaper makes the pain worse. This indicates an infected hip joint. He's feverish. It is difficult for a child to lift or move an infected limb. He gets irritated for no reason and behaves restlessly.
Laboratory studies of joint fluid, analysis of cells from this fluid and their counting, examination of crystals under a microscope, analysis of gram Aspiration joint fluid for cell counting, examination of crystals under a microscope, radiography of the affected joint
Prescribing a course of antibiotics, proper sleep and rest, cold compresses to reduce pain, removing fluid from the affected joint. In especially severe cases, surgery to remove infected joint fluid.
A good result can be achieved if you promptly begin treatment with antibiotics. Otherwise, a more severe form of septic arthritis is possible, which will lead to significant damage to the joints.
As a preventative measure, cyclic antibiotics are recommended for people at increased risk of arthritis.
Gastritis is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of our time. It affects a huge number of people on earth. In other words, it is a disease associated with inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which negatively affects the entire digestion process and the quality of life of the sick person. In Russia, approximately half of the population suffers from it, and both adults and children suffer from it, and many do not even know about it.
There are many types depending on the causes of occurrence, the location of the affected areas and even the nature of gastric secretions, and this is an incomplete list. In addition, the main types of the disease have many subtypes.
Why does gastritis occur? Most often, the reason is poor nutrition; in normal condition, the mucous membrane performs a protective function that prevents damage to the walls of the stomach from foreign aggressive substances that enter the stomach along with food, as well as from the gastric juice itself. Over time, this shell becomes thinner under the influence of various factors. There can be many reasons: decreased immunity, unhealthy food, use of certain medications, alcohol, or infection with certain types of bacteria.
The classification of gastritis is very complex; in this article we will talk about its main types. It is divided into acute and chronic.
Acute is a type of gastritis that occurs for the first time.
There are several types of acute gastritis, depending on its course:
To overcome a disease, you need to know enough information about it. So, let’s look at what types of gastritis there are in more detail.
Catarrhal is the simplest and most common form, diagnosed by gastroscopy. Occurs as a result of mild food poisoning, allergies, overeating and even nervous tension. Typically, this type of gastritis is accompanied by small pinpoint bleeding, a large amount of mucus, thickening in some places of the stomach and the presence of edema.
Fibrinous is a more severe form; in addition to the above symptoms, new ones are added. Inflammatory processes begin, accompanied by tissue necrosis in a small amount. Purulent formations begin to appear. Depending on the depth of tissue damage, superficial and deep gastritis are distinguished. A variety of this form requires immediate medical intervention.
Symptoms of fibrinous gastritis:
Necrotizing is not a very common form of gastritis; it occurs as a result of poisoning with chemicals. When, for example, acids enter the gastrointestinal tract, so-called coagulation necrosis is formed, if we are talking about salts - colliquation necrosis. With necrotic gastritis, ulcers and wounds appear not only on the mucous membrane, but throughout the entire thickness of the stomach. Most often, this type of disease affects alcoholics who drink alcoholic beverages with a high content of ethyl alcohol. People who have suffered from this type of disease experience discomfort in the stomach for the rest of their lives due to the formation of scars in it.
Its symptoms are:
Phlegmous is the most serious form of acute gastritis. May be a consequence of catarrhal gastritis. Accompanied by damage to all layers of the stomach. In the most severe cases it can be fatal. Requires immediate medical attention. With this type of gastritis, you should immediately consult a doctor and get recommendations for its treatment.
Symptoms of this type of gastritis and obvious signs are:
Chronic gastritis most often appears after acute gastritis. Of course, it can occur either independently or due to the patient’s carelessness. After all, many are simply not aware that they suffer from such a disease. It can be identified by periodic exacerbations. If a person realizes that he has been suffering from stomach discomfort for a long time, he should consult a doctor. Among other things, the following symptoms are distinguished:
It is worth paying attention to the condition of your hair and nails. If they are weak and brittle, and the nails are peeling, then this may also be a sign of chronic gastritis. This is due to poor absorption of nutrients and minerals due to impaired digestive function. Anemia often appears, a person begins to lose weight, begins to feel unwell, and experiences constant fatigue and drowsiness.
Various types of gastritis and their treatment must be started in a timely manner with the help of a qualified specialist.
At this stage, there are several types of gastritis of the stomach according to type:
Naturally, even a professional can hardly make an accurate diagnosis in the presence of such a variety of gastritis without tests, so at the first sign you should immediately consult a doctor. How to find out what form of gastritis a patient has? To do this, the doctor will prescribe a number of tests: blood, caprology, gasteroscopy and other procedures. It is important to understand that treatment of gastritis with antibiotics is accompanied by the prescription of the necessary bacteria and antifungal agents that help restore the natural environment of the stomach.
In addition, you need to reconsider your diet and follow a diet for some time, which your doctor can also prescribe. It will depend on the existing form of gastritis of the stomach whether the patient will be admitted to a hospital or whether it is enough to follow the prescription at home.
We have already found out what types of gastritis and symptoms there are, let's now talk about how to prevent them. There is a set of measures that, if followed, can reduce the risk of disease to a minimum. Their main task is to reduce the negative impact on the gastric mucosa. To do this you need:
The human hand has a complex structure. It is formed by 29 large and small bones and the same number of large joints, 123 ligaments. The fingers alone control 34 muscles. Thanks to this structure, the motor skills of the hand are called unique. She can perform both simple movements - for example, gestures, and incredibly complex ones (writing, embroidery). Some people master this instrument given by nature to perfection, mastering the professions of musicians, artists, athletes, knitters, and embroiderers.
Therefore, diseases of the hand joints are a very serious problem that disrupts the normal course of life, reduces its quality and can become a personal tragedy. Then we are talking not only about changing a favorite profession, but also the question arises about the possibility of performing familiar household chores - cleaning, cooking, washing. In severe cases, the arm becomes virtually immobile, and the pain causes serious suffering.
Why do such pathologies occur and how to recognize them in the early stages?
Joint diseases very often occur in people who are engaged in “manual” activities. Professional athletes are often diagnosed with tennis elbow and epicolitis of the elbow joint. Those whose activities involve working at a computer develop carpal tunnel syndrome and carpal hygroma over time.
Another risk factor is injuries, which can result in tenosynovitis. The same disease is associated with age-related changes in joints and heavy physical activity.
A lot of troubles are caused by a pinched nerve, which, if left untreated, leads to partial numbness of the limb, and in advanced cases, atrophy of the arm muscles.
Other reasons include:
“Bad” genetics is considered one of the main risk factors. Although the disease is not directly inherited, certain features of the body - metabolism, strength and elasticity of cartilage are embedded in the genes that the child receives from his parents.
Joint diseases are divided into two groups - inflammatory and mechanical. In the first case, there are complaints of stiffness, decreased mobility, swelling, and redness of the skin over the inflamed joint. A soft lump may pop out in that place or swelling may develop. Sometimes the manifestations are very unusual. For example, if plexitis of the shoulder joint occurs on the same side, ophthalmological disorders occur - drooping of the eyelid, narrowing of the pupil.
Mechanical causes are caused by degenerative changes in joint tissues. The main symptom is pain with movement, which is relieved by rest. In this case, there is no feeling of numbness or stiffness in the hand.
Most often, doctors diagnose the following diseases of the upper extremities:
Only a doctor can determine the cause of arthralgia. To do this, he may require a number of hardware, instrumental and laboratory studies. Only after this is treatment prescribed.
An integrated approach is needed to the issue of therapy. Most often, conservative methods are used. So, the patient is prescribed medications:
Excellent results can be achieved using physiotherapy methods - magnetic therapy, electrophoresis. Physical therapy increases your chances of recovery. For some pathologies, the doctor may consider it necessary to wear orthoses or splints that reduce the load on the diseased joint.
Traditional medicine helps to get rid of the disease. However, her prescriptions are used only with the permission of a doctor and without discontinuing the main medications.
In the most severe cases, endoprosthetics is performed - joint replacement.
It is necessary to engage in the prevention of joint diseases from a young age. Preventive measures begin with the right choice of profession. So, you need to know what risks certain activities are associated with and take into account the characteristics of your body and heredity.
Injury and infection should be avoided. But if you fail to protect yourself, it is better to immediately seek medical help.
In addition, you must:
Are you concerned about a specific disease? Take a look at the sections of the “Hand Joints” section:
There you will find descriptions of diseases, their symptoms and effective treatment methods.
In modern times, not only older people are affected by lesions of the musculoskeletal system. This often affects the younger working-age population as well.
Arthritis is a collective name for many diseases that occur with damage to one or many joints. It is characterized not only by pain during exacerbations, but also by pathological changes in the appearance and functionality of the joints.
Arthritis itself is characterized by metabolic disorders in the joint capsule and thinning of intra-articular cartilage, followed by swelling and inflammation. In this case, the mobility of the joint is impaired, which is often followed by its deformation.
A joint consists of an articular capsule, the cartilaginous surface of the bones, and a fluid-filled articular cavity. Inflammatory processes usually occur in the inner part of the joint capsule, under the influence of many factors. Inflammatory processes occurring inside the joint, over time, can spread to the rest of its parts, provoking secondary inflammation of the periarticular tissues.
According to the nature of the course of the disease, they are distinguished:
Acute arthritis is caused by a one-time inflammation of the joint and is usually associated with the presence of an infectious disease. This type of arthritis is easy to treat and, as a rule, does not require repeated medical attention. Common symptoms of acute arthritis are:
Chronic arthritis develops gradually; often the development of the chronic form can be triggered by the acute stage of the disease if sufficient attention has not been paid to its treatment. At the same time, chronic arthritis can make itself felt both by the manifestation of constant pain and by periodic exacerbations of the disease. The chronic form is said to occur when painful sensations bother the patient for 3 months or more. The main symptoms of chronic arthritis are:,
With a long course of chronic arthritis, its consequences can be a complete loss of elasticity and mobility of the joint, followed by disability, as well as unaesthetic deformation of the limbs, which does not allow one to lead the same lifestyle. Treatment of chronic arthritis can last for more than one month, and relapses cannot be ruled out.
Arthritis is a disease that affects not only older people. Today, even children can be susceptible to painful joint diseases. Often manifestations of arthritis are observed in the off-season and during sudden changes in weather conditions.
The causes of the manifestations of this disease can be many factors, including dysfunction of the immune system, complications of previous infectious diseases, frequent psychological stress and genetic predisposition. Based on the nature of the disease, the following types of disease are distinguished:
Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects small joints. The cause of the appearance of the rheumatoid form of the disease is said to be infectious in nature, although doctors do not have a clear answer to the question about the true causes of this form of the disease. The manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis are based on pathological and dystrophic changes in the connective tissue of the joint. As a rule, this form has multiple lesions, called polyarthritis. The symptoms of the disease include:
Rheumatoid arthritis has a variable course of the disease, characterized by stages of exacerbation and remission. The progressive nature of the disease leads to irreversible joint deformities, degenerative changes in cartilage tissue and increased stress on the tendons, leading to their stretching.
Septic or infectious arthritis occurs due to the presence of infection in the patient's body, with the subsequent penetration of pathogens into the joint tissue. Symptoms of septic arthritis include:
Due to the infectious origin of the septic form, manifestations can also affect children. Symptoms are more severe in children than in adults. As a rule, septic arthritis affects those joints that are subject to increased stress: knees, shoulders, hips and lower back. Often infectious lesions cause polyarthritis. This form of inflammation requires immediate medical attention to prevent progression of the disease and pathological irreversible changes in the structure and function of the joints.
Reactive arthritis is a non-purulent inflammation of the joint capsule. Most often, the causes of the reactive type of inflammation are diseases of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract previously suffered by the patient. Often this type of lesion overtakes the young male population, who are most susceptible to stomach ulcers. The disease can develop either gradually or be characterized by abrupt onset of symptoms. The most commonly affected areas are the toes and hands, as well as the shoulders, hips and knees. Symptoms of reactive arthritis include:
The first manifestation of reactive arthritis lasts, on average, about 2 months, followed by the onset of remission. A characteristic feature of this type of inflammation is an exacerbation of painful sensations at rest or sleep. If left untreated, the reactive type can lead to the development of eye cataracts. When examining the nature of the clinical picture, it is mandatory to take tests for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases. Treatment of this disease consists of antibiotic therapy, the course of which lasts, on average, from 7 to 14 days.
Gouty arthritis is caused by characteristic metabolic disorders in the body and increased salt content and accumulation of uric acid. This type of disease mainly affects the hands, ankles and fingers. People over 40 years of age are susceptible to the disease due to age-related changes in the body and decreased physical activity.
Very often, gout affects people with diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The development of the disease is provoked by excess alcohol, fatty and protein foods in the patient’s diet. A characteristic symptom in the initial stages is damage to only one of the joints. The main symptoms of gout include:
If the gouty type is not treated at the first manifestations of the clinical picture, over time, compactions in the joints associated with the deposition of salts begin to appear. Without proper treatment, gout attacks become more common.
At the same time, gout damage affects not only the initially diseased joint, but also neighboring ones. When treating this type of inflammation of the joint capsule, along with taking medications aimed at removing uric acid and improving metabolism, a strict diet with increased fluid intake is mandatory.
Psoriatic arthritis develops due to skin lesions and nail diseases. This type of arthritis occurs in 10% of psoriasis cases. The causes of psoriatic disease may include chronic stress, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, taking certain medications for hypertension and hormonal imbalance. Symptoms of the disease are as follows:
In the psoriatic type, as a rule, the fingers and toes are affected; painful manifestations are characterized by swelling of the tissues. The development of the disease is characterized by alternating exacerbations and remissions.
In the absence of the necessary treatment, psoriatic arthritis can lead not only to joint deformation, but also to its loss or surgical intervention, due to the association of the disease with both damage to the skin and damage to the joint itself.
Despite numerous inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system, their timely diagnosis and treatment will help maintain physical activity and quality of life at a decent level until old age.
Modern treatment methods offer a comprehensive approach to healing from the disease, including the prescription of medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, special diets and treatment with applications.