Arthrosis is a degenerative-dystrophic chronic change in the cartilage of the joint, which subsequently leads to deformation of bone tissue. The disease affects not only the cartilage, but also the entire joint (synovium, ligaments, periarticular muscles, subchondral bone). Arthrosis first affects the knee joints, followed by the hip joints, then the big toe joints. Much less often, the interphalangeal and ankle joints located on the fingers suffer from this disease.
In the initial stage of the disease, mild pain appears in the affected joints. This is the reason why arthrosis is very often triggered. Pain syndrome in the second stage of the disease occurs with minor loads on the joints. In the third stage of arthrosis, pain will persist even when stationary. Another evidence of the disease is a rough and dry crunch that occurs when the joint surfaces rub. It should be noted here that a ringing crunch in the joints is harmless in the absence of pain. Another serious symptom of arthrosis is modification of the affected joints.
There are several basic principles for the treatment of arthrosis: orthopedic regimen, pharmacotherapy, limiting stress on the joints, physical therapy, proper nutrition, oxygen saturation of the joint, shock wave and laser therapy, magnetic therapy, pulsed electromagnetic therapy, intraosseous blockades, decompression of the metaepiphysis, spa treatment . This scheme is considered classic in the treatment of arthrosis.
You should also focus on pharmacotherapy, which is aimed at reducing inflammation and pain. Doctors are increasingly prescribing NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) intramuscularly or intravenously in order to quickly obtain a therapeutic effect without damaging the gastric mucosa. Local use of these products is considered as an addition to the main treatment, since the effectiveness of gels and ointments is extremely low.
During exacerbation of the disease, hormonal corticosteroids are prescribed intra-articularly (Kenalog, Diprospan, Hydrocortisone). Sometimes, in addition, hot pepper alkaloid is used in the form of an ointment, patch or alcohol tincture. The doctor also prescribes substances that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue and improve the quality of fluid in the joints - chondroprotectors. The duration of the course continues until the patient receives the first effect. If within six months there are no signs of the effects of the drugs, then they are canceled.
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Arthrosis is one of the most common joint diseases, which is often called age-related. Indeed, it is rare that arthrosis occurs before the age of 50, and most often begins at the age of 55-60. We will talk about how to treat arthrosis in our article, but first a few words about the disease itself, since without a clear understanding of what arthrosis is, it can be difficult to cope with this disease.
Arthrosis is, first of all, deformation of articular cartilage. The cartilage gradually becomes thinner and loses its integrity, and sometimes the cartilage may even begin to separate into fibers. As the disease progresses, the bone is exposed, and small cracks begin to appear in the bone tissue, and inflammatory reactions in the joint intensify. The main cause of arthrosis in the vast majority of cases is aging of the body. Among the less common causes, we note various joint injuries, as well as “occupational” arthrosis associated with one or another type of activity. Thus, arthrosis of the knee joint often occurs in football players, and the ankle often begins to hurt in ballerinas. If measures are not taken, progressive arthrosis can lead to a complete loss of motor function of the joint, which, naturally, will lead to ankelosis - that is, complete immobilization of the limb.
There are different treatment methods, but we still recommend that you consult a specialist before using them. The fact is that proven methods may not always be effective in certain cases. And in order to exclude wasted treatment or even harm to the body, the best solution would be to consult a doctor who will tell you exactly how effective a particular method of treating arthrosis can be in your case. Now let's move on to a description of the methods: both medical and folk.
Let's start with the methods of traditional medicine. Arthrosis is usually treated using complex procedures. This means that they simultaneously use methods of physiotherapy and reflexology, and give the patient special gymnastics - a cycle of exercises that is mandatory for daily performance. This is explained by the fact that when treating arthrosis, an integrated approach is needed, since it is necessary to solve several problems at once: restore the motor function of the joint, reduce pain and inflammation, establish nutrition of joint tissues and normal blood circulation, and also establish metabolic processes in the body as a whole. In not too advanced cases, hirudotherapy or, to put it in plain language, treatment with leeches helps a lot. If arthrosis is noticed on time, 8-10 sessions of hirudotherapy can almost completely relieve pain and inflammation. The fact is that the saliva of a leech contains more than a hundred different enzymes beneficial to the body, which, when bitten, penetrate into the blood and supply the same joints with the necessary substances, and also significantly cleanse and improve the blood itself.
Among the folk remedies, we note the following recipes:
Fir oil. A very useful tool. First, warm the joint or joints with a warm compress with sea salt, then carefully rub fir oil into the joint and then, placing compress paper on the treated area, wrap the joint with warm woolen cloth. Experts recommend this procedure 1-2 times a day, but not more often - for normal digestibility of the oil. Another excellent remedy for joint arthrosis is herbal tea. Take equal parts of licorice root, celandine herb, cudweed herb, calendula flowers, yarrow herb, hop cones and mint leaves, grind it all in a meat grinder or coffee grinder and mix thoroughly. Now put 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a thermos and pour 1 liter of hot boiling water. It is advisable to infuse the collection in a dark place, so the best option would be to leave it overnight. Take half a glass of infusion 30 minutes before each meal. The course of treatment is 90-120 days, that is, 3-4 months. If the taste is not very pleasant, you can add jam or honey to the infusion. River, sea or even regular sand (only coarse) can also have a beneficial effect on your joints. The fact is that sand contains a large number of various mineral compounds and metals that alleviate the symptoms of arthrosis. And they use it like this: they heat the sand in the oven and then pour it into small oblong bags. After this, apply the sandbags to the sore joint and heat until the sand cools down. An infusion of mullein flowers also helps with arthrosis. Take about 50 grams of them and pour 100 ml of alcohol or 200 ml of vodka, then leave the mixture for at least 10 days in a dark place. After this, the mullein infusion is filtered and rubbed on the sore joints 2 times a day. And another wonderful recipe - an ointment based on nettle and juniper. To do this, take stinging nettle leaves (fresh only), juniper berries (green) and sheep oil - all in equal parts by weight. Crush the juniper and nettle and mix well with the sheep oil. This ointment should be stored in the refrigerator - in a glass container, preferably dark. The ointment is rubbed into sore joints immediately after waking up and just before bedtime. The above recipes have helped many people in their fight against arthrosis. Be healthy!
Even more interesting
Artem zorin Pupil (217), closed 6 years ago
Sergey Oracle (56235) 6 years ago
A friend of mine, I myself have been living and fighting with arthritis for 5 years. Alas, it is impossible to cure arthritis or arthrosis completely, but you can delay the period of exacerbation and lengthen the period of remission of the disease - constantly take care of yourself, massage, light gymnastics, it is useful to dance, baths with herbs, essential oils, do not overcool, dress for the weather, do not stand and do not be in a room where there may be drafts. During periods of exacerbation, the drug Ibuprofen helps me personally to relieve pain, and to improve joint nutrition, I take courses of Chondrazamine (this is a domestic analogue of the advertised Teraflex, only 2 times cheaper). I drink 3-4 packages per course - 2 capsules 2-3 times a day, course - 1-2 months, then - 1 month break, and you can repeat the course of taking Chondrazamine. It also helps to relieve pain by simply rubbing regular Corvalol into the area of the painful joint - take 1 tablespoon of Corvalol and rub it into the joint area until dry, for 2-3 days in a row. That seems to be all from my personal experience of fighting arthritis.
Source: Massage technician, exercise therapy instructor
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints.
Arthritis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
* redness, swelling, thickening of the skin
* stiffness and limited mobility
* increased temperature in the joint area
* change in joint shape
* unnatural crunching sound when loading
The cause of arthritis can be various infections, allergies, injuries, as well as hypothermia and excessive physical activity. The inflammatory process begins in the inner lining of the joint, which is also called synovial. Inflammatory effusion – exudate – accumulates in the joint cavity. Then the process spreads to other components of the joint - cartilage and bone structures, capsule, as well as tendons, ligaments, etc. Pain in arthritis is spontaneous, most intense in the second half of the night and in the morning, decreases after movement (the so-called inflammatory type of pain ).
Based on the extent of damage, arthritis is divided into:
* monoarthritis (arthritis of one joint)
* oligoarthritis (arthritis of 2-3 joints)
* polyarthritis (arthritis of many joints)
Bacterial, fungal and viral infections are the most common causes of arthritis. The causative agents of the inflammatory process are streptococci, gonococci, Haemophilus influenzae and tuberculosis bacilli, fungal and yeast infections.
Treatment of arthritis should be aimed primarily at reducing the manifestations of the disease, restoring metabolism in the joint and preserving its functions. To do this, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the underlying causes of arthritis. Treatment of arthritis includes the following methods:
* Non-pharmacological - reducing the load on joints, selecting orthopedic shoes, physical therapy, physiotherapy, etc.
* Pharmacological - the use of anti-inflammatory ointments, gels, painkillers and other medications
* Surgical - joint replacement is used only for the most complex forms of arthritis
Traditional recipes for the treatment of arthritis
To reduce joint pain, you can try traditional recipes:
* apply steamed fresh chicory herb to the sore spot;
* at night, wrap sore spots with coltsfoot or cabbage leaves. Turnip juice with honey, grapefruit juice, lingonberries (2 tsp per glass of water) relieve pain. Apple juice.
* Apply celandine juice generously to affected joints. The more juice you apply to the joints, the more active the treatment. Juice mixtures also cleanse the body and are an excellent treatment for arthritis:
* carrots, beets, cucumbers (10:3:3);
* carrots, cabbage, lettuce (8:4:4);
* carrots, spinach (10:6).
Broth made from potato peelings also has healing powers for arthritis.
Anastasia Ozerova Pro (653) 6 years ago
Alenka explained in some detail part of the question regarding what arthritis is, but I do not agree with the effectiveness of folk recipes. Of course, all this is great and useful, but in reality, help from
A little carrots and lettuce for the joints. If you are already sick, it is better to take medicine from the pharmacy. For example, they helped my aunt, she took Teraflex, which comes in capsules, it does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Teraflex belongs to the category of chondroprotectors. It contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which relieve pain, stimulate the restoration of cartilage tissue, and increase joint mobility. In general, she took a course of Teraflex basic therapy (about 3 months). and at the beginning (about a week). when there was severe pain, I took Teraflex Advance - this is a therapy for exacerbations. It contains ibuprofen, which enhances the effects of chondroitin and glucosamine.
BYAKA 1234 Student (118) 3 months ago
Arthrosis is a chronic degenerative-dystrophic change in articular cartilage, which inevitably leads to deformation of bone tissue. Synonyms for arthrosis, according to the latest International Classification of Diseases of 1989, are the terms: osteoarthrosis, osteoarthritis, arthrosis deformans, osteoarthritis deformans (DOA), arthrosis-arthritis. Let's look at the symptoms and possible treatments for the disease.
The word “osteoarthrosis” is Late Latin, containing two ancient Greek roots: osteon - “bone” and arthron - “joint”, -osis is the ending indicating a chronic, destructive form of the disease, in contrast to the ending -itis, indicating acute inflammatory process. For this reason, it is important to distinguish arthrosis, or osteoarthritis, from arthritis - one disease is chronic, the other is predominantly acute inflammatory in nature. However, in practice they can be combined.
In fact, arthrosis also differs from arthritis in that the disease covers the entire joint (articular capsule (capsule) and the synovial membrane located inside, subchondral bone, ligaments and periarticular muscles), and not just the articular cartilage.
Osteoarthritis first affects the knee joints, followed by the hip joints and thumb joints on the lower extremities. Less commonly, arthrosis affects the ankle and distal interphalangeal joints, located at the ends of the fingers. Other joints are extremely rarely affected by osteoarthritis.
There are four main common symptoms of arthrosis, these are:
The main difference between arthrosis pain and arthritis pain is that in the first case the pain occurs with movement and mainly during the day, and in the second case it does not depend on movement and usually appears at night. Arthritic pain is more acute and intense.
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish three degrees (stages) of osteoarthritis:
At the end of the third stage of arthrosis, complete destruction of the joint occurs, accompanied by its complete immobility or partial unnatural mobility - neoarthrosis. Usually, at this point, doctors make a verdict about endoprosthetics of the damaged joint. For example, arthrosis of the hip joint ends with the fusion of bone surfaces - ankylosis, or closure of the joint, and this occurs in an unnatural position, which disrupts the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.
There are several principles for the treatment of arthrosis, including:
The above scheme is classic in the treatment of arthrosis; we will also dwell on pharmacotherapy and a therapeutic diet.
The first thing pharmacotherapy is aimed at is reducing pain and inflammation. Therefore, immediately after diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the “gold standard” in the treatment of arthritis and arthrosis - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. As a rule, they are prescribed intravenously or intramuscularly, so as not to irritate the gastric mucosa and quickly obtain a therapeutic effect. Local use of these products can be considered solely as an addition, since the effectiveness of ointments and gels is extremely low.
NSAIDs are started with the minimum effective doses, avoiding long-term use. In this case, the most “harmless” drugs are used first. To reduce the risk of destruction of the gastric mucosa, omeprazole is prescribed.
During periods of exacerbation of arthrosis, hormonal corticosteroids are used - hydrocortisone, Kenalog or Diprospan intra-articularly. Additionally, local capsation - an alkaloid of hot pepper - is sometimes used in the form of a patch, ointment or alcohol tincture.
Chondroprotectors are also prescribed, substances that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue and improve the quality of synovial fluid. These include chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. Their peculiarity is a long course of treatment until the first effect is obtained. However, if no signs of their effects are detected within six months, these drugs are discontinued. Hyaluronic acid, or more precisely, drugs based on it (Giastat, Durolan, Ostenil, Khialart, Sinokorm, Fermatron), is used along with chondroprotectors, since it is also part of connective tissues, forming the membrane of articular cartilage cells - chondrocytes. The drugs are administered intra-articularly.
In addition to the “classical” NSAIDs, diacerein is also prescribed for osteoarthritis, which is an inhibitor of the activity of interleukin-1, which stimulates inflammatory processes and promotes the degradation of cartilage tissue. The effect occurs no earlier than after two weeks, most often after a month of use.
In particularly severe forms of osteoarthritis, some opioids and narcotic analgesics are prescribed as an exception. This is perhaps an exhaustive list of standard pharmaceuticals.
There is no strict diet, as with gout, during the treatment of osteoarthritis; for example, there is not the slightest need to give up meat and offal. On the contrary, you should “sin” with such dishes as jellied meat and khash, cooked on the basis of cartilage and legs, since when they are prepared, the collagen contained in the offal and bones, the building material of cartilage tissue, is boiled into the dishes. Such “heavy” dishes should alternate with light ones - based on fermented milk products and vegetables. Especially important are those foods that are dominated by vitamins B and C. Abundant fluid intake is encouraged, but alcohol intake is strictly contraindicated.
Modern methods of treating arthrosis increasingly use the experience of homeopathy. For example, a complex preparation from the world-famous German company Heel called Zeel T is a homeopathic remedy for the treatment of arthrosis of various etiologies and spondyloarthrosis. It is available in the form of a solution for intramuscular and periarticular injections, sublingual tablets and ointment.
Its only contraindication is allergies and increased individual intolerance to the components of the drug, which contains 14 positions of active substances. According to the instructions, simultaneous administration in all dosage forms is recommended.
"Tsel-T" has a pronounced analgesic, anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effect, stimulates the restoration of connective tissues, in particular, the formation of chondrocytes, activating their division. This drug can be used in conjunction with NSAIDs. The average course of treatment is just over one month.
Another homeopathic medicine from the pharmaceutical company Heel, designed for use during osteoarthritis, is Traumeel S. It successfully complements the therapeutic effects of Tsel-T.
"Traumel S" has an anti-inflammatory, decongestant and regenerating effect, simultaneously stimulating the immune system. Available in the forms of drops for oral administration, sublingual tablets, solution for intramuscular and periarticular administration and ointment. The course of treatment is about one and a half months.
While oral medications and local ointments can be used independently, periarticular and intramuscular injections are best done in a doctor’s office. Moreover, the ideal option would be to contact not a general practitioner, but a specialist in the field of homeopathy.
There are quite a few homeopathic centers in Moscow, among them we can highlight the One Schaden clinic, which practices the method of homeosiniatry, which is the intradermal and subcutaneous administration of homeopathic medicines to acupuncture points in the form of microinjections. Homeopathic medicines introduced into special biologically active and trigger points increase their initially intended therapeutic effects several times due to the activation of nerve endings that communicate information to the brain and organs about the activation of their self-regulatory functions.
The One Schaden Clinic has been specializing exclusively in the homeosiniatric method for more than 10 years, and it is the only medical institution of its kind in Moscow. Every year, several hundred patients are treated there, and almost all of them show positive dynamics. The professionalism of doctors not only in the field of homeopathy is confirmed by their diplomas of higher medical education and many years of experience in the field of neurology, therapy and orthopedics.
The One Schaden Medical Center has clear pricing that eliminates the sudden appearance of any additional payments for related services and other hidden fees. “One Schaden” is a German method and proven homeopathic medicines, high competence of specialists and a favorable prognosis in treatment.
Persons No. LO-77-01-003287 dated December 22, 2010.
Issued by the Moscow City Health Department
There are contraindications. Consult your doctor.
The disease that sooner or later the vast majority of people will have is called arthrosis deformans (DOA). It is only a matter of time at what age the pathology will make itself known.
In the article we will analyze in detail the diagnosis of DOA, what is it? We will try to answer all the questions on this topic. And most importantly, we will advise you on how to effectively manage the disease.
A joint is an independent organ. He lives “his own life” and obeys certain laws. The dominant role is occupied by cartilage. This is a springboard for pathological changes, a kind of “spring” that plays a powerful protective role. It adapts to mechanical pressure and provides movement.
When walking, the cartilage contracts and then returns to its previous size. Functions as a pump that releases waste products and takes nutrients from the joint cavity. It has no vessels. Its structure resembles a sponge, dependent on synovial fluid.
Important: the disease begins to develop when the ratio between the restoration of cartilage and its destruction is not met. The shift occurs towards decay (catabolic process).
In this case, one of the laws of the joint is violated - self-healing. Due to the constant load, the cartilage does not have time to repair itself. Gradually, its surface turns from an elastic structure into a thin and dry one. It stops nourishing the underlying bone tissue, which thickens and begins to grow in all directions. Osteophytes and cysts form. The menisci change and muscle atrophy occurs.
Soon, all structures of the joint are involved in the pathological process. First of all, ligaments, entheses, and sensory nerves are affected. Deformation and limitation of movement appear. The capsule thickens and inflammatory fluid accumulates in it.
A typical situation: the day before the joint receives heavy load, pain appears, and by the morning we see swelling. As a result of its active work, many decay products were formed; they accumulated in the synovial fluid and disrupted the processes of cartilage restoration. Inflammation appeared.
How to avoid a diagnosis called DOA? You just need to listen to the needs of your body. Nature has provided a perfect signaling system - pain. Whenever it appears, you should be wary. At first, she says that the cartilage does not have time to recover. Then it signals its destruction and the onset of intraosseous hypertension. As a result, microfractures appear. Osteophytes form and affect sensory nerves.
The body needs time to restore structures. You shouldn’t limit yourself to just taking painkillers. Give him a break and try to improve his diet. Use an orthosis, an elastic bandage, which significantly reduces the load on the joints.
All risk factors can be grouped into the following groups:
Leading loads include loads that exceed the mechanical capabilities of the joint. Difficult working conditions, household factors and sports injury contribute to this. Overload often occurs when it is unevenly distributed over the entire surface of the cartilage, with an emphasis on a small area. A good example is scoliosis, flat feet.
Hereditary predisposition. The proof is the high risk of the disease among twins. Currently, harmful genes responsible for the production of specific collagen have been identified.
With endocrine disorders, an imbalance of sex hormones is observed. This is clearly visible during menopause. They lead to changes in the metabolism of cartilage tissue. With age, it becomes less elastic and loses its ability to recover after damage. The male hormone has a stimulating effect, while the female hormone (estrogens) inhibits the growth of cartilage.
The strongest enemy is excess weight! It creates a powerful load on the cartilage. Therefore, in obese women, DOA occurs 4 times more often.
The role of metabolic disorders in the occurrence of the disease is beyond doubt. With gout, a detailed picture of the disease quickly forms.
Growth hormone in adolescence has a significant effect on the activity of cartilage cells. But over the years this phenomenon weakens.
In people by the age of 60, the number of chondrocytes decreases, and the number of empty lacunae increases. The amount of water and building material (chondroitin sulfate and protein glycans) decreases. The content of keratin sulfate increases.
Deforming osteoarthritis is divided into:
In primary OA, a healthy joint undergoes reconstruction under the influence of overload. Secondary OA – develops on an organ already altered by other diseases (diabetes, injury, infection). The secondary form is becoming more and more common.
Doctors distinguish 3 stages of the course of deforming osteoarthritis. With grade 1 DOA there are no pronounced changes in the joint. Only the function of the synovial membrane suffers. The properties of the fluid that nourishes the cartilage change. The joint is less able to withstand normal stress, which even to the slightest degree is accompanied by pain and inflammation.
If you take an x-ray at this stage, the doctor will write in the conclusion that the joint space is narrowed unevenly, the closing bone plate of the epiphyses is compacted and expanded. The edges of the articular surfaces become sharpened (osteophytes form).
The person will already experience pain with normal activity. In this case, the joints are not changed, movements are preserved in full.
Deforming arthrosis during arthroscopy of the 1st degree will reveal softening of the cartilage (when touched with a probe).
If the disease progresses, DOA goes into stage 2. At this stage of the disease, the destruction of the menisci and cartilage begins. Edge growths appear - osteophytes.
Clinical manifestations are expressed by pain, especially with exertion, which subsides slightly at rest. The function is limited, movements are not full. Inflammatory swelling appears, the joint enlarges and turns red. The skin around it changes, the hairline disappears.
R-graphy of deforming arthrosis will describe for grade 2 - a distinct narrowing of the joint space. Severe subchondral sclerosis.
Arthroscopically, the doctor will see small tears and cracks on the surface of the cartilage. Pieces of tissue sag into the joint cavity.
In advanced stage III of the disease, the axis of the limb changes due to pronounced deformation of the articular area. The ligaments shorten, the bursa becomes rigid, and pathological mobility (subluxations) appears. Complete immobility (ankylosis) may occur.
Clinically manifested by pain at rest, range of motion is minimal or completely absent. A person stops serving himself.
On x-ray, the joint space is sharply narrowed, the internal surfaces are flattened. Cystic cavities have formed in the bone tissue.
With arthroscopy, the doctor sees a complete absence of cartilage. The articular surfaces are bare bone tissue. When moving, they will touch and injure the nerve endings. With every step a person feels severe pain.
The cause of pain at first is changes in cartilage tissue. Commonly used methods such as X-rays and CT scans (computed tomography) cannot show the cartilage itself.
His condition can only be assessed by MRI. It detects changes in various tissues of the joint in the absence of signs of disease on X-ray examination. The method is very important at the stage of early diagnosis, when there are only complaints.
Laboratory studies have no practical significance. They are used only for differential diagnosis. In blood tests, we will note a slight increase in ESR and leukocytosis when there is reactive synovitis.
The joint cavity is impenetrable and sterile. Therefore, it is better not to puncture it unnecessarily. The procedure is carried out according to indications when it is necessary to examine the composition of the synovial fluid.
An experienced specialist will glean a lot of information from a survey and examination. Assess whether deformation or inflammation predominates. Determines whether there is restriction or crepitus during passive and active movements. The survey allows the doctor to make a preliminary diagnosis of DOA disease.
Defeat and reason
Evening pain. Occurs after exertion during the day, subsides in the morning.
Talk about overload
Spare the joint and wear a protective bandage.
Sudden, stabbing pain when moving
The presence of a “joint mouse” in the cavity.
A gentle procedure is needed - arthroscopy or surgery. Conservative treatment is not effective.
Night pain that goes away in the morning.
It speaks of venous stagnation and slowing of blood circulation in bone tissue.
Physiotherapy and vascular therapy will help
Pain at the beginning of walking (start) and on the stairs when moving down.
There is inflammation of the synovial membrane (synovitis).
Anti-inflammatory therapy is needed.
The cartilaginous surfaces rub against each other.
A good result will be achieved with intra-articular administration of hyaluronic acid.
Pain in the muscles and along the way.
Caused by muscle spasm.
Local therapy and massage.
Morning pain, without pre-load, aggravated by movement.
A sign of compression of nerve endings and blood vessels.
Analgesic and decongestant therapy.
The disease develops slowly. The pain first appears with normal activity and subsides after an overnight rest. When moving, a crunching sound may be heard in the joint, and sometimes swelling occurs. The pathological condition is not yet so intrusive, it is replaced by periods of short-term well-being.
As the disease progresses, the joints begin to attract more and more attention. The pain does not disappear after rest, sometimes it bothers me at night. Its everyday nature leads to the fact that a person gets used to it and does not take health measures. The shape of the joints begins to change.
In the later stages of OA, joint mobility is completely impaired. The pain becomes constant. It is caused not only by deformation and compression of the nerve roots, but also by increased venous pressure in the bone (“articular migraine”), malnutrition and lack of synovial fluid (natural lubrication of the joint).
Impaired mobility is a serious disabling factor. It determines the quality of life. The following types of violation are distinguished:
DOA primarily involves load-bearing (knee and hip) joints in the orbit of its pathological process. Let's look at some features of the lesion.
Coxarthrosis (hip OA). If it occurs at a young age, then this indicates an innate character. Without timely treatment, it risks early disability.
This joint bears the heaviest load, so it fails first. Signs of its defeat include a disturbance in gait, the person begins to limp, and the foot turns outward. In this case, the limb bends slightly, and the pelvis tilts towards the painful side. This position leads to pinching of the sciatic nerve and the appearance of lumbar pain. With bilateral arthrosis, a “duck gait is formed.”
Gonarthrosis (knee OA). The real problem with overweight women. With increased weight, the knee begins to experience extreme stress. The condition is aggravated by metabolic and endocrine disorders.
The knee reacts to any load. Swelling is often observed, which indicates inflammation. Osteophytes quickly appear and it becomes deformed. Its restructuring leads to muscle atrophy and sudden subluxations. The lateral ligaments weaken, instability appears, and the knee seems to “sag” when moving. Often it is “blocked” due to “joint mice”.
Nodular forms of arthrosis. This is what is called OA of the hand joints. The disease manifests itself in women during menopause. It can often be seen in typists and seamstresses as a result of occupational injury. It is hereditary. Bone “growths” form in the interphalangeal area on the hand. These thickenings are painful and sometimes become red and swollen. The nodular form can be an independent disease or combined with other forms of arthrosis.
Arthrosis disease or polyosteoarthrosis. Women are also more often affected. Can be inherited. The gene that causes the disease has now been identified. Large weight-bearing joints are usually affected along with the spine.
There are quite a few types of treatment for DOA: medications (locally and orally), the use of orthopedic devices (orthoses, canes, insoles), physiotherapeutic procedures. They are aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, slowing cartilage degeneration, and improving its nutrition.
Treatment has two main goals:
When starting treatment, it is important to take into account the causative factors and the nature of the disorder, therefore, various methods are used to eliminate the pathological process.
The problem will remain and the pain will return again and again if this is not taken into account. But, as practice shows, most people limit their treatment to painkillers only.
Main types of treatment:
Emergency or short-term therapy is used for pain and inflammation. This includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). First, their analgesic effect appears; after several days of use, an anti-inflammatory effect appears. For the restoration of cartilage, it is of greater importance, since it does not allow the self-sustaining cascade of the chronic inflammatory process to start.
Features of this group: can destroy cartilage with long-term use (especially indomethacin). Affects the gastric mucosa.
Along with NSAIDs, it is necessary to take drugs that reduce the risk of adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract: Famotidine, Omeprazole, Mesoprastol. Now there are gentle NSAIDs - these are coxibs (Arcoxia, Celecoxib).
There is one paradox when using NSAIDs. Taking them creates an imaginary well-being, allowing you to re-load the diseased joint, thereby increasing the progression of the disease. It is reasonable to stick to a short course (2-3 weeks) and try to eliminate the cause of the disease.
Lack of blood circulation (hypoxia) and venous congestion can also cause pain. It often appears at night and indicates severe disorders. It is necessary to relieve swelling and improve blood flow: “Nicotinic acid”, “No-shpa”, “Lioton”, “Diklak gel”. It is good to use local preparations in the form of ointments, gels or compresses with Carmolis, Dimexide. Ointments are applied every 4 hours until the swelling decreases. For pain and muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are added to NSAIDs - “Scutamil”, “Sirdalud”.
When there is no longer cartilage, pain is caused by friction between the two exposed bone surfaces and irritation of the nerve endings. Osteophytes add a lot of problems. In this case, only pain relief remains. Tramadol and Nabumetone are used. You can take Paracetamol at a dose of 1 gram per day. Surgical treatment is indicated. Hyaluronic acid will only provide temporary relief.
Sometimes intramuscular hormonal drugs “Diprospan” or “Kenalog” are used. However, treatment with these drugs has a strict indication - the presence of inflammation or effusion in the joint. Without synovitis they are not prescribed. It can be administered periarticularly and get a good effect.
Refers to basic treatment. Its goal is to improve nutrition and restore damaged structures - this is the key to long-term remission. A lot depends on the properties of synovial fluid. It should be enough to perform the function of “lubrication” and provide quality nutrition.
Chondroprotectors are best suited for this. They “repair” cartilage tissue, stimulate its production and inhibit destruction. They are natural components for the cartilage matrix.
The most popular are “Teraflex”, “DONA”, “Arthra”, “Structum”. They contain two necessary components (Chondroitin + Glucosamine).
The drug Alflutop has been less studied. It is widely used only in our country. Often gives allergic reactions.
Doctors see good results even in stage 3 of the disease from hyaluronic acid, which is a substitute for synovial fluid. While it is in the cavity, it performs all its functions: “lubricates”, nourishes the periosteum and protects from further destruction.
Features of this group. The effect comes slowly, long-term use is required. For example, “Teraflex” needs to be taken one capsule three times a day for 3 to 6 months. Such courses must be conducted annually. If the pain persists, then it is better to take “Teraflex” Advance, 2 capsules three times a day for 3 weeks.
An important property of chondroprotectors is retention of the effect, which cannot be said about the group of fast-acting agents. After using them, pain and decreased range of motion return immediately.
"Alflutop". Course 21 intramuscular injections. For intra-articular administration - 2 ml six times, with a break of 2-3 days.
"Arthra". Therapy with the drug allows you to reduce the dose or completely stop using NSAIDs. Improved "Arthra" MSM Forte has a more pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
It is taken according to the following regimen: “Arthra” MSM Forte 2 tablets per day, then continue “Arthra” one tablet twice for 3-6 months. "Ostenil", "Fermatron", "Gialgan" are injected into the joint. "Synvisc" and "Gialgan" are recommended up to three times a week. The effect lasts up to 8 months, after which the course is repeated.
Important: before treatment with these drugs, it is necessary to stop inflammation (synovitis).
Deforming arthrosis, the treatment of which involves not only medications. It has been proven that physiotherapy and sanatorium treatment provide an excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. And the main thing is a long-term result, because the cartilage is noticeably restored.
Orthopedic measures are no less important. Adequate unloading reduces pain and weakens muscle spasms. It should not be long-term, so as not to lead to malnutrition of the cartilage and cause muscle death.
If the cartilage tissue is completely destroyed, which is typical for stage 3 of the disease, then treatment with chondroprotectors will not help. In this case, a radical measure is needed - endoprosthetics. This is preferable to constant use of painkillers.
Deforming arthrosis occurs over a long period of time. For example, the rate of joint space narrowing in the knee is 0.3 mm per year. Due to this slow progression, the disease allows you to maintain your ability to work for a long time.
This is possible provided there are no additional joint diseases (infection, gout, diabetes, other metabolic and endocrine disorders), when cartilage is destroyed much faster. To maintain it and not experience excruciating pain, listen to the body's signaling systems. Take care of your joints and carry out long-term therapy on time.
Gonarthrosis of the knee joint (ICD code 10. M17) is a common pathology of a degenerative-dystrophic nature. In most cases, the disease is fundamentally inflammatory in nature, but due to regular friction of bones, this process can occur in the joint. If the symptoms of gonarthrosis are ignored and left untreated, the disease leads to disability and complete immobilization of the lower extremities. What is it and how to cope with the disease?
Gonarthrosis is a disease associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue. Primary arthrosis has no characteristic symptoms, since all changes manifest themselves at the molecular level. In this case, the cartilage becomes cloudy, gradually thins and begins to crack. Over time, it can collapse completely, exposing the bone.
Constant exposure to the bone provokes the growth of an additional layer on it, which over time turns into osteophytes. As a result, in the last stages of the disease the joint becomes severely deformed. If treatment for gonarthrosis is started late, the patient loses the ability to move normally and becomes disabled.
This process is quite lengthy:
In most cases, the disease affects the inner part of the knee. Athletes and older people are more susceptible to pathology than others.
The development of gonarthrosis, which develops in the knee joint, includes the following main reasons:
Gonarthrosis of the knee joint has a certain classification, which is associated with the nature and mechanism of the lesion. Based on the mechanism of development, there are:
Neurologist Dmitry Shubin and Elena Malysheva will talk about the causes and symptoms of the disease:
Based on the nature, the classification of the disease is as follows:
As with most arthrosis, the insidiousness of this pathology is due to the fact that at the very beginning of their development, they do not have pronounced symptoms, as a result of which their diagnosis is difficult.
A person should pay attention to symptoms such as heaviness in the knee and aching pain while walking. Many patients report discomfort in the knee joint in the morning after waking up or after resting in a lying position. To feel relief you need to walk a little.
Over time, the pain intensifies and is felt more on the inside of the knee. Often a crunching sound occurs while driving. Gradually, the process of bending or straightening the leg becomes more difficult. Progressive unilateral or bilateral gonarthrosis is manifested by lameness. At an advanced stage, a person can only move with the help of crutches. At first, the pain decreases when the person lies down, but over time it bothers him even at night.
With primary gonarthrosis, external changes in the knee joint are not observed. As the pathology develops, the deformity becomes noticeable, and a crunching sound is heard when the knee moves.
When palpating the knee, you can detect a painful area, which is usually located on the inside, but can be to the right or left of the joint.
Each degree of gonarthrosis has its own signs:
When treating gonarthrosis in the knee joint, you need to rely on diagnostic data, which includes:
The doctor will have to determine the signs, degree of damage and the cause of the disease before starting treatment for gonarthrosis. The course of treatment is always long and consists of taking medications, using folk remedies, physiotherapy, massage and, in some cases, surgery.
If the disease, including bilateral gonarthrosis, can be identified at the initial stage, when the knee is not yet deformed, the patient is prescribed only drug treatment. To do this, the doctor will prescribe a number of medications:
Rheumatologist Pavel Evdokimenko will talk about the causes, symptoms and methods of treating the disease:
A doctor should treat the pathology, especially if it is bilateral gonarthrosis, since self-medication can significantly aggravate the course of the disease and lead to complications.
Physiotherapeutic procedures help treat the disease. These include:
When prescribing treatment for gonarthrosis of the knee joint, the doctor should pay attention to the need to perform special physical exercises. They are needed for:
Rheumatologist Pavel Evdokimenko and Lana Paley will tell and show several exercises for treating the disease:
Exercises are prescribed by a rehabilitation therapist individually for each patient, based on the degree of arthrosis, symptoms and ability to move. In this case, you cannot perform exercises that:
If arthrosis of the knee joint, including bilateral arthrosis, was detected at the last stage, or it was not possible to cure it with conservative methods, the doctor may decide to perform surgery. There are several types of operations:
Treatment with folk remedies gives good results. You can prepare the necessary decoctions, tinctures, ointments, etc. yourself at home.
For internal use prepare:
Dear readers, we have prepared for you several folk recipes for the treatment of arthrosis:
For external use, compresses and ointments are prepared that help eliminate pain symptoms and relieve intra-articular inflammation.
To prepare the ointment, you need to mix 1 tablespoon of natural honey with 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Apply the mixture to the sore spot and wrap it up.
For compresses you can use camphor oil, clay and dandelion flowers.
Additional therapy methods are also used to treat gonarthrosis.
Massage. A specialist should perform massage for gonarthrosis. All movements must be performed in the direction of lymph movement and made from the periphery to the center. In this case, the popliteal fossa cannot be touched. The main goal of the procedure is to improve blood circulation, warm and stretch the joint.
After the massage, manual therapy can be performed. Hirudotherapy helps restore blood circulation.
For those who have joint problems, doctors recommend paying attention to their diet. This is especially true for people who are overweight. For patients diagnosed with arthrosis or gonarthrosis of the knee joint, it is important to completely remove the following products from their menu:
The basis of the diet should be:
Knowing what gonarthrosis is and how it develops, doctors recommend preventing the disease. This is especially true for those who have a hereditary predisposition, are overweight, athletes and people whose work involves high physical activity and the risk of post-traumatic gonarthrosis. To do this you need:
If any discomfort occurs in the knee joint, it is important to consult a doctor who, if necessary, can prescribe appropriate treatment. But you cannot try to cure gonarthrosis on your own, as this can lead to an exacerbation of the disease and the prognosis in this case will be unfavorable.