Russian villages, front gardens with lilacs... It's always so beautiful and touching. And what paintings were written by famous artists about her. Polenov, Vrubel, Maksimov, Konchalovsky and other masters of painting sang of its beauty. Have you listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff’s extraordinary work “Lilac”? The composer tells us about love and tenderness, how transparent and crystalline the air is felt in everything, the light breath of fragrant lilac branches.
But not everywhere we see such a touching attitude towards lilacs. In England, lilacs are considered a symbol of grief and misfortune. A girl sending her fiancé a branch of lilac speaks of her refusal. These are the amazing facts.
I remember very well the time when we were looking for a place for a summer house. We traveled around a lot. And so, having approached one seemingly simple house and seeing the beauty of the lilac bushes, I immediately realized - here it is, everything is in front of me. Until now, lilac is pleasing to the eye, and we were also taught to make various ointments and tinctures with its flowers. Today I want to share these recipes with you.
Pale lilac or darker is best suited for preparing medicines, but not terry or white. They can only be enjoyed, but not treated.
Treatment can be carried out with flowers, bark, and lilac buds. It is impossible to find them in a pharmacy, because they are used only in folk medicine. As soon as the buds appear, they are collected along with the branches. Dry everything in the attic or simply tie it in bundles and hang it in a place convenient for you.
Use of lilac for health. Lilac treatment.
May recipes for treatment with lilac . It is in May, during flowering, that flowers, buds, and bark are harvested.
Treatment with lilac tincture. We prepare a tincture from leaves or flowers and buds. Pour a quarter glass of crushed raw materials with 200 grams of vodka (you can use medical alcohol). Leave in a dark place for 2 weeks. Use for rubbing for arthritis and neuralgia. For rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with folk remedies involves the use of tinctures in the form of lotions and dressings. They need to be changed 4-5 times a day.
Treatment of varicose veins with lilac - put lilac flowers in a jar, pour vodka over everything, leave for a month. You can make lotions or use them as compresses at night. Do not rub.
Pour 500 grams of lilac flowers into 2 glasses of water and boil for 10 minutes. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon, add this mixture and leave for 20 minutes. Strain the juice, add 500 grams of sugar, cook the syrup for 20 minutes over very low heat. Stir constantly. I didn’t make this jam myself, but a friend treated me to it (as well as dandelion jam). Recipe from her. Very unusual taste. It was interesting to even try it. This recipe is probably good for those who always want to surprise their guests.
Infusion of lilac flowers, leaves or buds. How to cook it?
Pour 1 tablespoon of raw material into a glass of boiling water, leave for 6 hours, strain. Take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day. Very important! In case of overdose, poisoning may occur.
Few people probably know that the quality of lilac essential oil, which is used in industry, is superior even to rose oil.
It is very good to treat abrasions, wounds, cuts, and purulent inflammations with this infusion.
How to prepare such an infusion?
Collect inflorescences, separate stems, do not wash. Place everything in a glass jar and fill with the same volume of vodka or alcohol. Leave for 2 weeks, periodically shaking the contents of the jar.
Lubricate inflamed areas in a pure, undiluted form.
Lilac flower lotion. It is very good to wipe inflamed skin with this lotion. Simply dilute the tincture (see recipe above) in a ratio of 1:10, best with melt water and wipe the skin, face, and other inflamed areas. It is best to store this infusion in the refrigerator.
I would like to advise you to definitely consult with your doctor. You may have allergies or other contraindications for lilac treatment.
And now I give you a heartfelt gift. I would like to invite you to listen to Sergei Rachmaninov’s romance “Lilac”. It is performed by Olga Peretyatko, a singer from St. Petersburg. In my opinion, a magical performance.
I wish everyone a spring mood. Enjoy the spring. Inhale the aromas. Enjoy life. Health to everyone.
Lilac is well known to all residents of Russia. This ornamental, beautifully flowering shrub has good resistance to frost, which is why they like to plant it in city parks and in garden plots. Lilac belongs to the Olive family. The bark, buds and flowers of the plant are used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic.
The shrub rarely grows above 5 m; it blooms in late spring or early summer, depending on the climate. Lilacs throw out lush clusters of purple flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. White lilac is less common. Medicinal raw materials are harvested during the flowering period, they are dried in the shade, in a well-ventilated place.
Lilac belongs to poisonous plants, therefore, when treating with traditional methods, it is important to follow the agreed dosage. The main components of the chemical composition are essential oil and glucoside syringin. It is this last substance that gives lilac its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Syringin has an analgesic effect, but at the same time, its excessive concentration in the body can lead to intoxication.
In addition, the well-known ascorbic acid, which we are accustomed to using to increase immunity and normalize metabolism, was found in flowers, leaves and bark. If you mix lilac with linden blossom, you will get an effective remedy against such a terrible disease as malaria.
You should not take lilac-based medications internally during pregnancy; they are also contraindicated for the treatment of young children. For liver and kidney diseases, the use of drugs based on this plant also requires caution.
Lilac is considered as a possible source of useful substances for the production of drugs, analogues of which are supplied to Russia from abroad. The plant extract contains verbascidose glycoside - the antioxidant properties of this chemical compound are much superior to the effect of ascorbic acid. In cosmetology, this substance is used to renew skin cells; manufacturers of cosmetics exploit the ability of verbacidosis to increase the resistance of cells to oxygen deficiency, and at the same time whiten the skin [1].
Until recently, doctors considered antioxidants as vital substances for humans. Today, scientists are reconsidering their role in metabolism, and doubts are increasingly being voiced that the importance of antioxidant substances is so great. However, these substances are involved in metabolism; they enter the body with food.
For injuries , it is useful to use ointment from lilac flowers. The raw materials are thoroughly crushed and mixed in equal proportions with unsalted butter. The mixture is applied to painful areas. You can enhance the effect by using the tincture internally.
Alcohol tincture of lilac is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent and can be used for disinfection. For gout , take the medicine before meals 3 times a day, 30 drops. How to prepare the tincture? 2 tablespoons of dried flowers are poured with half a liter of alcohol or vodka. The jar is closed and placed in a warm, dark place for 15 days; the vessel must be shaken periodically. The finished product can be used externally for rubbing, lotions or compresses. arthritis , rheumatism, joint sprains and bruises are treated in this way
For rheumatism, it is useful to prepare another version of the alcohol infusion - based on the buds of the plant. 2 glasses of raw material are poured with half a liter of good vodka and infused in a dark place for 10 days.
For compresses in case of joint pain, use a tincture of lilac flowers, crushed bay leaves and willow bark. The mixture is poured with half a liter of good vodka and infused for 3 weeks. You need to keep the compress for at least 2 hours; you should not take the medicine orally. You can also tie fresh lilac flowers to the affected joint to relieve pain - of course, if fresh flowers are on hand.
For osteochondrosis , arthritis and osteoarthritis, it is recommended to rub an infusion of lilac flowers, black radish juice with the addition of honey into painful areas. For the medicine you need 2 tablespoons of fresh flowers, 200 g of honey, 100 ml of vodka and 300 fresh radish juice.
For radiculitis , polyarthritis and osteochondrosis, it is useful to drink an infusion of lilac flowers, as well as make lotions and compresses. To prepare the infusion you need a spoon of flowers and a glass of boiling water. The medicine is infused for only an hour, then filtered and taken 3 times a day, a tablespoon. Be careful! Do not exceed the prescribed doses of the drug. This may be hazardous to your health.
More about cosmetic properties:
Lilac is an ornamental, beautifully flowering, cold-resistant shrub, reaching a height of 2–5 meters and belonging to the olive family. Lilac blooms in late spring - early summer. The most common is lilac, which has lilac-violet fragrant flowers of various shades; less common is lilac with white flowers.
Lilac is not only an ornamental plant, but also a medicinal one; it is widely used in folk medicine. The medicinal raw materials of lilac are buds, flowers and bark. The leaves are collected in the first half of summer, the flowers - during the budding of the plant, the bark is harvested at the same time as the flowers. The collected medicinal raw materials are dried in the shade, in a well-ventilated area.
Lilac has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and diuretic effects.
To treat gout, use an alcoholic tincture of lilac. To make it, take 2 tablespoons of dried flowers of the plant and fill them with 500.0 ml of 70% alcohol or good vodka. The jar is tightly closed and placed in a dark, warm place for 15 days. It is recommended to shake the tincture periodically. After the required time has passed, the tincture is filtered and taken orally 3 times a day before meals, 30 drops.
For injuries of the musculoskeletal system and diseases of the joints, ointment from lilac flowers has a good therapeutic effect. To make it, take 2 tablespoons of dried and thoroughly crushed flowers and mix them with the same amount of unsalted butter. The ointment is applied to the areas of greatest pain. To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can combine local application of the ointment with ingestion of an alcoholic tincture of lilac flowers.
Tincture of lilac flowers is also used externally: for applying compresses, rubbing, lotions for arthritis, sprains, and bruises.
In order to quickly relieve joint pain, you can use the following recipe: take 2 tablespoons of dried lilac flowers and 1 tablespoon each of chopped bay leaf and willow bark, pour the resulting mixture with 0.5 liter of vodka, leave for 3 weeks. After this, the tincture must be filtered and used to apply compresses (keep the compress for no more than 2 hours!).
You can quickly eliminate pain in the back and joints with the help of freshly picked lilac flowers. To do this, they are slightly kneaded and tied to the place of pain.
For osteochondrosis, arthritis, deforming osteoarthritis, the following composition helps: take 2 tablespoons of fresh lilac flowers, add 200.0 grams to them. honey, 100.0 ml of vodka and 300.0 ml of freshly squeezed black radish juice. Rub the resulting mixture into sore spots 2 – 3 times a day.
For the treatment of radiculitis, osteochondrosis, and polyarthritis, traditional medicine recommends using an infusion of lilac flowers internally, as well as applying compresses and lotions with it. An infusion of lilac flowers is prepared as follows: 1 tablespoon of flowers is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for an hour. After this, the infusion is filtered. It should be taken orally 3 times a day before meals, 1 tablespoon.
When using lilac to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, it is important to carefully follow the recommended dosages, since lilac is a poisonous plant, and its improper use can lead to intoxication of the body.
This beautiful plant with flowers of various colors is grown as an ornamental plant, but it is also used in folk medicine. Medicinal raw materials are flowers, bark and buds of lilac. The inflorescences are collected during the budding period along with the branches. They are dried in the shade, in the attic or under a canopy, tied in bunches. Leaves are collected only in dry weather in the first half of summer. Dry the leaves in the shade, under a canopy or in dryers at a temperature of 40 to 60°C, scattering them in a thin layer. The bark as a medicinal product is suitable only from young stems; sometimes it is collected along with the leaves. The shelf life of medicinal raw materials is 2 years; the preferred container is bags or wooden boxes with a lid.
Lilac preparations have antipyretic, diaphoretic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, analgesic and diuretic properties.
To prepare a tincture from lilac leaves or flowers, pour 1 cup of dry crushed raw material into 500 ml of vodka and infuse for two weeks.
For epilepsy, an infusion of lilac flowers is taken as an anticonvulsant drug. For this purpose, pour 1 tablespoon of dry raw material with a glass of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes, then filter. This drug has been drunk as tea for several years.
To relieve migraine pain, use an ointment based on lilac flowers. It is prepared in this way: 2 tablespoons of crushed flowers are thoroughly ground with 2 tablespoons of butter until a homogeneous composition is obtained. The resulting ointment is rubbed onto the temples and forehead.
An infusion of lilac flowers helps with diarrhea. 1 tablespoon of dry raw material is poured into 1 glass of boiling water and left for an hour, then filtered and taken 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day. In the same case, you can take a tincture of flowers, 30 drops 4 times a day, or a tincture of leaves, 20 drops also 4 times a day.
As an antipyretic for bronchial asthma, tuberculosis and pneumonia, you can take an infusion of buds and lilac flowers: 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured with 1 glass of boiling water and left for an hour, then filtered and taken warm, 1 glass 3-4 times a day. day.
A tincture of lilac flowers can be used to gargle for laryngitis: 50 g of flowers are infused in 100 ml of vodka for a week, then diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1:10.
For inflammatory kidney diseases, it is recommended to take an infusion of lilac leaves. 2 tablespoons of dry crushed raw materials are poured into 1 glass of hot water, brought to a boil and left in a warm place for 2-3 hours, then filtered and squeezed. Drink 1 tablespoon 4 times a day before meals for two weeks. If necessary, the course is repeated after 2-3 months.
For cystitis, it is useful to drink 1 tablespoon of flower infusion 3-4 times a day. In the same case, you can use tincture of lilac flowers, 30 drops 3 times a day, or tincture of leaves, 20 drops 3 times a day before meals.
To dissolve urate and oxalate stones in the renal pelvis, it is recommended to take an infusion of flowers: 1 tablespoon of dry raw material is poured with 1 glass of boiling water and infused for an hour, then filtered and taken 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for two weeks. For the same purpose, you can drink 30 drops of flower tincture 3 times a day or alcohol tincture of leaves 15-20 drops 3 times a day before meals.
For diabetes mellitus, it is useful to take a decoction of lilac buds collected in early spring during the swelling period. 20 g of dry crushed raw materials are poured into 1 glass of hot water and boiled for 15 minutes, then filtered and brought to the original volume with boiled water. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.
To treat gout, you can use tincture of lilac flowers. In this case, it is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured with 1 glass of 70% alcohol or vodka and left for a week in a dark place, shaking occasionally. Take strained 20-30 drops of alcohol or 50 drops of vodka tincture 3 times a day before meals.
To rub joints in case of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, you can prepare an ointment based on lilac flowers: 2 tablespoons of crushed raw materials are thoroughly ground with 2 tablespoons of butter. For the same purpose, take an infusion of flowers 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day, or a tincture of flowers 30 drops 3 times a day, or a tincture of leaves 20 drops 3-4 times a day before meals. In addition, tincture of flowers can be used as lotions and compresses for joint rheumatism and bruises, changing the bandage 4-5 times a day.
Fresh lilac leaves are good for treating purulent wounds. To wash wounds, you can use an infusion of plant leaves. In this case, 2 tablespoons of dry raw materials are poured with 1 glass of boiling water, brought to a boil and left for 2-3 hours. Use strained.
In dermatological practice, an infusion of lilac leaves is also used as a lotion and wash for purulent ulcers. The ulcer needs to be steamed well in hot water, covered with thoroughly washed lilac branch bark, bandaged and the bandage changed 4 times on the first day, and then once a day.
One of the most common reasons people seek medical help is back and joint pain. There are probably no people who are not affected by these problems, and with age, unfortunately, pain in the back and joints reminds itself more and more often and more persistently.
Arthrosis is considered one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This is exactly what we will tell you about in this article.
Arthrosis is a chronic disease of the joints of a degenerative-dystrophic nature, in which the destruction of articular cartilage and the joint capsule gradually occurs. The bone tissue located directly under the softened, porous cartilage thickens unevenly, compensating for the load, that is, deformation of the joint occurs.
In addition, this disease is called: osteoarthritis, deforming arthrosis or arthrosis-arthritis, since the initial damage to cartilage tissue leads to an inflammatory process in the joint.
These two diseases are often confused with each other due to the similarity of names and due to the fact that both arthrosis and arthritis affect the joints. Meanwhile, these are different diseases and, what is very important, they are treated differently.
Arthrosis most often develops in old age (45 years and older); it is a gradually occurring age-related deformation of the joints.
Arthritis , on the contrary, often begins at a young age (before 40 years). Of course, there are exceptions, for example, after suffering from a cold or flu, an elderly person may develop arthritis, or vice versa - a young weightlifter may develop arthrosis of the knee joints due to physical overload.
Various arthritis affects 2% of the world's population, often young people. Approximately 10% of our planet suffers from arthrosis, and while young people are relatively rarely affected by arthrosis, in old age the number of patients with arthrosis increases many times over. In the age group of 50-year-olds, every third person has some kind of arthrosis, and among 70-year-olds, every second person suffers from arthrosis to one degree or another.
If with arthrosis only the joints suffer, and the whole body is usually not involved in the pathological process, then with arthritis, on the contrary, the entire body is involved in the inflammatory process, and inflammation of the joints with arthritis is only the “tip of the iceberg”, since with arthritis, internal organs almost always suffer (most often the heart, liver, kidneys), therefore, if adequate treatment is not carried out, complications of some arthritis can pose a serious threat to the patient’s life.
With arthritis, inflammation in the joints is usually manifested by redness, swelling, and severe pain that does not subside at rest, and sometimes, on the contrary, intensifies at night.
With arthrosis, pain manifests itself mainly only during movement or physical activity, and it may not be very strong (especially at the beginning of the disease). This is why people often develop the disease. In the second stage, pain appears even with a slight load, and in the third - even at rest. However, unlike arthritis pain, it may subside if the patient manages to find a comfortable position.
With arthrosis, a rough, dry crunch appears in the area of the affected joint, which occurs as a result of the destruction of the cartilage layer and friction of the bones. The further the destruction of the joint progresses, the stronger the crunching becomes.
With arthrosis, the range of motion in the affected joint decreases, while arthritis is characterized by stiffness throughout the body or in the joint.
Inflammation of the joints in arthritis is most often caused by infection or a malfunction of the immune system (autoimmune process); less often, arthritis indicates a general metabolic disorder.
Arthrosis is a whole group of joint diseases that have different origins, but similar development mechanisms. Most often, arthrosis affects large joints.
Based on localization, there are several types of arthrosis: gonarthrosis - deforming osteoarthritis (DOA) of the knee joint, coxarthrosis - DOA of the hip joint, DOA of the shoulder joint - these are the most severe types of arthrosis.
Arthrosis of small joints is less common and usually affects older people.
Arthrosis of the foot joints is common .
Polyarthrosis is characterized by damage to several joints at once.
Spondyloarthrosis is arthrosis of the joints of the spine (a common disease of the spine).
The main clinical symptoms of arthrosis are pain in the joint and decreased mobility. Specific symptoms and their severity are determined by the stage of arthrosis and depend on the degree of destructive changes in the joint.
Involutive arthrosis, associated with the aging of the body, develops according to the following scheme. The process begins with a violation of blood circulation in the capillaries of the subcartilaginous layer of the periosteum, as a result of which the nutrition of the cartilage is disrupted. Gradually, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, loses its elasticity, cracks appear on it, the smoothness of the articular surfaces is lost, and the amount of synovial fluid, which ensures the sliding of the articular surfaces, decreases. The result is pain and crunching when moving. Over time, the width of the joint space decreases, and osteophytes (bone spines) form on the articular surfaces. Ultimately, the joint becomes deformed and its range of motion decreases.
The development of this form of arthrosis occurs gradually over many years.
Other forms of arthrosis may develop by a different mechanism (for example, post-traumatic arthrosis), but the pathological changes in the joint will be similar.
If you have been diagnosed with arthrosis or osteoarthritis, you will face difficult treatment, but it is very important not to give up and not lose hope for a successful outcome.
In case of any joint pain, dysfunction or other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. A specialist who deals with joint problems is a rheumatologist.
The main goals of treatment are pain relief, restoration of the affected joint structures (mainly cartilage) and motor function of the joint. Success can only be achieved with timely initiation of therapy. If you start treating arthrosis at an early stage, it is possible not only to stop the development of the pathological process, but even to partially restore the destroyed cartilage.
If the cause of the disease is known, it is necessary to try to eliminate it. If you are overweight, you need to lose weight. If there is a metabolic or hormonal imbalance, efforts should be directed toward its normalization. If a problem arises due to work or sports stress, change your field of activity and do not overuse sports.
Selecting medications is the doctor’s task; you should not prescribe them yourself. Most often, combinations of the following groups of drugs are used for treatment:
Getting rid of excess weight is the most important link in the treatment of arthrosis, because excess body weight increases the load on diseased joints not only during movement, but also at rest. In patients who were able to lose weight, the disease progressed much more slowly than in those who did not succeed. However, there is another side to the coin. If you let the disease take its course, losing weight is unlikely to be possible at all. When a joint hurts badly, doing even the simplest exercises turns into torture.
Therefore, you need to act in several directions at once: try to lose weight, treat the underlying disease and change your lifestyle.
All patients with arthrosis are prescribed drugs from the group of chondoprotectors, which inhibit the destruction of cartilage and even restore it. The composition of such drugs includes the substances glucosamine and chondroetin sulfate (or a combination thereof), which help moisturize the cartilage, increase its elasticity, improve nutrition, and activate its regenerative processes. Such drugs also have an analgesic effect, but this effect develops some time after the start of use.
Since ancient times, folk remedies have been successfully used in the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis. Their main task is to normalize metabolism, stimulate regenerative processes of cartilage tissue, cleanse toxins, eliminate inflammatory processes in joints and periarticular tissues, eliminate pain and swelling in them. Such means include:
Sabelnik - relieves inflammation in the joint, reduces pain and swelling in the joint area.
Dandelion root – improves joint elasticity.
Willow bark - contains lignin, tannins, salicin glycoside, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, pectins.
Horsetail - helps with the restoration of cartilage tissue in joints.
Birch leaves - used as tinctures to remove uric acid from the kidneys and joints, and when used externally, are used for steaming and massage in the bathhouse.
Thyme – promotes collagen synthesis.
Wild strawberry – reduces swelling of tissues around joints.
The series has an anti-inflammatory effect; baths with the series improve blood circulation in the periarticular tissues.
Ointments made from juniper berries, nettle leaves and cow butter to relieve joint pain.
Ointment made from crushed horseradish root and Vaseline - relieves pain and reduces inflammation in the joint.
Jerusalem artichoke - for preparing a bath to relieve inflammation in the joint and reduce pain.
Burdock leaves - improve metabolism and remove salts from joints.
Herbal teas from thyme, lingonberry, rose hips, oregano and mint - to remove waste and toxins from the body.
Tincture of Golden Usa for oral administration
Cut 10 - 15 joints (plant rings), chop them lengthwise and crosswise, pour in 0.5 liters of vodka and leave in a dark place for two weeks.
Use one tablespoon 3 times a day, an hour before meals. You cannot drink or eat anything. The course of treatment is 7 – 10 days.
The same infusion can be used as a compress on a sore joint.
This ointment is prepared on the basis of Vaseline, baby cream or internal fat. Grind the leaves and stems of the Golden Us, squeeze the juice out of the resulting pulp and mix with cream or fat in a ratio of 1:3. Keep refrigerated. Used for rubbing sore joints with arthrosis and arthritis.
Aspirin honey for joint pain
Grind 10 tablets of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) into powder and mix thoroughly with 200 g of honey (preferably liquid). Place the mixture in a dark, warm place for 10 days, stirring occasionally. Lubricate the sore joints with the resulting product, then cover with polyethylene and wrap with a woolen scarf. Leave the compress on all night. Do the procedures until relief occurs.
This product may cause slight redness and a burning sensation, but this effect will subside over time. This recipe is not suitable for people with allergies to bee products or aspirin.
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.