Arthrosis-arthritis is a disease that combines arthrosis and arthritis of the joints. It is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of an inflammatory process and destruction of cartilage tissue.
Treatment of this disease is based on the use of medications that help eliminate inflammation, relieve pain and get rid of infection.
In addition, therapy for arthrosis-arthritis involves the use of traditional medicine, physiotherapy and massage.
Often, arthrosis-arthritis in the foot, hip or ankle joint develops due to:
Arthritis is characterized by signs of inflammation: redness of the skin in the area of the affected joint, swelling and pain. Sometimes not only local, but also a general increase in temperature and intoxication occurs.
Painful sensations do not depend on the position of the joint or the intensity of the load; they are pronounced and constant.
Arthrosis-arthritis of the shoulder joint occurs if a violation of the cartilaginous and ligamentous mechanism is combined with inflammation of the joint. However, in official medicine this term is not used, but despite this, doctors often give this diagnosis to their patients.
During the course of the disease, the patient experiences a dull, aching painful sensation, which intensifies with intense load on the joint. When arthrosis-arthritis of the shoulder joint and other joints is at the initial stage of development, it responds well to treatment. And the advanced form of the disease is poorly treated, so complications may arise, such as complete immobilization of the joint.
Problems in the foot, ankle and other joints can be diagnosed after MRI and radiography. In addition, the patient must undergo certain laboratory tests.
In addition to drug therapy, the doctor prescribes exercise therapy to strengthen the ligamentous-muscular system. At the same time, for a quick recovery, it is important to give up bad habits, balance your diet and reduce the intensity of stress on the affected joints.
Regarding traditional medicine, warming compresses based on decoctions of various plants bring good results:
In addition, for preventive purposes and to improve blood circulation in the legs, it is useful to walk barefoot on mown grass, sand or earth.
When the knee is damaged, molecular destruction of cartilage occurs, which leads to separation and thinning of the tissue. For this reason, the bone tissues of the knee joint are deformed, and growths and spines form on them in the knee joint. In this way, the bone tries to compensate for the loss of cartilage tissue.
Subsequently, the articular bone endings become bent and deformed. The primary symptoms of arthrosis-arthritis of the knee include swelling and the appearance of pain when putting stress on the diseased joint.
Subsequently, the pain becomes constant, which indicates the appearance of inflammation.
Treatment of the disease is aimed at:
In advanced cases, the knee joint is immobilized for the duration of therapy.
Damage to the ankle joint is observed much less frequently than to the hip or knee. As a rule, inflammation of the ankle develops due to congenital defects, degenerative processes and as a result of injuries received during sports.
Mostly, arthritis of the ankle joint appears for no reason, together with inflammation of other joints. At the same time, the motor ability of the ankle is limited, pulling and severe pain appears, focusing in the ankle area.
If not treated promptly, the pain can become chronic. In this case, treatment of the ankle joint is aimed at eliminating the infection that provokes inflammation, performing osteopathic acupressure and physical therapy.
Damage to the ankle can be primary (appears in a healthy joint) and secondary (develops as a result of disease or damage to the joint).
When the hip joint is damaged, the cartilage tissue is damaged and thinned. In addition, bone growths form, and the lumen of the joint narrows. Cysts may appear in the periarticular tissues.
The causes of the disease often lie in weakened immunity, various injuries, previous infectious diseases, hip fracture and congenital hip dislocation.
When the hip joint is affected, a person experiences discomfort during physical activity, and the functionality of the entire musculoskeletal system decreases.
Treatment is aimed at eliminating the infection that provoked the development of the disease and restoring ligamentous cartilaginous tissues.
At the same time, during treatment, the load on the sore leg should be reduced; this is the only way arthrosis-arthritis can be cured.
When the disease affects the foot area, its cartilage tissue changes and is destroyed. Metabolic processes are disrupted in them, the periarticular tissues become inflamed, and sometimes swelling appears.
Arthrosis often develops in the joint of the big toe. At the same time, its shape changes, and calluses form in areas subject to increased stress.
Due to pain, a person moves, relying on the outer part of the foot, as a result of which the total load is redistributed on the ankle, hip, knee and other joints, causing a change in gait and rapid fatigue, and the pain and crunching in the joints increases. A characteristic crunching sound is heard while walking. If these symptoms are not eliminated in time, then the person may become disabled.
As a rule, arthrosis-arthritis in the foot area occurs in people over 45 years of age. In addition, joint diseases often develop in athletes who engage in martial arts, jumping, gymnastics and running.
Diagnosing pathologies of the leg joints in many cases is complicated by the fact that their symptoms are similar to other diseases. Treatment of foot diseases includes:
To prevent pain, relieve inflammation and eliminate the source of infection, the doctor prescribes certain medications.
The very name arthrosis-arthritis suggests that this condition includes two pathological mechanisms: arthritis and arthrosis. Indeed, arthrosis-arthritis is a complex disease that combines both signs of destructive changes in joint tissues and an inflammatory component.
To use a more precise formulation, arthrosis-arthritis is arthrosis complicated by arthritis.
The main risk factors for developing joint diseases include:
If for arthrosis to occur, one or more factors usually must act over a long period of time, then an acute event is usually sufficient for inflammation to occur. This may be hypothermia, adverse weather conditions (frost, strong wind), joint injury, infectious disease of the body, stress or other influence.
Infectious arthritis usually develops after an acute respiratory viral or bacterial infection, otitis media, pneumonia, or urinary tract infection. Against the background of reduced immunity, the infection easily “sits” on a dystrophic joint. Occasionally, specific infectious processes occur. Usually tuberculosis. Syphilitic, brucellosis and other specific infectious arthritis are now very rare.
Traumatic arthritis develops after an acute injury (bruise, fracture or any other) or chronic injury (occupational hazards, sports). Such arthritis can be a complication of reconstructive operations (for example, arthrosis-arthritis of the temporomandibular joint after correction of the bite).
First, arthrosis occurs in the joint. Its causes are metabolic and blood supply disorders as a result of age-related changes, excessive stress on the joint (sports, excess weight, occupational hazards), injuries, hypothermia and some other pathological conditions.
Under the influence of these factors, cartilage begins to deteriorate, articular surfaces become deformed, and bone growths appear. All this causes even more damage to the joint. Symptoms of arthrosis occur (aching pain that disappears after rest, “crunching” when moving or other joint noises, limited mobility and a feeling of “seizing” of the joint). This process lasts for years and sooner or later leads to loss of joint function. Proper treatment started in a timely manner can prevent further progression of the process.
Arthrosis rarely runs smoothly. Since the blood supply and metabolism are impaired in a destructively altered joint, and besides, it is constantly injured by bone growths and osteophytes, inflammation easily occurs, i.e. arthritis. It can be of different nature depending on risk factors, the presence of concomitant pathology and individual predisposition. It can be rheumatoid, infectious, gouty or any other.
The state of “exacerbation” of arthrosis due to the addition of an inflammatory component (arthritis) is called arthrosis-arthritis.
The first rule: consult a doctor promptly. Many people try to diagnose themselves on their own, consulting friends or the Internet. Self-diagnosis is often wrong. This significantly delays going to the doctor and starting treatment. By this time, irreversible changes have often already developed in the joint. Don't forget, this could cost you your health. It is easier to contact a specialist in a timely manner to prescribe therapy, and then come only for a follow-up examination and treatment correction.
Diagnosis of arthrosis-arthritis includes:
During arthrosis there are three stages:
Can be eaten:
Eat healthy, joint-friendly foods. If it’s difficult to give up old habits, master the preparation of new dishes, learn to cook dietary food the way you like.
Proper nutrition will help achieve another important goal - normalizing weight.
Exercise therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures are stopped during an exacerbation. In this case, complete rest of the affected joint is indicated (if necessary, it is fixed). Sometimes examination and treatment in a highly specialized department or hospital is indicated (for example, in a phthisiopulmonology hospital or in a rheumatology department).
It is very important to limit yourself from stressful situations and give up bad habits. If this is difficult to do, find yourself a hobby, a new company, fill your life with pleasant things. In general, do everything you can to take your mind off your illness and problems.
In addition to following the above recommendations, you should equip your own home for your convenience, you can use devices to reduce the load on the joint (canes, knee pads, corsets and others), wearing orthopedic shoes is recommended. You can find a complete list of recommendations for arthrosis in the corresponding section of our website.
Symptoms of arthrosis-arthritis are expressed, as a rule, by pain (from moderate to severe), swelling, limitation of joint mobility up to its blocking, crunching, deformation, and accumulation of intra-articular fluid. Let's look at each symptom in detail.
Arthrosis is usually treated on an outpatient basis (at home), but if inflammation occurs, treatment in a specialized hospital may be necessary.
The goal of therapy for arthrosis is to restore blood supply and metabolism in the affected joint.
Treatment must include:
All recommendations of specialists must be followed in full. If you are actively taking medications, but do not follow a diet and do not limit the load on the joint, you are simply wasting your time and money.
Treatment must be comprehensive. Usually it includes basic therapy for arthrosis (painkillers and drugs that improve blood circulation, chondroprotectors and others). When arthritis symptoms appear, there is a need to add pathogenetic drug therapy depending on the etiology of inflammation (for example, antibiotics, antihistamines, or others). In some cases, after recovery, several courses of anti-relapse therapy are necessary, which are usually carried out in sanatoriums and resorts.
It is very important to follow all medical recommendations. Do not treat with one or two drugs or stop therapy as soon as symptoms subside. Remember, even if you are no longer bothered by pain and other manifestations of the disease (and symptoms usually stop after 5-9 days), then complete restoration of the joint occurs only after 45-75 days (the period depends on the etiology and severity of the process). Therefore, if treatment is interrupted prematurely, a relapse of the disease may occur.
The choice of a specific procedure depends on the affected joint, the stage and extent of the disease, and individual contraindications.
For arthrosis-arthritis use:
In severe cases, surgical treatment is used, which includes arthrodesis and arthroplasty. It also includes puncture of the joint (for example, for the purpose of washing the joint cavity during purulent processes, intra-articular administration of drugs).
Under no circumstances should you give up traditional methods of treatment (medicines, physiotherapy, etc.), but you shouldn’t neglect folk wisdom either. Remember, everything should be in moderation.
Often, doctors themselves prescribe, in addition to medications, herbal remedies, teas, compresses and other remedies. But this does not mean that you can completely abandon medications.
Arthrosis is a chronic disease that gradually leads to joint destruction. However, with proper and timely treatment, the process can be slowed down as much as possible. In this case, the destruction will be stopped and the symptoms of the disease will practically disappear. But such an outcome is very rare. Since the manifestations of the disease progress slowly, a person usually does not notice the symptoms for a long time, attributing them to ordinary fatigue, a cold and other conditions. The same cannot be said about arthritis. As soon as it appears, the process immediately becomes obvious. That is why the doctor often diagnoses arthrosis-arthritis, rather than ordinary arthrosis.
The more often inflammatory phenomena occur in the joint against the background of arthrosis, the faster the process of destruction progresses, irreversibly leading to loss of function. Therefore, it is very important to follow all the recommendations of specialists and protect sore joints from hypothermia, injuries and other unfavorable factors.
Do not try to prescribe treatment for yourself and do not refuse to visit a doctor!
You should also not dictate to a specialist which medications you should prescribe and which not. This always makes an unpleasant impression and is simply ugly. Do not forget, the doctor should be your ally, do not treat him with hostility and do not take all recommendations with hostility.
We understand that many come to the appointment already “savvy”, having read all the reference literature and many articles on the Internet. If you do not agree with something or do not understand, ask, a qualified specialist will always answer the question: why did he prescribe this particular medicine and not some other. There is no point in remaining silent either. If you still have any doubts, consult another doctor. But you shouldn’t go to specialists and “collect diagnoses” until you get the one you want to hear. You just might waste valuable time.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW! The only remedy for JOINT PAIN, arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, recommended by doctors! Read more.
Arthrosis arthritis of the foot is a disease that involves the patient exhibiting symptoms of both arthritis and arthrosis. Such a disease cannot be found in the list of modern diseases. But if the patient’s ligaments are disrupted and there is an inflammatory process in the joint, then doctors usually make just such a diagnosis. Arthrosis arthritis manifests itself during intense physical exertion, the pain is mainly aching in nature. At the first signs of the disease, consultation with a doctor and timely treatment are necessary. Treatment at the initial stage of the disease brings greater effect. If arthritis starts, then such negligence can lead to immobilization of the patient.
There are different reasons for the manifestation of this disease. One of the causative agents of arthritis is an infection that affects the joint and joint capsule. Osteoarthritis develops due to infectious infection. In some cases, the causative agent of the disease may be gonorrhea or syphilis. The cause of the disease may be a severe foot injury in the patient. If there is chronic inflammation of the injured joint and the patient undergoes regular physical activity, this can serve as a reason for the development of the disease.
Arthrosis arthritis can be caused by damaged connective tissue. If the body perceives it as foreign, then rejection and the production of antibodies will begin. As a result, body tissues will be destroyed even more. This form of the disease is quite common among children who have suffered from diseases caused by streptococcus.
Gout or psoriasis can cause complications that will be fertile ground for the development of arthrosis arthritis. Any specific diseases must be treated to the end so as not to deal with such consequences. Heredity plays an important role in the development of arthritis. If the patient’s relatives have had such a disease, then it is quite possible that the person is also susceptible to developing a similar disease.
Metabolic disorders or a reaction to certain medications can contribute to the development of arthrosis arthritis. Depending on the nature of the disease, there are several types of arthrosis and arthritis of the feet. Each patient experiences the disease differently, and therefore treatment must be selected by the doctor for each individual. If the symptoms of the disease are similar, similar medications or physiotherapeutic agents can be used.
It is not difficult to completely restore JOINTS! The most important thing is to rub this into the sore spot 2-3 times a day.
Arthrosis arthritis most often manifests itself through severe pain in the joints. It is quite difficult for the patient to walk, the joint begins to swell, and the skin around it turns red. Quite often other symptoms appear: increased temperature of the whole body or in the affected part of the foot, weakness throughout the body, chills, loss of appetite. If such symptoms occur, it is necessary to take a test for the content of leukocytes in the blood and determine the presence of C-reactive protein.
Unfortunately, even when symptoms appear, it is not always possible to clearly identify arthrosis arthritis in a patient and prescribe treatment for him. The symptoms of such a disease may vary due to the fact that the causes of the disease differ among patients. If the patient initially had gout and started taking alcoholic beverages, then arthritis of the foot can begin precisely on this basis. Moreover, the defeat will begin with the sore toe. Joint swelling can also be varied. The skin around the site of the disease may not only turn red, but also turn blue.
If the disease is not treated and progresses, then the symptoms will appear more and more and bother the patient. Joints tend to change their size and shape, which will make movement and any manipulation of the foot difficult. Arthrosis arthritis involves more than just deformation or destruction of a joint. This disease moves deeper into the joint capsule and begins the destruction of cartilage.
The faster and more severely the disease progresses, the more severe its symptoms become. The classification contains 3 stages of arthrosis arthritis.
At stage 1, the patient experiences minor pain in the affected area of the foot. With weak physical activity, such sensations may intensify. But in most patients, the first stage usually goes unnoticed.
At stage 2, pain is felt much stronger and almost constantly. Any physical activity leads to sharp, prolonged pain in the foot area. A bone begins to grow on the big toe.
At stage 3, arthrosis arthritis requires immediate treatment. Any physical activity is difficult for the patient. The bone on the big toe continues to grow. A noticeable deformity of the foot appears. The cartilage in the leg is destroyed.
First of all, with arthrosis arthritis, it is not the disease that needs to be treated, but the person himself. To do this, you need to determine the root cause of the patient’s foot injury. There are various treatment methods for such a disease, and only a doctor can prescribe anything. There are, of course, certain preventive measures that are the same for everyone. It is important to use comfortable shoes without heels. The patient should exclude foods and dishes high in salt from food. If a patient has problems with excess weight, then it is advisable to try to get rid of it. Extra pounds put extra stress on your joints.
To treat arthrosis arthritis, painkillers are used, which almost all patients need. The pain, of course, can have different strengths, but it is necessary to get rid of it first. After this, you can begin to fight inflammation of the joint capsule. For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used. If arthrosis is caused by an infectious disease, then the patient must be prescribed antibiotics.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by destruction of cartilage. To prevent this process, the patient is prescribed chondroprotectors. In addition to standard treatment methods, doctors usually recommend auxiliary procedures:
But before prescribing any drugs, the doctor must refer the patient for an MRI and X-ray. If necessary, the patient must undergo a certain series of tests. Many of the drugs that are used to stabilize a patient's health can have negative effects on other organs. Therefore, taking any medications should be agreed with your doctor.
If, in addition to pain in the joint, the patient also complains of weakness of the joint-muscular system, the doctor may prescribe him a course of therapeutic exercises. This is a set of specific exercises that are aimed at strengthening muscles and restoring joint flexibility. For successful treatment, you need to get rid of bad habits and watch your diet. Massage gives a good effect. After a course of procedures, there is an improvement in blood circulation in the legs.
Before you start using folk remedies, you should consult your doctor. Of course, treating foot arthrosis with folk remedies cannot produce such side effects as the use of medications, but it is better to once again find out the opinion of a specialist.
For the first procedure, you will only need a slice of lemon. Apply it to the sore spot and wrap your leg.
A sore foot needs good warming. Take 2 potatoes and grate them on a fine grater. Place the mixture in water and cook for 10 minutes. After this, take out the potatoes, place them in a plastic bag and apply them to the inflamed joint. Wrap the compress with a cloth and insulate it with a scarf. You can walk with this compress for several hours until the potatoes cool down.
Make a decoction of nettles and take this drink 2-4 times a week. With the help of nettle, you can improve the composition of your blood, cleanse it of toxins, and normalize blood circulation. Use an infusion of marsh cinquefoil. Pour 100 g of grass into 1 liter of vodka. Let the drink brew for 1 month in a dark, dry place. Once the tincture is ready, strain it through cheesecloth. Take the infusion 1 tsp. 3 times a day before meals.
You can use kefir to prepare compresses. You need to add a little chalk to it and lubricate the sore joint every day. To prepare a medicinal compress, finely chop aloe leaves, pour in 150 g of honey and 200 g of vodka. Apply the mixture to gauze and apply to the affected area of the leg overnight.
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All joint diseases are divided into 2 types - degenerative-dystrophic and inflammatory processes.
The degenerative-dystrophic type of joint damage is called arthrosis (osteoarthrosis). The former name of osteoarthritis is arthrosis-arthritis. Orthopedic surgeons perform surgical treatment of such diseases.
The suffix “itis” in medicine indicates inflammation of an organ. Inflammatory diseases of the osteoarticular system are treated by rheumatologists.
Ankle arthritis - symptoms of the disease
Inflammation is a reaction of a living organism to the influence of damaging factors. Inflammation is characterized by a combination of 5 classic signs: heat, pain, redness, swelling and dysfunction. The presence of these symptoms in the joint area indicates the presence of inflammation - arthritis.
With prolonged inflammation in the joint, the classic symptoms are erased. A characteristic sign of low-grade inflammation is a combination of pain and stiffness in the joints after being immobile (morning stiffness after a night's sleep, or after prolonged sitting).
Main causes of arthritis
Arthrosis-arthritis of the ankle joint often manifests itself when the biomechanics of movement are disturbed due to pain in the back and lower back. An unnatural change in a person’s posture due to pain when walking or resting, overstrain of the muscular system leads to excessive stress on the articular cartilage and bones; compresses blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic drainage pathways.
Arthrosis of the ankle can also develop after an acute inflammatory episode, a long course of chronic inflammation, several minor injuries or fractures of the bones that make up the joint.
If blood circulation is impaired, the release of synovial lubricant decreases, the cartilage becomes thinner, destroyed, and the sliding of surfaces worsens. This is the cause of pain and a reactive decrease in joint mobility. With arthrosis, the nerves of the foot are often pinched by edematous tissues.
Inflammation of joints, ligaments and tendons due to the body's immune system mistakenly attacking its own cells is called reactive arthritis. This type of inflammation occurs due to the presence of pathogens in the body. The name “reactive arthritis” reflects the nature of the process as a reaction to infection.
The immune system recognizes foreign invasion by the shape of protein molecules unique to specific microbes. Some dangerous microbes have surface proteins similar in structure to the structural proteins of human connective tissue cells. When enemy microbes invade, active immune cells multiply and antibody proteins are produced that destroy the invaders. Due to the similarity of surface structures, the own connective tissue of ligaments, tendons, synovium and joint capsules is also attacked. As a result, reactive inflammation develops.
To effectively treat arthritis, you need to influence all parts of the disease.
Rational changes in lifestyle, eating patterns and physical activity will provide half the success:
Methods of non-drug treatment and rehabilitation are necessarily used to restore the health and normal functioning of the ankle joint. Activities from this series are recommended to be carried out during a subsiding exacerbation or in the inactive phase of the disease. Physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, water, heat, electromagnetic effects, laser, and spa treatment are indicated to improve blood circulation in the joint and nourish the cartilage, reduce stiffness and prevent stiffness.
If the doctor has diagnosed ankle arthritis, the prescribed treatment will include taking certain medications.
Depending on the identified cause of arthritis, drugs will be selected from the general list:
The heavy artillery of rheumatology are biological drugs from the “anti-antibody” class. Such drugs are used for the most severe autoimmune arthritis only under the supervision of a rheumatologist in a specialized clinic.
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The inflammatory process in the joints of the foot can develop primarily (on its own) or against the background of concomitant infectious, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases. The etiology of foot arthritis is often associated with previous injuries: bruises, sprains, dislocations and fractures of the bones of the foot. At the same time, quite a long time can pass between injury and joint disease. In cases where there is an open fracture or injury to the foot, the inflammatory process can occur due to direct penetration of infection into the joint area. In some cases, arthritis of the foot develops as a result of chronic trauma to the joints of the foot, for example, when wearing uncomfortable shoes, flat feet, playing sports or ballet.
The development of infectious arthritis of the foot may be associated with viral, microbial, fungal or parasitic infections. Often in the patient's history it is possible to identify influenza or other acute respiratory viral infections that precede arthritis, exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis, pneumonia, intestinal infection, and gonorrhea. Sometimes the spread of infection to the joints of the foot occurs through the lymphatic system from septic foci located close to the joint cavity (with boils, erysipelas, osteomyelitis, infected wounds, insect and animal bites). Reactive arthritis of the foot, which debuts after a urogenital or intestinal infection, occurs with Reiter's syndrome.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the foot is a disease with a reliably unknown etiology. However, it is known that in this case, inflammatory-destructive changes develop due to damage to the synovial lining of the joints by immune complexes formed in the body. In arthritis associated with gout, the inflammatory process is initiated by the deposition of urate crystals in the joint cavity. Factors that provoke pathological changes in the joints of the foot are old age, excess weight, heavy loads, general and local hypothermia, smoking, immunodeficiency states, diabetes mellitus, etc.
Arthritis of various locations and etiologies have a number of common clinical signs: pain, changes in the appearance of the joint, dysfunction. At the same time, each form of the disease has its own specific features. Pain in the joints of the foot is usually constant, intensifies during walking or standing for a long time and subsides to some extent after rest. With gouty arthritis, a paroxysmal type of pain is noted. The soft tissues over the affected joints of the foot are swollen, the skin is hyperemic and hot to the touch. Dysfunction is reflected in limited mobility of the foot, a decrease in the volume and amplitude of movements. Loss of habitual mobility of the foot can be caused by both intense pain and the proliferation of osteophytes (secondary arthrosis of the foot). Movements in the joints of the foot are often accompanied by a characteristic crunching or clicking sound.
Specific symptoms of foot arthritis include morning stiffness, multiple joint damage, and characteristic deformities of the fingers and foot. Stiffness of movements in the foot is observed mainly in the morning after a long period of night rest. Patients themselves usually express this condition with the phrase “I can’t leave in the morning.” Pain sensations are added to the limitation of mobility, causing the gait to become lame; Sometimes patients cannot step on their feet at all for some time. Arthritis of the foot (with the exception of the post-traumatic form) is usually a manifestation of polyarthritis - an inflammatory lesion of the joints of various groups. Typical types of deformities that occur as a result of the growth of marginal osteophytes, ankylosis and subluxation of the joints include claw and hammer toes, and hallux valgus.
Typically, a patient is forced to consult a specialist (rheumatologist or orthopedist) because of intense pain that makes walking difficult. As part of the physical status study, the distal lower limb is examined; assessment of the position, shape of the foot, the nature of passive and active movements; palpation, determination of local temperature; gait analysis, etc.
In the diagnosis of arthritis, radiography of the foot, ultrasound of the joints, magnetic resonance and computed tomography are of decisive importance. In order to clarify the etiology of foot arthritis, immunological and biochemical blood tests are performed to assess the levels of CRP, rheumatoid factor, uric acid, and blood sugar. Diagnostic puncture of the small joints of the foot allows you to obtain and study synovial fluid. Arthritis of the foot should be distinguished from periarticular pathology - plantar fasciitis, heel bursitis, Morton's disease, etc.
Treatment of foot arthritis consists of etiopathogenetic and symptomatic drug therapy, a complex of restorative and rehabilitation measures; if necessary, surgical tactics. In all cases, it is necessary to limit the load on the foot and eliminate its chronic trauma. In the acute period of the disease, immobilization of the foot with a plaster splint and movement with the help of crutches may be indicated. A diet for foot arthritis is most often required by patients with gout.
For various forms of foot arthritis, the administration of oral, parenteral and local forms of NSAIDs, which have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, is indicated. If the infectious nature of foot arthritis is established, antibiotics are prescribed. In many cases, local intra-articular administration of glucocorticosteroids is required. During the recovery period, chondroprotectors, physical therapy (magnetic therapy, diadynamic therapy, amplipulse therapy, paraffin, ozokerite, therapeutic foot baths), physical therapy, and foot massage are prescribed. Arthritis of the foot places increased demands on the choice of shoes: they should be loose, low-heeled, with a hard sole. As a rule, the patient is recommended to constantly use arch supports and other orthopedic devices.
If arthritis leads to pronounced structural changes in the foot, metatarsophalangeal joint replacement or arthroplasty is performed. If persistent deformity develops, hammertoe resection may be necessary.
In the international classification of diseases, such a name as arthrosis-arthritis does not exist. However, this is a fairly common disease, which is a combination of arthrosis and arthritis, characterized by a violation of the ligamentous-cartilaginous apparatus simultaneously with the inflammatory process in the joint.
Arthrosis is a degenerative disease characterized by thinning of the articular ends of bones and destruction of cartilage tissue, which causes deformation of the joint and a significant limitation of its motor ability. Arthrosis of the joint can be caused by excess weight, prolonged and constant excessive loads on the joint, injuries and microtraumas of the joint, age-related disorders in the cartilage, disorders of mineral metabolism, congenital defects and hereditary predisposition, chronic inflammatory processes, operations on parts of the joint, wearing uncomfortable shoes.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joint, most often caused by infection, in which inflammation of the synovial membrane of the joint leads to pathological changes in the synovial fluid, which can subsequently lead to ankylosis (loss of mobility) of the joint. Arthritis can be caused by infections (including chronic ones), autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, neurological diseases, skin damage in the joint area, hypothermia and wearing uncomfortable shoes.
In the treatment of arthrosis-arthritis, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce pain and inflammation, antibacterial drugs to fight infection, and measures are also taken to restore microcirculation of blood and cartilage tissue. Along with drug therapy, physiotherapeutic methods, massage, therapeutic exercises, and herbal medicine are used.
Arthrosis-arthritis of the knee joint is characterized by the destruction of cartilage tissue, in which its thinning and separation occurs, as a result of which the bone tissue of the joint is deformed with the formation of spines and growths resulting from cartilage degeneration. At the initial stage of arthrosis-arthritis of the knee joint, pain appears when the joint is loaded and swelling in the knee area. The pain further intensifies, which indicates an increase in the inflammatory process in the joint.
With arthrosis-arthritis in the hip joint, damage and thinning of the cartilage tissue occurs, the lumen of the joint narrows, bone growths appear, and cyst formation in the periarticular areas is not excluded. The causes of arthrosis-artitis of the hip joint can be injuries, congenital hip dislocations, femoral neck fractures, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Signs of arthrosis-arthritis of the hip joint are manifested in a decrease in musculoskeletal function, especially during physical activity, accompanied by pain.
arthrosis-arthritis affects of the foot, the cartilage of small joints is deformed and destroyed, accompanied by metabolic disorders, inflammation of the periarticular tissues, and the appearance of swelling. The joints of the thumb are especially affected (the shape of the finger changes, and hard calluses appear in the area of greatest load). With arthrosis-arthritis of the foot, there is a high pain syndrome, forcing a person to change the support towards the outer edge of the foot, which leads to a redistribution of the total load to other joints of the leg, which causes rapid fatigue of the legs and changes in gait. When walking, a crunching sensation is felt in the joint. Arthrosis-arthritis of the joints usually appears in people aged 40 to 50 years, as well as in athletes: weightlifters, track and field athletes and martial artists.
Osteoarthritis can develop in any joint in the human body, including the wrist, shoulder, and temporomandibular joints. The cause of this complex disease in this case may be associated with disruption of the immune system, the degree of physical impact on the joint, and the presence of past infectious diseases.
Treatment of arthrosis-arthritis should begin immediately upon the appearance of the first symptoms and a thorough diagnosis of the disease, otherwise there is a high risk of disability due to complete immobility of the joints.
The causes are divided into primary, which arose due to direct damage to the joint, and secondary - from complications of concomitant somatic diseases. The primary causes of foot arthritis include:
The last four reasons are not only the causes of arthritis. But also factors that aggravate its course and contribute to the development of complications. Secondary causes of foot arthritis:
Many factors can be avoided by treating your health correctly and leading a healthy lifestyle. Timely consultation with a doctor can prevent the development of the disease.
Arthritis of the foot joints is a disease that contributes to the destruction of the joint structure; characteristic signs appear in the early stages:
Early signs are associated with the accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity, resulting in damage to the surrounding soft tissue. At first, the fluid will be serous; if infection or trauma occurs, there may be accumulations of pus or blood. According to the lesion, mono- and polyarthritis are distinguished. The cause of damage to several joints at once is rheumatism. In this case, both the right and left feet are affected.
If treated incorrectly or not consult a doctor in a timely manner, arthritis can cause the development of arthrosis, a dystrophic disease in which the cartilage of the joint is destroyed. The consequences of this disease are extremely serious. Often, restoring normal mobility in the affected limb is only possible through surgery. In this case, the destroyed cartilage is replaced with artificial one.
Arthrosis-arthritis is also a complication, characterized by an inflammatory process combined with mechanical damage to the joint-ligamentous apparatus. It manifests itself in the form of a dull pain that first occurs when the affected limb is loaded. With further deterioration of the condition, pain occurs at rest.
It is not difficult to identify foot arthritis by analyzing complaints and examining the patient. For instrumental confirmation, X-rays and MRI are used. The examination clearly reveals the presence of fluid in the joint cavity. X-ray examination uses a contrast method.
In order to find out the reasons that caused this kind of disease, a blood test is performed to determine C-reactive protein (for rheumatism), uric acid salts (gout). They also collect data on the presence of chronic and infectious diseases and possible injuries.
How to treat foot arthritis should only be decided by a doctor. Do not self-medicate, as this can worsen your condition and the course of the disease.
The essence of treatment is to relieve inflammation, eliminate pain and restore affected tissues.
Treatment of foot arthritis is divided into several stages:
As a medicinal treatment, a complex of drugs is used: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, antibiotics and agents that restore the affected areas of the joint.
The decision to prescribe a drug is made only by the doctor, who will be based on the symptoms, severity of the disease and individual intolerance to a particular drug.
Puncture is used when there is a sufficiently large volume of fluid in the joint capsule. If the condition worsens, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are administered orally, and if an infectious process occurs, then antibiotics. The puncture significantly improves well-being, pain and swelling are reduced.
These types of therapies are used to treat “from the inside.” To consolidate the results of treatment for arthritis of the feet, exercise therapy, physiotherapy, and acupuncture are used. Physiotherapy includes heating, magnetic therapy, massage and electrophoresis.
To reduce the load on the joint, it is recommended to use special orthopedic shoes and instep supports. For severe pain or injury, it is better to use a cane.
In case of severe deformation and damage to the cartilage, endoprosthetics is used.
It is necessary to take into account all the symptoms, and then the treatment will be selected correctly.
The basis of the diet for arthritis is to reduce the acidity of the body. It is recommended to eat a large amount of vegetables daily. In advanced cases or exacerbation of foot arthritis, it is recommended to completely switch to raw vegetables.
First of all, you should stop smoking and drinking alcohol and caffeine. For a diet for gout, you should avoid foods that contain substances that synthesize uric acid. These are offal, fried foods, beans and cauliflower.
For all types of arthritis, you should increase the amount of calcium in your diet. This is done by taking dairy products. To restore cartilage, you should add fatty fish and seafood to your diet. The menu should be varied, including essential vitamins and minerals.
Fasting days on boiled rice help remove excess fluid. Effectively removes synovial fluid and salt.
Diet for arthritis is a good addition to the main treatment.
To alleviate the course of the disease, you can use folk remedies. You should warm up sore joints using salt baths. Sand can also be used for these purposes. The use of warming procedures is strictly prohibited if you have purulent arthritis. A decoction of chamomile and linden will help with chronic inflammation.
It is taken one teaspoon before meals for a course of one month. You can drink decoctions of elderberry, nettle, and yarrow, which will relieve pain and relieve inflammation; they also have a bactericidal effect.
Paraffin baths have proven themselves to be effective in relieving pain associated with signs of arthritis and reducing swelling. All traditional methods should in no case replace traditional treatment. This is an adjuvant therapy.
To prevent the disease you need to follow the rules: