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What treats arthrosis

30 Sep 18

Which doctor should I go to with arthrosis?

At the first symptoms, immediately consult a doctor, he will help you prescribe the correct treatment

The main thing in the effectiveness of treatment is to visit the hospital on time. Constantly postponing a trip to the clinic can end in failure. You can find out which doctor treats arthrosis from the information below.

When should you go to the hospital?

Joint symptoms can signal serious types of arthrosis, which can cause permanent joint damage if treatment is delayed. Potential signs of the disease that scream for an immediate visit to your doctor for further diagnosis:

  • pain, swelling, or stiffness in one or more joints;
  • the skin feels warm and slightly red;
  • difficulty moving;
  • fever and headache.
  • Typically, such signs indicate dysfunction of the joint, but sometimes rare and moderate pain does not require special treatment or an urgent visit to the doctor. When signs of arthrosis appear, it is better to talk to a specialist, clarifying whether there is a health risk with arthrosis, how to react and which doctor to go to if new symptoms appear. Mandatory diagnostic measures are necessary if clicks and crunches are felt, as well as if the joint has changed in appearance, that is, deformation has occurred for which treatment will be drastic (surgery).

    Who does the primary diagnosis?

    The primary diagnosis of joint arthrosis is carried out by a therapist. The therapist is a specialist with a broad focus. Most patients visit a therapist only because doctors such as arthrologist and rheumatologist are simply not available in many clinics or are paid for. At the first visit, the doctor clarifies the symptoms and conducts a physical examination of the diseased joints. Suspecting arthrosis, the therapist prescribes x-ray, biochemical and immunological studies. After receiving the images and a detailed response from blood tests, the doctor refers the victim to a more specialized specialist or solves the problem on his own.

    It is mandatory to contact a rheumatologist, arthrologist or orthopedist if the development of a degenerative disease has reached the third and fourth stages. Usually, advanced pathology is immediately visible, the patient limps, and the quality of life decreases. The therapist, without hesitation, must recommend contacting a rheumatologist, having previously directed the patient to undergo an x-ray.

    Rheumatologist - area of ​​specialization and assistance with this disease

    The main doctor who treats arthrosis is a rheumatologist. The specialist supervises the entire therapy process. A rheumatologist has an undeniable advantage: he not only treats diseases of the musculoskeletal system, but is also always aware of the release of new drugs for its therapy. They often act as consultants and take on the treatment of patients. A rheumatologist is a specialist in the field of non-surgical treatment of arthrosis. Having visited the doctor for the first time, he will review the results of the preliminary examination that the therapist requested and may prescribe a re-examination to assess the extent of the damage. For example, MRI, CT.

    The results will be carefully studied to determine the cause of the disease. What infection or virus caused it? The rheumatologist then develops an individual treatment plan. Recommendations for therapy include the use of medications and referral to exercise therapy. Sometimes arthrosis of the joints is difficult to diagnose even for a rheumatologist; several visits may be required to fully understand the underlying process of destruction of cartilage tissue.

    How can an arthrologist and orthopedic surgeon help?

    An arthrologist is a specialized specialist whose activities are aimed at studying various pathological conditions of the joints. Such doctors work in private clinics; it is quite difficult to find an arthrologist in a public clinic. The doctor specializes in conservative and surgical methods of treating arthrosis. It is worth contacting him if you have been diagnosed with the last stage of development of joint arthrosis.

    Which doctor treats arthrosis surgically? An orthopedist deals with surgical treatment of the disease. Most often, this specialist is consulted when a joint is injured or injured. The help of an orthopedic surgeon is required if conservative methods of therapy have not brought the desired results or a rheumatologist has diagnosed stage 3-4 of the development of a degenerative-dystrophic disease.

    Often, many patients immediately end up on the operating table, only because they previously ignored the symptoms and went to the clinic at the wrong time. An orthopedic surgeon can perform two types of surgery. The first includes procedures aimed at restoring and preserving the patient’s joint tissue:

  • arthrodesis is an artificial analogue of articular ossification;
  • arthroplasty is prescribed in the absence of mobility; it is the most popular type among such operations;
  • arthrotomy or capsulotomy involves dissection, that is, opening the articular cavity and exposing the articular structures;
  • arthrosis is used when it is necessary to strengthen and fix the joint. This operation creates a brake to limit mobility in the joint, and further treatment is carried out using conservative methods.
  • The second type of operation is joint replacement. It is carried out when there is no point in preserving the tissue, because the disease has gone too far and drastic treatment measures are necessary. Endoprosthetics is a high-tech method of therapy that allows you to replace joints damaged by disease with implants. The effectiveness of joint replacement surgery has been proven by years of surgical practice by many specialists.

    How can a physical therapist and massage therapist help?

    With a pathology such as arthrosis, which doctor can help restore mobility? Physiotherapeutic procedures are an important part of treatment. Physiotherapy will help patients become more active. Exercise therapy specialists are experts in the treatment of joint and muscle problems. Physiotherapists tailor an exercise program that specifically targets behavior in difficult situations to overcome problems. They also help cope with pain. Thanks to exercises and therapeutic and preventive physical education, mobility improves and swelling goes away.

    The therapeutic effects of restorative massages help to develop large and small joints after surgery. The massage complex helps the victim to quickly rehabilitate and get better.

    What to do if your joints hurt: which doctor treats arthrosis

    People who are concerned about pain and stiffness in their joints often do not know which doctor to contact. There is not a specialized arthrology hospital in every city, and not every arthrologist sees an arthrologist. But with joint diseases, you can go to other doctors. The main thing is not to turn a blind eye to alarming symptoms, do not put off visiting a doctor and do not try to cure diseased joints on your own: advanced osteoarthritis is difficult to treat. Why and how arthrosis develops, which doctor treats this disease, what is the difference between a rheumatologist, arthrologist and orthopedist, where does an arthrologist see in Moscow - this article is devoted to the answers to these questions.

    Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis) is a non-inflammatory (unlike arthritis) diseases of the joints, in which the articular tissues undergo degenerative-dystrophic changes:

  • the composition and volume of synovial (intra-articular) fluid changes;
  • articular cartilage dries out and becomes thinner;
  • the articular surfaces of the bones are exposed and deformed;
  • the synovial membrane is degenerated;
  • muscles and tendons are involved in the process.
  • The hip and knee joints are most often affected; their diseases are called coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis. Other large joints of the limbs - shoulder, elbow, ankle - are also susceptible to this disease. Degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints of the spine is called spondyloarthrosis, it is one of the three most common types of arthrosis. Less common are diseases of small peripheral joints: arthrosis of the jaw joint, facial joint, hands, and feet. It makes no sense to look for which doctors treat arthrosis of the shoulder joint and which ones treat small joints of the foot; the specialization is not so narrow. Treatment can be carried out by medical and surgical specialists, but which doctor treats osteoarthritis depends not on the location of the disease, but on its severity.

    Early symptoms of arthrosis include joint pain during exercise and morning stiffness. Gradually, pain and limitation of range of motion increase. Then comes the stage of pronounced bone deformations. If the knee joint is affected, the affected limb becomes bent, deviates from the axis, shortens due to muscle wasting, and lameness develops. Coxarthrosis also leads to lameness. Weakening of the shoulder muscles due to shoulder arthrosis is fraught with shortening and loss of motor function of the arm. Osteoarthritis of the fingers leads to the fact that a person cannot perform everyday operations, and fine motor skills suffer. When the maxillary, mandibular, and facial joints are affected, the face becomes asymmetrical, making it difficult to eat and talk.

    Various reasons can lead to the development of arthrosis: injuries, excessive stress, endocrine disorders, age-related changes. So among those who treat arthrosis, there may be not only specialists in joint diseases, but also doctors of other profiles, for example, an endocrinologist.

    When and who to contact

    Who is at risk for osteoarthritis, which doctor treats this disease and who should be contacted first for osteoarthritis? It is especially important to know which doctor treats arthrosis for those who may need his advice and help at any time. The risk of joint disease is higher if relatives have suffered from it or if the person himself:

  • leads a sedentary lifestyle;
  • engages in heavy physical labor and professional sports;
  • over 50 years old;
  • suffers from diabetes or other endocrine disorders, autoimmune, vascular diseases;
  • suffered an injury some time ago;
  • is overweight.
  • Such patients should undergo regular preventive examinations with a rheumatologist or at least a therapist.

    A general practitioner is a general practitioner who knows best which doctors treat arthrosis. It is to the local doctor that you should go if you suspect that you are developing arthrosis of the joints and do not know which doctor to see. He will order tests, refer you to a specialist from the same clinic, and if there is an arthrology hospital in the city, he will recommend that you undergo an examination there. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis usually develops a couple of years after the injury, but sometimes the disease is separated from the injury by only a few months; it begins with acute manifestations and rapidly progresses. In this case, they usually turn to a traumatologist. He directs the patient to an X-ray and, depending on the presence of surgical pathology, carries out treatment himself or recommends another specialist.

    Which specialists treat arthrosis?

    It is difficult to unequivocally answer the question of which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis. It could be:

    Key specialists

    Most often, a patient complaining of joint pain and limited movement consults a rheumatologist. This is a specialist who diagnoses and treats a wide range of joint and connective tissue diseases. It can treat not only arthritis and arthrosis, but also bursitis, synovitis, spondylosis, osteoporosis, and a number of systemic diseases. An arthrologist has a narrower specialization: joint diseases. Not every clinic, diagnostic center or hospital can boast of having such a specialist on staff. In the capital, they provide consultations in the SM-Clinic network; the arthrological hospital NPO SKAL also offers the services of arthrologists, orthopedists, and neurologists.

    If a rheumatologist provides exclusively therapeutic treatment, then an arthrologist is a surgical specialist. There is also the specialty of rheumatologist-arthrologist, which means: this specialist can resort to both conservative and radical methods of treatment.

    An orthopedist is also a surgical specialist. He deals with various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system: congenital dysplasias, developmental defects, injuries and post-traumatic conditions. A physician or rheumatologist may refer a patient to an orthopedist in the following cases:

  • a disease of dysplastic (this etiology is typical for coxarthrosis) or post-traumatic nature;
  • osteoarthritis develops against the background of spinal curvature, flat feet and other orthopedic pathologies, treatment requires their correction;
  • the patient is advised to wear orthopedic shoes, orthoses, bandages and similar products;
  • deforming osteoarthritis has reached stage 3, radical intervention is required.
  • An orthopedist deals not only with the treatment, but also with the prevention of arthrosis. Correction of dysplasia, posture, flat feet in children and adolescents, timely adequate treatment of injuries reduce the risk of developing this disease. Conservative treatment is carried out within the framework of outpatient orthopedics, operative treatment - within the framework of surgery. One of the areas of surgical orthopedics is joint replacement. Surgical treatment of arthrosis can be carried out not only by an arthrologist or an orthopedic surgeon, but also by a specialist in maxillofacial surgery - in case of damage to the temporomandibular (TMJ) facial joint.

    A rheumatologist prescribes drug treatment for arthrosis and arthritis, and refers the patient to a number of specialists who develop a non-drug treatment regimen and implement it. This:

  • exercise therapy specialist;
  • physical therapy specialist;
  • rehabilitologist.
  • Patients are also advised to consult a nutritionist, since proper nutrition is important for successful treatment. Depending on the reasons that led to the development of osteoarthritis, treatment of the underlying disease can be carried out in parallel. An endocrinologist deals with hormonal disorders, and a phlebologist or angiologist deals with vascular diseases. Which doctor treats spondyloarthrosis? As a rule, the same as arthrosis of peripheral joints. But since this is a pathology of the spine, it can also be dealt with by a more specialized specialist - a vertebrologist. Spondyloarthrosis often occurs in combination with osteochondrosis and is accompanied by neurological disorders, in which case the help of a neurologist is necessary.

    Specialized Arthrology Clinic

    Typically, treatment of arthrosis is carried out on an outpatient basis, with the exception of sanatorium-resort treatment and operations. But with a complicated course of the disease, hospitalization in a hospital may be indicated. Such services are provided by the only specialized arthrology center in Russia, the scientific and practical association “SKAL” (this abbreviation stands for “specialized course outpatient treatment”). The hospital is located near the Proletarskaya metro station. You can get detailed information and make an appointment through the official website of the clinic. For patients:

  • comprehensive hardware diagnostics and organization of consultations;
  • computer traction therapy;
  • physiotherapeutic procedures;
  • exercise therapy classes under the supervision of instructors.
  • Various specialists treat joint diseases. Patients who live in a small town with only one medical facility can contact a general practitioner. This is a generalist who knows the general principles of treating arthrosis. But it is better if a rheumatologist diagnoses, prescribes and coordinates treatment. It is usually not possible to undergo closed observation with only one specialist; arthrosis is closely related to other diseases. At the early stage of arthrosis, conservative therapy is quite effective; in advanced forms, the services of an orthopedic surgeon are required.

    What does a rheumatologist treat?

    Hello, today I want to tell you about my experience of treatment with a rheumatologist. It’s not that I haven’t heard of this profession and the diseases he treats before. Although not directly, my work is related to medicine. Five years of experience as a statistician allowed me to study all medical terms and specialties. But I never thought that I would have to turn to this specialist with a problem.

    What does a rheumatologist treat?

    What does a rheumatologist treat?

    First, I’ll tell you who a rheumatologist is and what diseases people turn to this specialist for. I will not write about all health problems; I will only touch on those that my friends and relatives have encountered.

    So, a rheumatologist is a specialist who treats diseases of the joints and connective tissues.

    First of all, these are arthritis of different parts of the body - from the shoulder joint to the ankle. There are different forms, one of them is rheumatism. A disease that appears after a flu or cold. When, two weeks after complete recovery, the child develops fatigue, headaches, lethargy, fever and often pain in the heart area.

    Usually after two weeks joint pain appears. Children of school age are more often susceptible to the disease.

    From my friend’s experience, I will say that it is better to consult a rheumatologist at the first sign. She treated her 12 year old son. It got to such a state that it was painful for the boy to step on his feet. The reason, as the rheumatologist later said, lay in untimely treatment of a streptococcal infection in the nasopharynx. These bacteria are not to be trifled with. For diseases of the throat and nose, it is better to do an analysis - a swab from the throat for flora to identify the cause (the presence of certain bacteria). So, in this case it got to the point where it was necessary to prescribe corticosteroids to treat rheumatism. Although in other cases it was possible to get by with antibacterial drugs and anti-inflammatory drugs. Rheumatism can develop into a chronic form of the disease, so after suffering from arthritis, it is better not to get a cold and during an epidemic, wear masks and use other preventive measures.

    Bacteria are not always the cause of arthritis. Sometimes it is very difficult to diagnose the cause of joint pain. Then the rheumatologist prescribes a comprehensive examination. After all, there can be many causes of the disease, these are:

    • allergic reactions;
    • heredity;
    • failure of the immune system;
    • improper metabolism;
    • ever suffered trauma.
    • How to Diagnose Arthritis

      Often people with joint pain immediately (or not immediately) turn to a traumatologist. This is correct, because it is necessary to exclude a traumatic cause of the disease.

      In controversial cases, consultations with the following specialists are also necessary:

      • infectious disease specialist;
      • dermatologist;
      • phthisiatrician (to exclude tuberculous bone lesions).
      • If the picture of the disease is already clear, then the rheumatologist, as a rule, does not refer to the above specialists. It is enough to read the patient’s history, study the nature of the pain and conduct an external examination. You will also have to undergo tests.

        When sick, ESR is usually elevated. If the arthritis is allergic in nature, then the esonaphil level is also high.

        Helps identify the inflammatory process and its nature, the presence of gout.

        The following examinations can be used for diagnosis:

      • X-ray;
      • Ultrasound;
      • Tomography;
      • Electromyogram.

      In case of arthrosis, crunching sounds are heard

      The second most popular disease treated by a rheumatologist are various types of arthrosis. This disease often affects older people. The cause of the pain is wear and tear of the joints and connective tissue (cartilage). In such cases, a crunching sound is heard in some part of the body.

      Risk factors for the disease:

    • excessive physical activity;
    • overweight;
    • work associated with low mobility;
    • heredity.
    • The cause of my husband’s knee joint disease is listed in the first paragraph of this list. Trying to get my body into ideal condition in a short time, I overdid it in the gym, plus daily jogging and repairs.

      How to avoid illness (advice from a rheumatologist):

    • Physical activity, but not uncontrolled. If you go to a gym or gym, you need an experienced instructor.
    • No excess weight, because this is an additional load on the musculoskeletal system.
    • Be careful when doing physical activity, running, walking in icy conditions, etc. In other words, you need to rule out injuries.
    • It is important not to confuse arthrosis with arthritis. After all, the symptoms are similar. But the reasons, as you may have noticed, are completely different. Arthrosis is in no way associated with inflammatory processes. A blood test does not reveal any significant changes in composition.

      What are the diagnostic methods?

      Puncture is a scary word; it means taking fluid from the joints. The procedure is performed with pinpoint precision. The slightest wrong movement brings pain.

      X-ray of the joint is the main diagnostic procedure, but it is most effective in late forms of the disease. In the early stages, the rheumatologist may not notice a joint deformity or a gap in the bone.

      How does a rheumatologist treat arthrosis?

      The first question that arises with arthrosis is how to relieve pain. It’s good that we turned to a specialist right away, as it turned out to be at the first stage of arthrosis. The pain was not very severe, but caused discomfort. Some deformation of the knee joint was also observed.

      The rheumatologist prescribed oral tablets - Ketorol or Ibuprofen. But as we later found out, these drugs, when used for a long time, have a bad effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Therefore, on the advice of a doctor, they used Celecoxib. Although it is more expensive, it still does less harm. By the way, people with high blood pressure should not use this drug. It is also available in the form of ointments. Heparin was prescribed to increase blood circulation in the joints. For unbearable pain, hormones (dexamethasone) were injected together with analgesics.

      Exercise therapy and physiotherapy procedures

      The main mistake of people with arthrosis is reducing activity. I feel sorry for the joint. Therefore, after five days, after pain relief, you need to do physical therapy. The patient must be convinced that without physical activity recovery is impossible. The load should be gradual, without sudden jerks.

      As for physical procedures, a device with UHF rays helped us well. This treatment prevents replenishment from moving to other tissues and fights free radicals.

      Now we try to choose resorts with mud therapy, because it primarily treats joint diseases.

      There is no special diet for this disease, but the rheumatologist advised me to stick to a healthy diet. On the doctor’s recommendation, cottage cheese and dairy products often appeared on the table.

      Experts have a lot of controversy around jellied meat. But we like this product, so we use it and hope that it will be beneficial.

      Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely cure arthrosis, but it is better not to remind the patient about this again. However, it is possible to increase the period of remission when there are no pain syndromes. This can be done if you use several treatment methods: medication, physical therapy and physiotherapy.

      Which doctor will help you get rid of arthrosis?

      Many people wonder which doctor treats arthrosis. It is worth noting that at the end of the last century, this disease often bothered middle-aged people and pensioners; now it occurs in patients aged 20 to 30 years. Experts associate the widespread prevalence of joint pathology with poor ecology in large cities, constant stress and an unhealthy lifestyle.

      The main thing about osteoarthritis

      Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive joint disorder. The local therapist will tell you which doctor treats arthrosis, and whom the patient should contact first.

      Doctors identify the following symptoms of the disease:

    • pain when moving or strenuous physical activity;
    • cracking joints;
    • deterioration of mobility and stiffness in movements;
    • joint deformity;
    • general weakness;
    • increase in body temperature.
    • If you have such symptoms, you should contact a rheumatologist, orthopedist and arthrologist. Patients with arthrosis, which arose due to an acute inflammatory process, mainly go to rheumatologists. Its cause is the patient’s recent infection, which has weakened his immunity.

      Those people who have not improved after a course of treatment turn to orthopedists. Their main treatment option is arthroplasty or the installation of a joint prosthesis.

      An arthrologist specializes in pathological changes in joints.

      The development of osteoarthritis is influenced by the following factors:

    • disorders of metabolic processes in the body;
    • the presence of excess weight, which overloads the joints;
    • poor nutrition;
    • inflammation in the joints;
    • frequent colds;
    • genetic predisposition;
    • venereal diseases;
    • intoxication of the body.
    • Complications of the disease

      If the patient does not consult a doctor in time, he may experience one of the following complications:

    • complete destruction of the hip or knee joint;
    • deformation of the affected area;
    • patient's disability;
    • dysfunction of the spine;
    • decreased quality of life.
    • You should see a specialist immediately as soon as the following signs of arthrosis appear:

    • Fatigue quickly after light physical exertion.
    • Severe pain in the knee or hip joints.
    • Swelling of tissues.
    • A crunch when moving that was previously absent.
    • Changing the shape of the joint.
    • The disease in the early stages can be cured in a fairly short time, protecting yourself from complete destruction of the joint.

      Who treats osteoarthritis and gonarthrosis?

      To treat osteoarthritis, the treating specialist, a rheumatologist, prescribes painkillers.

      For reference! The most effective are centrally acting analgesics. They are released only with a prescription from the attending physician, since they are equated to psychotropic narcotic substances.

      To prevent further development of the inflammatory process of the membrane of the hip or shoulder joint, intra-articular administration of corticosteroid hormonal agents will be required.

      Non-steroidal drugs will help relieve pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis. These include Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. The course of treatment does not last long, since these medications have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract, causing erosions and ulcers.

      You can improve the condition of cartilage tissue and prevent the destruction of the knee or hip joint with the help of chondroprotectors. The most common are chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate. They should be taken for more than 1 year.

      Fact! Chondroprotectors strengthen joints, curing osteoarthritis.

      In case of impaired metabolism, a specialist prescribes intra-articular oxygen for the treatment of gonarthrosis. Often, 4 procedures with breaks between them of 2 days are enough. To eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of osteoarthritis, laser irradiation is widely used. It relieves inflammation, pain, and also has a stimulating effect.

      To treat gonarthrosis of the knee joint, a specialist prescribes hormonal drugs in the form of injections or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

      Gonarthrosis often occurs in women. This is due to insufficient physical activity, as a result of which blood flow to the knee joints is reduced, and blood stagnation appears in the legs. In addition, gonarthrosis can occur after injuries or numerous microtraumas associated with sports and professional activities.

      For gonarthrosis, a rheumatologist prescribes various ointments and injections. In some cases, he allows the combination of drug treatment with the use of folk remedies. One of the most common methods of treating osteoarthritis or gonarthrosis is rubbing. You can use walnuts for this. To prepare a healing solution, you should mix the nut partitions with 70% medical alcohol or vodka.

      An effective remedy for hip or shoulder pathology is treatment with ointment prepared at home. To do this, you need to take 1 chicken egg yolk, 100 g of vinegar, 50 g of vegetable oil and 25 g of purified turpentine. Mix all components thoroughly and then apply to the sore spot as a compress. You should carefully follow the doctor’s recommendations and take the ingredients in the proportions he indicated in the recipe.

      To diagnose arthrosis of the shoulder, hip or knee joints, you should first take an x-ray of the area that is causing the patient pain and discomfort. An x-ray will show what degenerative changes have occurred in the area of ​​articular cartilage. In some cases, X-rays alone are not enough to make an accurate diagnosis, so an MRI of the joint is necessary. This will help the specialist assess the condition of the soft tissues of the shoulder or knee joint.

      If an orthopedist discovers a chronic course of the disease in a patient with arthrosis, he will issue referrals for an appointment with an endocrinologist, gynecologist, or hematologist. If rheumatoid pathologies are detected, the patient needs to consult a rheumatologist.

      Which doctor should I consult for arthrosis of the hip joint?

      When visiting the clinic, the patient is referred to an orthopedist or surgeon. They often prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal drugs, corticosteroids and a set of physiotherapy treatments to patients with arthrosis. You cannot do without taking medications based on chondroitin and glucosamine. The specialist also recommends taking a course of therapeutic massage. A manual therapy doctor will be able to eliminate pain using acupuncture on biologically active points.

      For reference! In large clinics, the patient may be given a referral to an arthrologist. But this only occurs in big cities.

      To achieve a positive result during treatment, it is recommended that each specialist take part in the course of therapy. The surgeon will check the condition of the tissues. The rheumatologist will prescribe the main medications and monitor the treatment process. If arthrosis of the hip joint appears as a result of injury, then you cannot do without consulting a traumatologist.

      When the main cause of the pathology has been eliminated, you need to contact a rheumatologist. An orthopedist monitors the patient’s rehabilitation period. He will prescribe medications that will speed up the treatment process and tell you what exercises to do, focusing on the individual characteristics of each patient.

      Which doctor treats arthrosis

      Arthrosis is a common disease in people over 35 years of age. In order to begin treatment of the disease on time, it is worth knowing the answer to the question “which doctor treats arthrosis?” and the symptoms. Often patients are referred to a general practitioner with a problem. This is the wrong treatment tactic.

      It is better to consult an arthrologist who treats such diseases. This is a rare specialization of doctors; they are not found in hospitals in all cities. If you have any problems, you should contact a traumatologist, surgeon, rheumatologist, or orthopedist.

      Arthrosis is the destruction of cartilage in the joints of various parts of the body. The process takes place gradually; a person suffering from the initial stages of the disease does not realize that he is sick. Although it’s worth starting treatment already then.

      A healthy joint has a smooth, elastic surface. With the help of joint fluid, it moves smoothly, gently, and serves as a “shock absorber” for the human skeleton. They distribute the load evenly across the skeleton and make movements smooth.

      When inflammation occurs, the cartilage covering the joints loses its shape, becomes rough, and has an uneven surface. Small pieces of cartilage get into the joint fluid, causing pain when moving. More often, with arthrosis of the lower extremities, pain appears in the hip and knee joints; there are cases of damage to the foot and toes. Symptoms of the disease increase gradually.

      Arthrosis of the legs occurs:

    • knee joint (gonarthrosis);
    • feet;
    • hip joint (coxarthrosis);
    • several joints at the same time (polyarthrosis).
    • Classification by type depends on the location of the disease; symptoms will be expressed in this area. The disease ranks third after cancer and cardiovascular disorders in terms of prevalence. Until the age of 60, twice as many women suffer from these symptoms as men. After the age limit, the number of people who develop arthrosis is the same among women and men.

      Signs of arthrosis after 60 years appear in all people. The destruction of cartilage depends on the aging of the body. It is impossible to be completely cured, but you can stop the process that leads to the development of the disease and improve your quality of life. The main thing is to choose the right treatment - this will be done by a doctor in this area of ​​​​diseases, identifying the symptoms of arthrosis.

      One of the main reasons for the appearance and development of symptoms is old age. This cause cannot be prevented or stopped. The only thing is to adhere to certain life rules, they will help to show minimal signs that will not seriously affect the person’s way of life, the symptoms will subside.

      Genetic predisposition plays a huge role in the occurrence of the disease. If the parents had the disease, the likelihood of arthrosis developing in children is greater, and the risk of manifestation at an early age increases.

      Excess weight often causes the development of arthrosis of the lower extremities, especially the knee cartilage. Excess body weight puts excessive stress on the legs, cartilage is destroyed faster, this leads to negative consequences.

      Specialists who treat arthrosis of the legs

      After receiving the results of the examination, having determined the symptoms of the disease, the rheumatologist prescribes drug treatment (injections into the joints, intramuscular).

      If these types of operations cannot be performed, doctors have to resort to radical methods - joint replacement. The destroyed organ is completely replaced with an artificial prosthesis. After such operations, patients lead a normal life and avoid disability.

      What symptoms should you consult a specialist for?

      If one of the symptoms appears, you should consult a rheumatologist. Timely treatment in most cases helps to stop, slow down the course of the disease, and avoid surgery.

      Swelling of any part of the leg, redness of this place indicates the development of the disease. An audible crunching sound in the legs (more often a symptom appears with disorders of the knee joint) during movement indicates the presence of the disease.

      Which doctor should I consult for arthrosis and arthritis of the joints?

      Deciding which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis can sometimes be difficult for a person who has never encountered this. Both are diseases of the joint, but one of them is inflammatory, and the other is in the nature of degenerative-dystrophic changes. Previously, it was believed that different age groups were susceptible to these ailments; both diseases began to affect young people.

      You have to see a doctor in any case, because both joint changes lead to significant inconvenience and pain. But at the same time you need to contact different specialists. But with arthritis, the joint becomes inflamed under the influence of various provocateurs, and with arthrosis, it becomes deformed due to degenerative changes in the articular cartilage.

      Depending on the course of the processes and their stage of development, patients sometimes have to contact the same specialist, but the main treatment is carried out by different doctors. You can find out which doctor to see at the reception desk or at an appointment with a therapist.

      Characteristics of arthritis

      Arthritis translated from Latin means aching joints, a disease characterized by lesions of the most mobile joints. The most common causes of arthritis are:

      More than a hundred varieties of rheumatoid pathologies are characterized by the term arthritis, and the etiology of joint diseases is extremely variable. According to incomplete statistics, more than 10 million people suffer from the disease, and in a significant number of patients, changes in the normal state occurred after a certain age. But every year the age limit of those affected is decreasing, and modern lifestyle leads to this. Arthritis can affect one joint or several, and develop under the influence of a variety of negative provocateurs.

      Rheumatoid arthritis occurs under the influence of infectious and allergic processes, reactive - under the influence of a severe infection, usually acquired sexually, infectious - due to an infection transmitted through the bloodstream, or when pathogenic microorganisms enter a wound resulting from joint injury. The reliable cause of arthritis has not yet been determined, and possible negative consequences that cause inflammation of the joints are listed among the provocateurs:

    • allergy;
    • infection;
    • nervous pathologies;
    • immunity failures;
    • pathological deviations in the natural metabolism of the body.
    • The ideal option in this case is a specialized doctor - an arthrologist. But not every elite clinic has this doctor, so at the slightest sign of joint changes, you should contact a therapist, who, after collecting an anamnesis and prescribing the appropriate tests, will suggest the most suitable specialist.

      Choosing a specialist for arthritis

      It is commonly said that arthritis is treated by a rheumatologist, however, this is too categorical a statement. Even if you manage to find an arthrologist, he can also refer you to other doctors. The diversity of pathology leads to the fact that a specialized specialist requires consultation with professionals in another industry, or the nature of the pathology requires the intervention of representatives of other medical professions:

    • a surgeon, if the stage of the disease has reached such a stage that surgical intervention is required;
    • an orthopedist if measures are required to restore joint mobility using specialized means;
    • a physiotherapist if rehabilitation through an exercise system is required;
    • a nutritionist, because changes in the body require correction of the nutritional diet;
    • an infectious disease specialist, if the nature of the infectious disease that caused joint inflammation is beyond the scope of expertise of a rheumatologist or arthrologist.
    • With arthritis, there is no clear answer to the question of who is treating the disease, because the disease is in the nature of a chronic pathology that occurs against the background of disorders in the body. Consultation or implementation of the treatment process with the participation of one doctor is impossible due to the complex nature of the disease.

      We can say with complete certainty that a rheumatologist treats rheumatoid arthritis and other joint pathologies, the rheumatic provocateur of which is beyond doubt.

      Arthrosis and its characteristics

      Osteoarthritis, unlike arthritis, is characterized by the gradual destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joint. This is a long-term process resulting from irreversible degenerative changes in the body, which led to malnutrition of the cartilage.

      With arthrosis of the knee joint, a person constantly feels pain, which intensifies with greater intensity of physical activity. The more developed the process of dystrophic changes, the stronger the pain syndrome. Gonarthrosis of the knee joint leads not only to the depletion of cartilage and loss of its functionality, but also to the growth of bone tissue in the form of spine-like processes, reducing joint mobility to a minimum, and the pain manifests itself even at night and sometimes becomes unbearable.

      In multidisciplinary elite clinics, patients are also referred to an arthrologist, but in practice, when finding out who treats arthrosis, the patient is usually referred to an orthopedist or orthopedic traumatologist, and from him to a surgeon, if there is already a need for surgical intervention or joint correction. In this case, disease of the joints of the limbs requires the intervention of an orthopedic surgeon, and disease of the spine requires the intervention of a neurosurgeon.

      With coxarthrosis, intense and accelerated destruction of the articular surface occurs, which is accompanied not only by deformation and loss of motor activity, but also by disruption of the natural process of regeneration of bone and cartilage segments.

      This pathology requires a complex method of treatment, and when asked who treats coxarthrosis of the hip joint, the answer may be the names of several medical specialties at once. Coxarthrosis in any form of development is accompanied by intense pain, at first insignificant and nagging, but over time unbearable, accompanying the neglected condition.

      The deforming process localizes pain in the groin area and the front and inner surface of the thigh. People who do not know what arthrosis of the hip joint is, what doctor treats such pain, turn to a urologist, a venereologist, and even a nephrologist.

      Only when it becomes clear that the pain is directly related to a dry crunch in the bones and a decrease in motor activity, there is some clarity in the question of who to turn to.

      What kind of doctor is needed for arthrosis?

      There is no clear answer to the question of which doctor treats osteoarthritis and its accompanying difficulties. During the treatment process you will have to consult the following doctors:

    • to a traumatologist-orthopedist, to resolve issues of joint functionality;
    • a therapist who will monitor drug treatment and adjust it as needed;
    • see a surgeon if there is a need for surgical intervention;
    • a physiotherapist, as long as the illness allows you to use his services;
    • to a nutritionist to prescribe a therapeutic diet to correct impaired metabolic processes.
    • Upon closer examination, it may seem that the list is almost identical: the same number of specialists work with arthrosis and arthritis. But in fact, the treatment that is carried out for inflammation of the joint and adjacent soft tissues is somewhat different both in the methods of influence used and in the sequence of involvement of specialized specialists.

      Joint diseases are a complex and broad area of ​​medicine that includes hundreds of different diseases. The increased frequency of such pathologies is a natural consequence of physical and static stress, which does not alternate with a change in physical activity, the consumption of harmful products that contribute to the occurrence of disturbances in the process of natural metabolism, and the lack of nutritional components necessary for vascular health. Recently, gonarthrosis of the knee joint is often diagnosed.

      In order to prevent the development of the manifestation of articular pathologies both in adulthood and in old age, without searching for the right specialist, it is necessary to switch to a healthy lifestyle at any age.

      This is the absence of bad habits, small and frequent meals with a complete content of vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the body, sleep on a comfortable bed at the right time and for a sufficient duration, fresh air and physical activity.

      Only under such conditions there will be no need to find out which doctor deals with joint diseases and how to regain lost health.

      Which doctor treats gonarthrosis?

      Your joint is painful, swollen, or hard to move. What to do? Which doctor should I contact with this problem? Everything in our body functions, works, and accordingly wears out. Healthy cells repair themselves, but if this does not happen, we need to look for the cause and its treatment.

      In small towns or villages, first of all, they go to a general practitioner; if a child has problems, they go to a pediatrician, and he then determines which specialist to refer you to.

      If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, do not confuse it with arthrosis in any way. We will now figure out how these diseases differ.

      What are the differences between the diseases?

      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.

      The first difference in etiology:

    • Arthritis can occur due to injury or infection, a malfunction in the metabolic system, and is characterized by an inflammatory process.
    • Arthrosis is chronic and causes wear and deformation of the joints.
    • The symptoms of diseases are also different - this is the second sign:

    • Arthritis can occur in a latent form (chronic) or make itself felt immediately (acute form). It manifests itself as pain, increased body temperature, swelling, and changes in the color of the skin.
    • Osteoarthritis may not necessarily be accompanied by painful symptoms. Sometimes the pain occurs after a long rest, but goes away after working out; there is a crunching or clicking sound when moving.
    • The third is the nature of the damage to the body:

    • With arthritis, the whole body suffers. The inflammatory process affects the functioning of internal organs: heart, liver, kidneys.
    • Arthrosis – affects only the joint.
    • Fourth - how exactly joints are damaged:

    • Any joint can get arthritis
    • Osteoarthritis likes to affect the connective tissues that bear the most stress. These are the knee, ankle, hip, and also the joint of the big toe.
    • What is the diagnosis based on?

      General blood test - blood from a finger. If arthrosis usually does not change the composition of the blood, then with arthritis the content of leukocytes and red blood cells increases.

      Rheumatic tests and biochemical analysis are carried out - taken from a vein on an empty stomach. Arthrosis does not change the structure of the blood; with arthritis, inflammatory markers increase. Rheumatoid arthritis is manifested by the appearance of rheumatoid factor in the blood, and with gout, increased uric acid.

      X-ray shows at what stage the disease is, if there is a change in the bone structure - arthrosis. MRI and CT may also be prescribed.

      Which doctor treats arthritis and arthrosis?

      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.

      As mentioned earlier, first of all we visit a general practitioner. He will examine and refer you to a rheumatologist , he will examine, make a diagnosis and plan treatment.

      If the doctor has diagnosed arthrosis, he conducts additional examinations to establish the stage of the disease. Treatment occurs only with medications, injections, ointments. First of all, the doctor advises reducing the load and taking chondroprotectors. To improve blood circulation, a set of exercises is recommended.

      Treatment must be comprehensive, therefore the following doctors of a narrow specialization may be additionally involved: physiotherapist, massage therapist, physical therapy specialist, surgeon.

      An arthrologist is a doctor who works with joint problems. But these specialists are very rare, only in large clinics, and it is difficult to get to them.

      If the disease progresses and has reached a severe stage, it is treated by an orthopedic surgeon. Depending on the need for treatment, he can perform two types of operations: organ-preserving and endoprosthetics.

      Which doctor will treat arthritis depends on the cause.

    • In case of injury, which served as an impetus, for development it will be necessary to visit a traumatologist.
    • Rheumatoid – specialists in immune diseases.
    • Metabolic disorder (gout) – nutritionist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist.
    • If the maxillofacial joint is sick: dentist, ENT.
    • If it is purulent, the intervention of a surgeon is necessary to perform the operation.
    • Treatment should begin as soon as discomfort is felt. This is the only way to feel relief faster and the disease will cause minimal harm to the body.

      The doctor performs treatment depending on the cause of arthritis, but there is a standard regimen:

    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). First, a course of intramuscular, intravenous or intra-articular injections is given; subsequently, ointments can be used for treatment.
    • If you have muscle spasms, take antispasmodics.
    • Antidepressants.
    • Anesthetics.
    • Gastroprotectors, to protect the stomach.
    • A vitamin complex is prescribed.
    • Chondroprotectors – they improve the quality of cartilage tissue.
    • Therapeutic diet.
    • Physiotherapy.
    • Massage, acupuncture.
    • This treatment regimen is supplemented depending on the course of the disease. The recovery process is long and labor-intensive; rehabilitation will also require a lot of work on your part.

      Causes of arthrosis of the legs

      Arthrosis often affects the legs of athletes and people whose work involves heavy physical labor. Flat feet are a common trigger for the development of the disease. Menopause in women leads to cartilage damage. The doctor will determine the exact cause of the disease.

      Before visiting the clinic, you should find out which doctor treats arthrosis there and make an appointment. At the first signs, you should contact a rheumatologist. This doctor treats inflammatory diseases of the bones. He will prescribe a special examination (ultrasound, MRI, densitometry), and based on the results, determine the stage of development of the disease.

      If the development could not be stopped at the initial stage, it is actively progressing, and you cannot do without the help of a surgeon. Surgeons perform two types of operations: joint preservation and prosthetics. Surgeries help the patient return to an active lifestyle, forget about pain in the knee joint and other areas of the lower extremities.

      If the joint is not completely destroyed, a specialist surgeon performs the following operations:

      The appearance of pain in the joints of the legs in the evening, after prolonged physical activity, is the first symptom of incipient arthrosis. At night there is pain, a feeling of “twisting” of the joints, changing the position of the legs does not alleviate the condition.

      Pain occurs in the area of ​​the knee and hip joints while climbing stairs. In advanced cases, external manifestations of the disease occur - deformation of the knee joint, noticeable to the naked eye.

      Prevention of arthrosis

      If arthrosis of the legs develops, it is worth reducing the load on them. If the patient is undergoing treatment for an illness, physical activity should be kept to a minimum. The doctor will prescribe spa treatment, which must be done systematically once a year.

      Proper nutrition promotes healthy cartilage and joints of the lower extremities. The doctor often prescribes adding jellied meat to the diet as a preventive measure for arthrosis. It helps strengthen bones.

      Avoid hypothermia of the body in general, and the legs in particular. Regular morning exercises strengthen the bones of the skeleton. Treatment in the early stages will protect against complications.

      Symptoms that indicate osteoarthritis

      If a patient experiences similar symptoms, it means it’s time to see a doctor:

    • Pain in the area of ​​large joints (knee or hip), which increases when walking and intensifies towards the end of the day.
    • Pain in the knees when starting to walk (indicates gonarthrosis).
    • The appearance of swelling in the knee or hip joint.
    • If similar symptoms appear, you should not postpone your visit to a specialist until later, so as not to bring the situation to surgery. Even if the discomfort is minor, over time the symptoms will intensify and the pain will become unbearable. The sooner treatment of the disease begins in the initial stages, the easier it will be to avoid complications.

      First of all, you need to do an X-ray or MRI to clarify the situation with the disease, then you should contact a surgeon or arthrologist.

      Which doctor treats arthrosis and arthritis

      As soon as the first symptoms appear that indicate coxarthrosis or gonarthrosis, you should make an appointment with a rheumatologist. You should also know that there is one significant difference between arthritis and arthrosis: arthrosis is a degenerative process of joint tissue, and arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joints. A doctor who specializes specifically in joints is called an arthrologist, but he is rarely found in clinics.

      A rheumatologist is a therapist who specializes in inflammatory-dystrophic processes occurring in connective and articular tissues. He will listen carefully to complaints, conduct an examination and prescribe detailed diagnostics - X-rays, MRI, ultrasound. During the diagnosis, X-rays and MRIs are examined by a radiologist and an ultrasound specialist gives an opinion regarding ultrasound. After the diagnosis, all data goes to the rheumatologist, after which he determines whether the patient has arthritis or osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints. Next, treatment is prescribed.

      A rheumatologist prescribes only drug treatment (tablets, ointments, injections), but can write a referral to the following specialists:

    • Arthrologist;
    • Physiotherapist (performs physiotherapy);
    • Masseur;
    • Chiropractor;
    • Endocrinologist;
    • Orthopedic surgeon;
    • Rehabilitologist (deals with the patient during the recovery period).
    • Coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis - specialists, treatment

      After an x-ray has determined osteoarthritis of the hip or osteoarthritis of the knee joints, and the rheumatologist has prescribed drug treatment, the patient is referred to an endocrinologist. Often, the strength of joints depends on the state of the hormonal system. After testing, if the endocrinologist finds abnormalities, treatment with the necessary hormones is prescribed.

      If the patient has coxarthrosis or gonarthrosis, then X-rays or MRIs are periodically prescribed to accurately monitor all changes in the joint tissue. Although x-rays are a cheaper procedure than MRIs, they cannot be done often. If coxarthrosis or gonarthrosis is detected after stage 2, the patient is sent to an orthopedic surgeon.

      An orthopedist is needed when surgery is required and medications are no longer effective. An orthopedic surgeon performs two types of operations: organ-preserving and endoprosthetics. Organ-preserving operations (arthroplasty, arthrotomy, arthrodesis) are aimed at restoring the function of the diseased joint and eliminating pain. Endoprosthesis replacement is an operation by which a completely destroyed old joint is replaced with a prosthesis.

      Why does the disease develop?

      Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive, degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the hip, knee or other joint. In this case, the patient experiences severe pain and cannot fully move.

      Arthrosis is considered an inevitable stage of aging of the body, which develops due to age-related reasons.

      However, there are some reasons that cause premature joint damage. Risk factors for the disease include:

    • Congenital hereditary predisposition to osteoarthritis;
    • Excessive body weight of the patient;
    • Early joint injury;
    • Poorly developed muscles that form the frame for the knee, hip or other joint;
    • Frequent microtrauma of the joint during sports or other professional activities;
    • Being female;
    • Age over 45 years;
    • The presence of diseases caused by metabolic disorders;
    • The presence of disorders in the musculoskeletal system.
    • Which doctors should you consult for arthrosis?

      If the first signs of the disease appear, you should first contact a rheumatologist. This is a therapist who identifies inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the hip, knee and other joints, as well as connective tissues.

      The doctor will diagnose the disease, conduct an examination, and determine which joint is damaged. The patient is prescribed a laboratory and instrumental diagnostic method in the form of radiography, ultrasound, MRI, and densitometry. Thanks to this study, it is possible to identify the stage of the disease and determine what treatment needs to be prescribed to the patient.

      Rheumatologists usually use only conservative methods of therapy. For treatment, medications, medicinal ointments, intramuscular, intravenous and intra-articular injections are used. Such medications relieve severe pain and stop the inflammatory process.

      In addition to drug treatment, additional procedures are prescribed for arthrosis:

      1. Physiotherapy;
      2. Manual therapy;
      3. Massotherapy;
      4. Physiotherapy;
      5. Arthroscopy;
      6. Surgery.
      7. Some medical institutions employ a highly specialized doctor with a surgical profile - an arthrologist. This doctor deals exclusively with joint diseases. Meanwhile, arthrologists may not be available in all treatment centers, so getting an appointment with him is not always easy.

        If the disease is advanced and joint pathology progresses, conservative treatment does not always help. The patient, despite therapy, may experience unbearable long-term pain during movement. Limbs often lose their functionality due to tissue deformation. In this case, only an orthopedic surgeon can help.

        An orthopedist is a doctor who treats a disease that has an advanced form, when conservative treatment does not have the desired effect. These highly specialized specialists are responsible for performing the following types of surgeries.

        Preservation of a damaged organ through arthroplasty, arthrodesis, joint resection, arthrotomy, arthrorrhiza. The main goal of such surgical operations is to restore the functioning of damaged joints, eliminate pain, and maximize the preservation of the damaged joint’s own tissues.

        Joint endoprosthesis replacement is prescribed if the joints are completely destroyed and it is useless to treat the affected tissue. The damaged component is replaced with an endoprosthesis.

        With the help of such a surgical operation, the patient will be able to move freely again and will not feel pain.

        When to see a doctor

        You should seek medical help immediately if:

      8. The patient feels discomfort or pain in the joints after excessive exercise or at the end of the day;
      9. The patient cannot find a comfortable position for the limbs so as not to experience pain at night;
      10. The joints swell and the surrounding skin turns red;
      11. The person experiences severe pain and cannot move;
      12. Clicks and crunching sounds are heard at the site of damage;
      13. Difficulty going up and down stairs;
      14. The joints are deformed.
      15. Which doctor treats osteoarthritis?

        Many people face such a problem as arthrosis. Recently, this disease has become very “younger”; if a couple of decades ago osteoarthritis was the prerogative of older people, today the symptoms of this disease can be found in twenty-year-old patients. Doctors attribute the increase in the disease to modern lifestyles and unfavorable environmental conditions.

        Unfortunately, many people who suffer from joint arthrosis, in the initial stages of the disease, do not pay any attention to the symptoms, do not attach a significant role to them and, accordingly, do not rush to see a doctor. This is a very big mistake, which in the future will lead to loss of ability to work, and sometimes to disability, since osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that is not capable of spontaneous regression.

        Modern and timely methods for diagnosing arthrosis and complex conservative treatment will help the patient avoid surgical intervention and preserve the function of the affected joints.

        Often people do not seek medical help because they do not know which doctor treats arthrosis and where to start their examination: visit a local doctor, or immediately contact a specialist?

        Causes and risk factors of osteoarthritis

        Osteoarthritis is a chronic, progressive, degenerative-dystrophic disease of the joints, the main symptoms of which are pain and dysfunction of the joint. Arthrosis is an inevitable stage of aging of the body, like age-related skin changes and gray hair. But there are predisposing factors of the disease that lead to premature joint damage.

        Risk factors for developing arthrosis:

      16. congenital predisposition to the disease (family cases of osteoarthritis);
      17. overweight and obesity;
      18. past joint injury;
      19. insufficient development of the muscles that form the frame for the joints;
      20. constant microtrauma of joint components (for example, in athletes);
      21. female;
      22. age over 45 years;
      23. diseases with metabolic disorders;
      24. concomitant pathology of the musculoskeletal system.
      25. Specialists who treat arthrosis

        When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a therapeutic doctor who deals with inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the joints and connective tissue.

        A rheumatologist will make an accurate diagnosis, examine you, and determine which joints are affected. He will prescribe laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods, for example, radiography, ultrasound of the affected joints, MRI, CT, densitometry, etc. With the help of a complete examination, the specialist will be able to answer the main question, what stage of osteoarthritis the patient has and what kind of treatment he needs.

        In his practice, a rheumatologist uses only conservative treatment methods; he treats arthrosis of the joints with medications, ointments, injections (intravenous, intramuscular and intra-articular).

        Intra-articular injections for arthrosis effectively eliminate inflammation and pain

        The therapeutic complex prescribed by a rheumatologist often includes procedures that are beyond the scope of the doctor’s competence. Thus, specialists from other fields of medicine can also be involved in the treatment process:

      26. physiotherapist;
      27. chiropractor;
      28. masseur;
      29. physical therapy instructor;
      30. arthroscopist;
      31. surgeon.
      32. Arthrosis of the knee 2 degrees

        In some highly specialized medical centers, arthrosis is treated by an arthrologist. This is a surgical doctor who deals exclusively with joint problems. But such a specialist is not found everywhere, and getting an appointment with him is sometimes very difficult.

        If treatment is not started on time or pathological processes in the joints progress despite the entire range of therapeutic measures, when any movements in the joints cause unbearable pain or the limb loses its function due to contractures and deformities, then only an orthopedic surgeon can help.

        An orthopedist is someone who treats arthrosis in an advanced stage, when conservative methods of therapy are not enough. The doctor performs 2 types of operations:

      33. organ-preserving (arthroplasty, arthrodesis, joint resection, arthrotomy, arthrorrhiza), all these surgical interventions are aimed at restoring the function of the damaged joint, eliminating pain, while the main principle of organ-preserving surgery is to preserve as much of the patient’s own tissue as possible;
      34. joint replacement, when there is no point in treating arthrosis (the joint is completely destroyed), the doctor decides to replace the damaged component with an endoprosthesis; such an operation will again give the patient the opportunity to move without pain and difficulty.
      35. Often, only endoprosthetics can restore function to damaged joints

        When should you see a doctor?

        The following symptoms of arthrosis should alert you and force you to see a doctor for medical help:

      36. discomfort or pain in the joints, at first they appear after physical activity and at the end of the day, gradually becoming permanent;
      37. inability to find a comfortable position for the sore leg at night;
      38. swelling of the joint, redness of the skin over it;
      39. sharp pain in the joint, which does not allow you to make the slightest movement (blockage of the joint with a bone fragment);
      40. clicking and crunching in the affected joints during movement;
      41. when it becomes difficult for you to go up and down stairs;
      42. joint deformation.
      43. Osteoarthritis is a disease that progresses steadily without treatment. Therefore, at the first signs of damage to the joints, consult a doctor, and which specialist you choose is not so important, the main thing is to start.

        Which doctors treat arthrosis? Who is the best person to contact?

        If your joints hurt and swell, and your usual movements are difficult, it is likely that these are signs of arthrosis. The best decision in such a situation is to go to the doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. Which doctor treats arthrosis?

        The most specialized specialist who treats only joint diseases is an arthrologist. Unfortunately, arthrologists see only in large diagnostic centers and clinics; in a regular city clinic, it is unlikely that a doctor of this profile will be found. Well, if you are lucky and have an arthrologist nearby, then it is better to go straight to him.

        In city clinics, arthrosis is treated by one of the following three specialists:

        orthopedist (or traumatologist-orthopedist),

        Which doctor will treat you depends on a number of factors: both the availability of a specialist and the severity of the symptoms of the disease.

        As a rule, treatment in the early stages (when there is no deformation yet) is carried out by a rheumatologist, in later stages - by an orthopedic traumatologist. A rheumatologist is a specialist in joints and connective tissue with a therapeutic profile, that is, he does not treat patients who require surgical interventions. Examination and treatment by a rheumatologist is especially necessary in cases where the exact cause of the disease is unknown (the diagnosis has not yet been clarified).

        An orthopedist may also be able to treat the initial stages of arthrosis, especially if other possible causes of joint damage have already been excluded (rheumatism, systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases).

        The surgeon usually treats arthrosis only in the absence of a rheumatologist and orthopedist.

        Your therapist can tell you which specialist is best to contact in your particular case. The therapist is a general practitioner, and although he treats joint pathology only as a last resort (in small towns where there is no treatment available from other specialists), he is able to make a preliminary diagnosis, prescribe an initial examination and refer you to a specialist.

        Go to a clinic, hospital or private medical facility. center?

        If your condition is more or less satisfactory, then you need to visit the clinic.

        They are sent to the hospital either in severe cases when hospitalization is required, or for consultation, but again - on a referral from the clinic.

        If you lack time, but have the financial opportunity to go to a private medical center, then try to choose a clinic with a good reputation.

        Which doctor treats arthrosis may depend on the presence of concomitant diseases and the causes of the disease. For example, if arthrosis develops against the background of metabolic disorders, you will need to consult an endocrinologist, if you have neurological problems, you will need to consult a neurologist, and if you are overweight, you will need to consult a nutritionist. Exercise therapy instructors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists also participate in the treatment process.

        How to treat arthrosis of the knee joint

        How to treat arthrosis of the knee joint

        Today, you can increasingly hear people complaining about pain in the knee area. Moreover, everyone talks about this, including athletes, overweight people, elderly patients, and simply those who have excessive loads every day. Pain in the knee joint may indicate the onset of various diseases.

        The most common disease affecting mainly the knee joints is arthrosis. People call this disease simply salt deposition, and doctors call it gonarthrosis. If the disease is not treated, the patient faces complete destruction of the cartilage and exposure of the underlying bone, the formation of osteophytes and complete deformation of the joint.

        The appearance of osteophytes and complete deformation of the joint.

        How to recognize arthrosis of the knee joint

        The most important symptom indicating the occurrence of gonarthrosis is pain in the knee joint area. In this case, the disease does not occur suddenly; the pain will increase over many months and even years. At first they will bother the patient only with increased loads on the legs, and then even at rest. Arthrosis can be distinguished from other diseases by the fact that the pain syndrome has an increasing character, therefore, if acute and severe pain occurs, another disease should be suspected.

        Gonarthrosis can occur in three stages, each stage will have its own distinctive features. The first stage is accompanied by symptoms such as: slight limitation of joint mobility and slight crunching; slight fatigue; moderate feeling of pain in the affected area. The pain will not be strong at all, more aching and dull, and occurs periodically.

        Usually a person feels them after waking up in the morning, when taking his first steps and when walking up the stairs. When the limbs are at rest, there is no pain. At this stage, the bones have their original shape and are not deformed. Only on an x-ray can you see a slight narrowing of the joint space.

        During the second stage, it is no longer possible to do without complex treatment. The patient will be tormented by pain even with the slightest movement, and will intensify even more even with minor loads and while walking. The pain syndrome may subside a little only after a very long rest. This stage is already characterized by a more distinct crunch in the knee joint.

        X-ray will show: narrowing of the joint space two or even three times higher than normal; Osteophytes are clearly visible and in most cases there is an accumulation of fluid in the joint.

        The third stage of gonarthrosis is characterized by severe pain that is present even at rest. At this stage, it is very difficult for the patient to find a comfortable position, to adjust the leg in such a way as to at least slightly reduce the persistent feeling of pain. An x-ray shows the absence of a joint space, deformation of the joint surface, and very pronounced tophi.

        There is primary and secondary arthrosis of the knee joint.

        The primary type often appears as a result of metabolic disorders in the tissue area of ​​the joint. This type usually affects older people, overweight women, and often those who have impaired exchange of venous bleeding in the extremities and endocrine disorders.

        Secondary gonarthrosis occurs as a result of a previous disease or injury to the knee joint.

        Treatment of arthrosis in the knee

        Of course, the most important and fundamental question for patients is: “How to treat arthrosis of the knee joint?” First of all, when treating this disease, doctors direct all their actions to eliminate pain and the inflammatory process. And only after the patient feels relief, they begin to directly influence the causes of unbearable pain, that is, arthrosis.

        The scope of complex treatment will depend on the severity of the lesion and the stage of arthrosis. Due to the fact that the disease is chronic, the maximum that doctors can achieve is long-term remission. But if the patient seeks help at a very early stage and, together with the attending physician, it is possible to eliminate the cause of gonarthrosis (for example, weight loss), then a complete recovery of the patient is quite possible.

        Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint has a wide range of treatment methods

        The main methods that doctors resort to when treating arthrosis in the knee are:

      44. use of medicines;
      45. surgical intervention;
      46. massage;
      47. manual therapy;
      48. restorative therapy.
      49. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances; only a doctor can correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe rational treatment based on the examination.

        Therapeutic treatment includes taking NSAIDs and chondroprotectors. NSAIDs are indispensable in the treatment of knee arthrosis, but due to the fact that they negatively affect the stomach and intestines, they are used in short courses. This group includes the following drugs: indomethacin; voltaren; butadione; nimesulide; meloxicam and others.

        No less important and very effective in the treatment of knee arthrosis are chondroprotectors, such as: arcoxia; teraflex; chondrosamine; structum and others. Chondroprotectors play a very important role in treatment, as they not only help reduce pain, but also restore cartilage tissue and normalize the production of joint fluid. This group of drugs is very effective at stages 1 and 2, when remnants of cartilage tissue are still present in the joint. At the third stage, it is already pointless to take them, because there is nothing to restore there, the cartilage is completely destroyed.

        In the treatment of gonarthrosis, great importance is given to local treatment with the use of ointments, gels, and creams. The most widely used: Voltaren-gel; nikoflexin; menovazin; espol; gevkamen; fastum and many others. Compresses based on dimexide, bischofite, and medical bile often have a positive effect.

        Physiotherapeutic treatment is carried out at the stage of pain subsiding and only after the acute period of the disease has passed. Usually patients are prescribed:

      50. electrophoresis;
      51. laser therapy;
      52. ozokerite treatment;
      53. massage, manual therapy;
      54. physiotherapy;
      55. reflexology.
      56. Surgical treatment of knee arthrosis

        Surgical intervention is resorted to in case of ineffectiveness of therapeutic treatment, or when the disease has reached the third stage and irreversible changes have occurred in the knee joint.

        There are several options for surgical treatment: artodesis and prosthetics. Arthrodesis involves a kind of immobilization of the joint, which helps eliminate pain. Prosthetics is a more modern method; with the help of special prostheses, a damaged joint is completely or partially replaced.

        Treatment of gonarthrosis with folk remedies

        The greatest effect from the treatment of arthrosis in the knee joint can be achieved by combining traditional methods of treatment with treatment with folk remedies. Here are some examples of very effective compresses based on natural products and herbs.

        Woodlice tincture is very good for relieving pain. To prepare it you will need: fill a 3-liter bottle with wood lice and pour in 0.5 liters of vodka. Then pour boiled, cooled water over the herb until it is completely covered, cover it with a lid, and place it in a dark place for ten days. You should take three teaspoons per day.

        Another very effective tincture on the leaves of the golden mustache. It is necessary to pour fifteen golden mustache leaves (without stems) with half a liter of boiling water, close the lid and cover with a blanket. Wait until the infusion cools down, then drain and take 25 milliliters three times a day after meals.

        You can also quickly relieve inflammation in the knee joint by applying white cabbage leaves, previously smeared with honey, to the sore knee. Wrap and leave overnight. You can also use a regular burdock leaf, apply it to the affected area, wrap it in cellophane and a warm scarf on top, and leave it overnight.

        In order to avoid a disease such as arthrosis of the knee joint, you should adhere to several very important rules. Firstly, eat properly and balanced. Secondly, lead a healthy lifestyle and watch your weight. Thirdly, engage in adequate physical activity.

        Video - How to treat arthrosis of the knee joint

        Arthrosis of the knee joint. Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint. How to cure arthrosis of the knee joint

        What is arthrosis of the knee joint

        Arthrosis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis of the knee joint, deforming arthrosis of the knee joint) is a degenerative disease of the knee joint, characterized by the destruction of the cartilage of the articular surfaces, deformation of the joint and disruption of its function.

        It is believed that the initial changes in arthrosis of the knee joint are formed in cartilage tissue at the molecular level. Over time, these changes lead to disruption of the physicochemical properties of cartilage. When examining preparations of cartilage, it can be revealed that in places it begins to become cloudy, thin, flake and crack in different directions.

        Ultimately, the pathological process ends with the complete disappearance of cartilage over a smaller or larger extent, which leads to exposure of the underlying bone. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is most common in people over 50 years of age .

        More often women suffer from arthrosis of the knee joint. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint can be unilateral or bilateral. The most common forms of arthrosis are medial.

        Causes of development of arthrosis of the knee joint

        Science does not know the exact cause of arthrosis, but there are a number of factors that usually contribute to the onset of this disease:

      57. Previous injuries to the knee joint increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis;
      58. Heredity - in some cases, in patients with arthrosis, a defect in the gene responsible for the development of cartilage tissue is detected, which leads to the fact that these people have an increased predisposition to the development of arthrosis, due to the low resistance of cartilage tissue to damage;
      59. Increased body weight - according to observations, most often arthrosis of large joints of the lower extremities (knee, arthrosis of the hip joint) develops in patients with increased body weight and occurs due to excessive load on these joints. This can also lead to faster progression of the disease;
      60. Excessive stress on the joint;
      61. Intra-articular crystal deposits - occur in some diseases associated with metabolic disorders, in particular uric acid, etc., which can lead to the destruction of cartilage.
      62. Symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint

        Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are known to develop slowly over a number of years.

        The most characteristic symptoms of arthrosis of the knee joint are:

      63. Pain deep in the knee joint, which appears especially when moving and walking;
      64. Swelling of the knee joint;
      65. Morning stiffness in the morning, which goes away after some time when moving, patients note that they need to “ disperse ”, after which relief comes and movements in the knee joint improve;
      66. Crunching (crepitus) in the joint during movement.
      67. Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint

        Currently, it is not possible to completely cure arthrosis of the knee joint . However, by starting treatment in the early stages of the disease, it is possible to stop the progression of destruction of joint cartilage tissue for a long time.

        Our center provides modern treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint based on an integrated multilateral approach and includes:

      68. Using knee braces to relieve the medial parts of the joint;
      69. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which allows you to stop inflammation in the joint and reduce pain;
      70. Reducing excess body weight reliably leads to a slowdown in the progression of arthrosis;
      71. Therapeutic exercise, eliminating axial loads on the joint, allows you to restore muscle tone, prevent muscle wasting and restore range of motion in the joint;
      72. Taking small doses of muscle relaxants leads to a decrease in spasm of the periarticular muscles, which also significantly reduces pain;
      73. Physiotherapeutic treatment courses;
      74. Injection of hyaluronic acid preparations into the joint, which is a synovial fluid prosthesis;
      75. Taking drugs from the chondroprotector group;
      76. In some cases, arthroscopy of the knee joint;
      77. Knee replacement—endoprosthetics of the knee joint when conservative treatment is ineffective.
      78. Surgery for arthrosis of the knee joint is carried out free of charge as part of the VMP

        If there are medical indications and there are referral quotas, our center performs operations using funds allocated under the program for the provision of high-tech medical care (HTMC)

        Details about the high-tech medical care program

        Treatment of knee arthrosis using the PRP method

        Along with the classical above-mentioned methods of conservative treatment of deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, our clinic has a unique opportunity to receive treatment using a unique technique based on the introduction into the affected joint of a biologically active substance isolated from the patient’s own blood - enriched autologous platelet plasma (PRP therapy ), which makes it possible to influence the key link in the pathogenesis of arthrosis - regeneration - restoration of cartilage tissue. As a result of treatment using enriched autologous platelet plasma, the patient does not use “chemical” pharmaceuticals, does not require daily visits to a physiotherapist, etc. Thus, there is no effect of drugs on the body as a whole, and the load on such important organs as the liver and kidneys is reduced.

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