Arthrosis of the foot is a chronic disease that is associated with destruction of the joints, inflammation of the periarticular tissues, as well as impaired blood circulation in them.
When arthrosis of the bones of the foot occurs, unexpected sharp pain appears while walking or at rest, the shape of the fingers becomes distorted, and painful calluses form in areas of increased stress.
The main symptoms of foot arthrosis are as follows:
When a disease such as arthrosis of the foot appears, treatment must be carried out comprehensively. The basic principles in providing care to a patient are reducing pain and restoring motor functions.
The main treatment methods include:
When diagnosed with arthrosis of the foot, treatment with folk remedies can also be quite effective.
Moreover, such methods make it possible to relieve pain in the affected joints. It will also be useful to walk barefoot on freshly cut grass, sand or loose soil. Thanks to such gymnastics, microcirculation in the feet improves.
To restore joint function and treat them, you can use healing baths with a decoction of mint, mustard, hay dust, decoctions of wild rosemary, burdock and other herbs.
Deforming arthrosis of the foot, as well as deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, is a disease of the joints when the cartilage tissue of the joint is damaged and simultaneous deformation and modification of the structure of the heads of the bones occurs.
The causes of its occurrence are high load on the joints (high heels, long walking, carrying heavy objects or excess weight). Hypothermia, which negatively affects the feet, is of considerable importance.
Symptoms of the disease are immediately visible. There is pain in the foot area, they swell. Body temperature also increases.
When diagnosed with deforming arthrosis of the foot, treatment is aimed at relieving pain, reducing or eliminating inflammation, restoring joint mobility and trophic metabolism.
Healthy legs mean the joy of movement and the psychological well-being of a person. Having lost the ability to move freely, we become depressed, our quality of life decreases, and everyday difficulties arise. The cause of leg problems can be deforming arthrosis of the foot, which causes annoying pain and limits the mobility of the limb. What are the causes of the disease and how does it develop?
The disease manifests itself in old age and is associated with the natural aging of the human body. About 70% of all diagnoses occur among the female population of the Earth, who suffer from the disease much more often than the stronger sex. The negative trend is caused by hormonal changes in the female body during menopause. However, doctors also note the appearance of deforming arthrosis in young patients. What factors influence the onset of the disease? Oddly enough, the cause of arthrosis is excessive physical stress on the joints. Cartilage cannot cope with excess pressure and loses its protective functions. In addition, the reasons for the development of pathology include:
All of these factors can provoke the disease, but they cannot be attributed to the main causes of the formation of pathology. Thus, no scientifically substantiated causes have been identified for the primary type of disease. It should be noted that deforming arthrosis of the foot according to ICD 10 is coded M19.
The symptoms of deforming arthrosis resemble the clinical picture of arthritis. To see a doctor in a timely manner, it is important for the patient to know the exact signals, which look like this:
If the progression of the pathology continues, calluses, thickenings and nodules appear on the foot, creeping out.
When a patient consults a doctor with complaints of pain in the foot, a visual examination of the limb is performed, the anamnesis data is systematized, and the patient is asked about the severity of symptoms. Then the person is sent for an X-ray examination. A photograph of the affected foot will show the specialist the nature of the disorders, which will determine the extent of the disease. Additionally, a general blood test may be prescribed.
The negative process that occurs with arthrosis of the foot develops slowly, so doctors divide it into 3 stages. When prescribing a diagnosis, they indicate the extent of the disease. Each degree is characterized by individual symptoms, depending on the severity of the joint damage. You can learn everything about joint arthrosis from this video:
Deforming arthrosis of the 1st degree of the foot is the beginning of the disease, its first “steps” towards the destruction of cartilage and joint. At the molecular level, a change in the structure of cartilage and bone tissue occurs. The production of synovial fluid, which protects the cartilage and allows it to withstand stress, is reduced. The cartilage loses its ability to resist pressure and begins to deteriorate. The x-ray shows a slight reduction in the height of the joint space.
At stage 1, the patient almost does not feel the presence of the disease, since the symptoms are mild or absent altogether. Treatment of arthrosis during this period gives a high positive effect. By changing your diet, taking certain medications and physical procedures, and doing therapeutic exercises, you can completely stop the development of pathology.
When grade 2 deforming arthrosis of the foot occurs, the patient complains of limited movement and a clearly audible crunching sound in the joint. The pain syndrome is of a “starting” nature. This means that pain occurs at the moment of the first movement of the limb, when the main load falls on the already painfully altered joint. If a person continues to walk, the load from the movement is distributed throughout the entire limb, and the pain disappears. During short walks, a person does not experience discomfort, but as soon as the distance and load are increased, the pain syndrome returns.
During an X-ray examination, the doctor sees that the joint space has lost 2/3 of its height, osteophytes have appeared, and bone tissue density has increased. The painful symptoms of the disease either increase or disappear completely, which indicates the transition of the pathology to chronic recurrent synovitis, that is, the disease is approaching stage 3.
As it develops, grade 3 deforming arthrosis of the foot annoys a person with aching pain that does not stop even during sleep. Walking is painful; the patient has to use additional support (cane) to move around. The pain syndrome increases with increased load and in damp weather. Particular discomfort is caused by deforming arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the foot, which occurs in the forefoot. The deformation of the joint increases so much that doctors are forced to declare a disability. Treatment of the disease in stage 3 is not able to stop the irreversible process; only a decrease in pain is possible.
Over many years of studying the disease, doctors know well how to treat deforming arthrosis of the foot. They were able to build a comprehensive treatment plan for deforming arthrosis of the foot, including conservative therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises and massage.
In drug therapy, non-steroidal drugs are used to reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process and relieve pain symptoms. The doctor may prescribe the patient to take drugs such as Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Piroxicam, Ortofen. The use of drugs is limited and contraindicated for those who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The active substances of the listed drugs irritate the gastric mucosa and can provoke an exacerbation of gastritis or gastric ulcer.
Along with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors (Glucosamine, Chondroitin) are used, the action of which is aimed at restoring the structure of cartilage tissue. If conservative therapy does not provide visible improvement, injections into the joint are performed. Kenalog, Diprospan, Hydrocortisone enters directly into the affected area, quickly eliminating inflammation and pain in muscles and joints. In case of advanced arthrosis of the foot, surgical intervention is indicated. You can view the operation to correct foot deformity here:
The appointment of physiotherapeutic procedures helps to enhance the therapeutic effect of drug therapy. The list of procedures performed may include:
For deforming arthrosis of the foot, treatment with physiotherapy helps restore normal blood circulation in the affected area, relieve inflammation, and reduce pain.
Additional measures include therapeutic massage, mud baths and special gymnastics.
The exercise therapy complex includes exercises for flexion and extension of the foot, which help to evenly distribute the load on the muscles and ligaments of the diseased joint. Here is an example of therapeutic exercises:
You need to do exercise therapy every day. Constant exercise will help maintain the range of motion of the foot.
To reduce the load on the sore foot, measures should be taken to balance the diet. The patient needs to remove fatty, smoked, salty and spicy foods from his diet, and reduce the amount of carbohydrates. The daily menu should consist of fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meat and fish, natural juices, fermented milk products, cereals and vegetable soups.
Osteoarthritis of the foot occurs due to the thinning of the articular cartilage, which serves as a shock absorber during movement. This disease can develop not only in older people, but also at a younger age. In the initial stages it is difficult to diagnose, and treatment is quite long.
Osteoarthritis of the foot is a very common disease. Most often it manifests itself in people after 50 years of age, but in recent years the number of young people suffering from joint diseases has increased .
Osteoarthritis causes thinning of the cartilage that covers the surfaces of the bones in the joint and serves as a shock absorber during movements while walking. The joint fluid lubricates the bones, causing them to rotate freely in the joint capsule. When cartilage thins, discomfort occurs, painful movements occur, and the joint may become deformed. This significantly reduces the quality of life and makes even simple walking difficult.
This disease does not develop on its own. There are a number of factors that provoke osteoarthritis:
With osteoarthritis, there is a gradual thinning of the cartilage that cushions movements while walking.
Important! In the first stages, the disease is quite difficult to diagnose, since the initial changes do not cause discomfort or pain. A person consults a doctor already at a progressive stage.
There are 3 stages in the development of osteoarthritis. The symptoms and degree of joint deformation, as well as the complexity of treatment, depend on the stage of the process.
The image shows how cartilage is gradually destroyed as the disease progresses. Along with this, pain and deformation of the foot occur.
With osteoarthritis of the foot, calluses form, which can be seen in the photo. They harden and may also cause pain during movement.
As mentioned earlier, at the initial stage, osteoarthritis of the foot joints is very difficult to diagnose, since it does not have pronounced symptoms . However, there are a number of signs that may be a reason to visit an orthopedist:
These signs, even if they appear in a mild form, may indicate the development of osteoarthritis.
Important! Treatment of grade 1 osteoarthritis of the foot is much simpler than in later stages . Therefore, it is important to see a doctor on time so that the treatment is most effective.
Deforming arthrosis can occur not only in the legs, but also in other parts of the body. If a person has this disease, it affects more and more joints. Therefore, it is worth carefully monitoring the condition of the cartilage.
If deforming arthrosis of the foot appears, it is important for every patient to know the symptoms and treatment (photo below) of this pathology. The disease represents degenerative changes in soft and bone tissues. The reasons for its occurrence may be different:
The disease can develop in any person, but women who prefer to wear high-heeled shoes are most susceptible to it.
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Osteoarthritis of the calcaneus is a degenerative disease of the joint. It is manifested by a long course of inflammatory processes in soft tissues, which have a negative effect on cartilage. This pathology is characterized by impaired blood circulation and metabolism. This disease is associated with premature thinning and destruction of cartilage tissue. Most often affected:
With arthrosis of the foot, the symptoms are very diverse. Everything is determined by the stage of the disease and the severity of the inflammatory-degenerative process. In general, the clinical picture is similar to the manifestations of arthritis:
With arthrosis of the 2nd degree of the foot, compactions and nodules appear, clearly visible under the skin. Big toe lesions are also called bunions.
Common signs include:
Photo 1. Arthrosis of the big toes
The disease often develops against the background of flat feet and takes a progressive course. Arthrosis of small joints simultaneously affects the fingers and toes. The deformity is not accompanied by pain. The main manifestation of the disease is damage to the big toes (see photo 1). This helps reduce mobility and change shape. Damage to the phalangeal joints is the most common form of the disease. It is found equally in both men and women. As a rule, several areas are involved in the pathological process.
Arthrosis of the toes is characterized by the periodic occurrence of nagging pain, which intensifies with physical activity. During the period of exacerbation, unpleasant symptoms become permanent.
With arthrosis of the middle parts of the foot, a person complains of pain in the affected area, changes in the shape of the joint, and gait disturbance.
Arthrosis of the leg joints develops under the influence of certain provoking factors, which may be associated with a person’s lifestyle or impaired blood supply to the lower extremities. This disease occurs in the following cases:
The mechanism of the pathological process is based on endocrine disorders, hormonal disorders, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Sometimes pathology is formed when making incorrect movements.
The risk of developing the disease increases with:
Persons susceptible to arthrosis of the feet:
This disease often occurs during pregnancy, which is associated with an increased load on the joints and blood vessels of the legs. The first signs of arthrosis in children are detected at an early age, when they just begin to walk. When taking the first steps, a child's feet are subject to heavy loads. As a result, the ankle joint becomes displaced and deformed. Hallux valgus is the main cause of foot arthrosis in adolescents.
Like any other pathology of the musculoskeletal system, arthrosis of the leg joints develops in several stages:
Osteoarthritis of the foot affects the cartilage that protects the bone surfaces. Fabrics lose elasticity, begin to deteriorate, and their shock-absorbing properties deteriorate. Due to constant external impacts, bone surfaces experience high loads. Thinning cartilage contributes to impaired blood supply to tissues and the appearance of bone growths. The severity of the pathological process is aggravated by the curvature of the fingers and their immobility. This form of arthrosis is difficult to treat. Bursitis, arthritis and synovitis may develop against the background of this disease.
Advanced arthrosis of the foot joints completely immobilizes the leg, making the person unable to work. In some cases, pathological changes become irreversible.
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.
An experienced doctor detects signs of joint deformation already during the first examination of the patient. First, it is necessary to establish the cause of the disease and exclude the presence of other pathologies. A number of diagnostic procedures are used to diagnose arthrosis.
For foot arthrosis, treatment is selected taking into account the form and stage of the disease. Therapy is aimed at restoring leg mobility. Gymnastics for the feet helps improve metabolism and blood circulation, and allows you to get rid of unpleasant sensations. The training plan should be developed by the attending physician; they become a preventive measure for exacerbation of the pathology. Exercises for arthrosis are aimed at:
Treatment of foot arthrosis includes following a special diet. The diet should include foods rich in calcium, vitamins E and B. They are included in sprouted wheat, nuts, and dairy products. You can take pharmacy vitamin supplements. A disease such as arthrosis is an indication for limiting the amount of salt consumed.
At home, you can take foot baths with decoctions of medicinal plants. They help eliminate pain and a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
Lotions with honey and salt are very effective.
Good results can be obtained by taking a bischofite bath. This natural mineral is a source of microelements that have a beneficial effect on the condition of muscle and cartilage tissue. Bishofite can also be used as compresses.
For arthrosis of the foot joints, clay treatment helps reduce the severity of inflammation and eliminate pain. Clay cakes are applied to the affected areas and left for 2 hours. After the procedure, you must wear warm socks.
The diet is aimed at eliminating the cause of the degenerative process in cartilage and bone tissues. Excess weight is the main factor contributing to joint problems. The following must be excluded from the menu:
It is necessary to completely stop drinking alcoholic beverages. You need to eat as much as possible:
Before choosing a particular diet, you should consult your doctor.
Arthrosis of the feet is characterized by impaired blood circulation and lymph drainage. Therapeutic massage helps to establish these processes. It is necessary to begin the procedure by developing the fingertips, movements should be directed towards the ankle joint. The effectiveness of the massage increases when it is completed with warming or paraffin applications. Special insoles used for flat feet and arthrosis have a therapeutic effect. They prevent joint deformation and return the foot to its normal functions. Properly made insoles allow the patient to walk without experiencing pain.
Surgical interventions are used when medication and physiotherapeutic techniques are ineffective. There are several types of operations used for foot arthrosis:
Drug treatment is aimed at relieving the inflammatory process and improving the condition of the cartilage. Hormonal drugs can be injected into the joint cavity. Warming and anesthetic gels are used for local treatment. Physiotherapeutic procedures involve heating the affected area. The most effective are:
People suffering from arthrosis of the feet should wear loose, comfortable shoes that do not impede the movement of their feet. Shoes should have flexible soles and good shock-absorbing properties. In summer, it is recommended to walk barefoot on the grass. The patient must eat properly and control his weight. Special exercises prevent the development of diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis.
You should not wait for the pathological process to enter the final stage; treatment in this case becomes impossible.
How to treat arthrosis of the foot at home?
Alternative medicine methods should be used in combination with traditional ones:
Deforming arthrosis is a joint disease in which the destruction of cartilage tissue and inflammation of the soft tissues of the joint occur.
Reasons for the development of deforming arthrosis of the foot joints:
Large and long-term overloads acting on a joint or medium loads that turn out to be excessive for this joint.
Chronic microtraumas of the joint, which are often found in athletes.
Wearing narrow, constricting shoes.
The listed factors lead to deterioration of blood circulation in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which leads to the development of arthrosis.
The most typical symptoms of arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal joint are pain in the joint, some swelling, moderate redness and a slight increase in temperature in the joint area.
According to clinical manifestations, three stages of arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are usually distinguished:
The first degree is characterized by periodic pain in the forefoot with excessive loads and rapid fatigue.
Second degree: painful manifestations are more pronounced. There is a thickening of the head of the first metatarsal bone in the form of proliferation of the so-called “bones” and a slight limitation of movements in the joint, mainly in the dorsal direction. With prolonged exercise, constant pain appears.
Third degree: there is a clear deformation of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint, movements are almost completely limited. The thumb is lowered, only minor movements of it in the plantar direction are possible. When walking, patients load the outer edge of the foot, sparing the head of the 1st metatarsal bone. In the area of increased load on the heads of the 5th - 4th metatarsal bones and under the main phalanx of the first toe, painful calluses appear on the plantar side. Pain in the feet occurs not only during exercise, but also at rest. Patients complain of fatigue and decreased ability to work.
The main method for diagnosing arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is radiography. With arthrosis, changes are usually observed in the articular surface of the bones that form the joint: surface unevenness and narrowing of the joint space.
Treatment of arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, like arthrosis of other joints, begins with conservative methods.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Local injection of steroid drugs into the joint.
Drugs that improve metabolism in articular cartilage tissue.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are successfully used:
Low intensity laser irradiation
Electrophoresis with drugs
Phonophoresis (use of ultrasound to administer drugs to the site of inflammation).
If such methods of conservative therapy are ineffective, steroid drugs are injected into the joint. These include diprospan, kenalog, hydrocortisone. This method is very effective in eliminating inflammation and pain in the joint and soft tissues around the joint.
Arthrosis deformans is a disease in which irreversible changes occur in the cartilage tissue of the joint and, over time, its functions and structure are completely disrupted. The pathogenesis is based on various factors that disrupt the formation of hyaline cartilage and synovial fluid.
First of all, the main manifestation of deforming arthrosis is
The process most often occurs in the ankle, knee, hip or interphalangeal joint.
If the disease progresses to the point of cartilage destruction, a painful blockade of the joint occurs; when walking, severe pain appears, which prevents the legs from moving and forces them to stop. This occurs due to pieces of cartilage or small bone fragments entering the joint cavity (articular “mice”).
In the area of the joints on the phalanges, nodular, very hard formations appear, while the joints are not very deformed, the muscles do not undergo atrophy, and there is no ankylosis (immobility of the joint).
A crunching sound is heard inside the joints when moving due to the friction of uneven surfaces against each other.
Due to pain and limited mobility, contractures (muscle contractions) can form, which shortens the legs or arms.
Deforming arthrosis is similar in its manifestations to various forms of arthritis; first of all, it must be distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis.
The causes of deforming arthrosis lie in age-related changes in the body. The situation is aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle or, on the contrary, excessive physical activity, injuries and obesity. Hereditary factors also play a role.
With deforming arthrosis, the articular cartilage is primarily affected. Cracks, ulcers, and erosions form on it. As a result of all these effects, the cartilage becomes so thin that every movement causes pain because the bones rub against each other. Those joints that bear the greatest load are most often affected. The hip and knee joints suffer the most.
Along with the cartilage, the bone tissue underneath also changes. Bone outgrowths form along the edges of the joint, which compensate for the loss of cartilage by increasing the articular surfaces. In diseased joints, few new fibers are formed, and old fibers are destroyed.
Treatment of deforming arthrosis or osteoarthrosis can be conservative or surgical. In the initial stages of the disease, this is always conservative treatment. The goal of treatment is to stop progressive degenerative changes in the joint. Treatment should be individualized and include not only drug therapy, but also changes in the patient’s lifestyle to eliminate factors that provoke the progression of the disease. In the first or second stage of the disease, the patient is advised to reduce the load on the diseased joint.
If the knee and hip joints are affected, it is recommended to stand and walk less, but the physical load on the body should not decrease. Walking must be replaced with other physical exercises that do not overload the joint. When pain in the joint worsens, bed rest or unloading of the joint with additional support on a cane or crutches is sometimes prescribed, especially if it is necessary to walk long distances.
It is recommended to wear shoes with soft, shock-absorbing soles or orthopedic shoes. Reducing excess body weight is of great importance, for which a diet is recommended. If the patient has instability or looseness of the joint, special fixators are used - orthoses. Exercise therapy is always recommended. Since movements in the joint improve its nutrition and prevent the increase in dystrophic changes.
Swimming and other types of water sports are especially beneficial, as this allows you to make movements in the joint and load the muscular system, with a reduced static load on the joint. Various physiotherapeutic procedures are also used. Physiotherapy improves nutrition of joints and muscles and reduces muscle spasms. Some physiotherapeutic procedures provide an analgesic effect. Magnetotherapy, ultrasound, inductothermy, sinusoidal modulated currents, diadynamic currents, applications of paraffin and ozokerite, administration of various medicinal substances using electrophoresis or ultrasound (phonophoresis), electrical stimulation, laser therapy, baths with hydrogen sulfide, turpentine, radon baths are used.
Drug treatment serves several purposes. First of all, it is necessary to reduce pain. If the pain is not severe, sometimes treatment begins with paracetamol (acetominophen) and its derivatives, which are less toxic to the body, but the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is usually considered the standard. This group of drugs reduces joint pain and reduces the intensity of accompanying inflammatory processes.
There is no course of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are prescribed only when necessary for pain and exacerbations of deforming arthrosis. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include many groups. The most commonly used are diclofenac (diclonate, dicoloberl), ortofen (voltaren), indomethacin, ibuprofen, piroxicam, oxytene, meloxicam (movalis), naproxen, surgam, lornoxicam (xefocam).
If the patient has problems with the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enteritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum), it is preferable to use selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - nimesulide (Nimesil, Nise, Mesulide), celecoxib (Celebrex). These drugs have less damaging effects on the gastric mucosa. Caution is required when using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs simultaneously with drugs that reduce blood clotting and glucocorticoid hormones.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce the effectiveness of medications that lower high blood pressure. Additionally, for an analgesic effect, local application of various ointments with analgesic and irritating effects (finalgon, feloran, capsicam, indovazine, fastmum-gel) is prescribed. Ointments are applied to the area of the diseased joint. To improve blood supply and nutrition of joint elements, vascular drugs are prescribed (trental, agapurine, pentoxifylline, nicotinic acid, xanthinol nicotinate). The use of chondroprotectors is considered a promising direction. They are elements of the structure of articular cartilage (hyaluronic acid derivatives). These are chondroxide, teraflex, alflutop, etc. These drugs are used orally, intramuscularly and intraarticularly.
The course of treatment is long. The direction of drug treatment aimed at correcting immune processes in the body is considered promising. For this purpose, the drug cycloferron, which is an interferon inducer, is used. The previously widespread introduction of glucocorticoid hormones into the joint is now limited to cases where persistent pain and inflammation in the joint cannot be eliminated.
In other cases, glucocorticoid hormones are not used, as they enhance destructive changes in the joint and can even cause aseptic necrosis of the bone. The third stage of deforming arthrosis cannot be treated conservatively. The progression can no longer be stopped. The function of the joint decreases until it disappears completely. In this case, only surgical treatment – joint replacement – can help.
1st degree. This is the earliest stage in which there are no visible changes in the cartilage joint tissues. Violations are caused by changes in the composition of the fluid that supplies the cartilage. Since it cannot withstand the applied load in the 1st degree, this is accompanied by pain. Deforming arthrosis of the 1st degree is expressed in muscle stiffness and rapid fatigue. This stage of development also includes the post-traumatic type of disease. In the photo, in the 1st degree of the disease, the doctor can detect a decrease in the joint space. The clinical picture is inconspicuous, and patients simply do not feel any changes. In the literature you can read that arthrosis of the 1st degree is almost asymptomatic. When a disease is detected, it is extremely necessary to strictly follow a diet, limit physical activity and, of course, say goodbye to bad habits. Deforming arthrosis of the 1st degree can be completely cured by procedures such as physiotherapy, physical therapy and the use of chondroprotectors.
2nd degree. It is characterized by increasing limitation of movements, which may be accompanied by crepitus. Usually pain occurs at the beginning of walking - “starting pain”. They appear due to the fact that during the first step the main load falls on the most pathologically altered area of the loaded part of the articular surface. Then the load during movements is more or less distributed evenly over the entire articular surface, and the pain may completely disappear or noticeably decrease to such an extent that it does not prevent the patient from covering even significant distances. However, over time, especially after prolonged exercise, by the end of the working day the pain intensifies, but after rest it may disappear completely. Joint deformation, muscle wasting, contracture, and lameness appear. X-ray reveals a significant narrowing of the joint space by 2-3 times compared to the norm, subchondral sclerosis is pronounced, and osteophytes are detected in places of least load. By the final stage of this stage of development of the disease, the pain syndrome may have a wave-like manifestation: periods of increased pain syndrome are replaced by periods of varying durations of a significant decrease in pain intensity or their complete disappearance. As a rule, this manifestation of pain is associated with the involvement of the synovial membrane in the process, i.e. with the development of chronic recurrent synovitis, which is an integral part of the clinical manifestations of stage III of the disease.
3rd degree. Severe pain with arthrosis of the 3rd degree is aching in nature, which accompanies the patient even during sleep. For example, with deforming arthrosis of the hip joint of the 3rd degree, walking becomes difficult and the person moves with a cane. The movements of a person in the 3rd degree of arthrosis are rocking (pendulum-like). Often it is necessary to fix the joint in a more favorable position to avoid pain. Destruction of cartilage at the 3rd degree reaches a maximum, there are large bone growths. The pain tends to intensify during wet weather and during exercise. With the 3rd degree, the disease transforms into deforming arthrosis of the joint, and, as often, a disability group occurs. It is not possible to cure the disease completely, but you can only relieve the pain symptoms for a while.
When classifying deforming arthrosis, it is customary to distinguish the following stages:
Manifestations of arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint
Movement in the joint is usually painful and limited. This is manifested by the patient limping when walking.
According to clinical manifestations, three stages of arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are usually distinguished:
Diagnosis of deforming arthrosis of the foot joints
Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the foot joints
Treatment of arthrosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, like arthrosis of other joints, begins with conservative methods. These include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce inflammation and pain. These drugs include, for example, indomethacin, ibuprofen, ortofen, piroxicam and many others. Unfortunately, these drugs also have side effects, such as effects on the gastric mucosa. Therefore, they are contraindicated if the patient has gastritis or gastric ulcer.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are successfully used:
In severe cases of arthrosis, when conservative treatment methods do not help, surgical intervention is used. Usually it consists of creating immobility in the joint - ankylosis. For prevention purposes, natural factors should also be used - children are recommended to walk barefoot on sand, mown grass, loose earth, or on a high-pile rug. Walking barefoot is also useful for adults, because such gymnastics strengthens muscles and improves blood circulation in the feet. Walking barefoot on asphalt and flat floors is harmful to your feet.
In case of severe pain, exercises are performed in the starting position, lying on your side, on your back and on your stomach, at a slow pace. In the first two or three days, do exercises 1, 2, 9,10 and 11; movements are performed only with the leg that is not affected by the disease. The exception is exercise 9—rotational movements are performed with both legs. As your condition improves over the next seven days, you can include all the exercises from these starting positions in the complex, and perform the movements with both the healthy and the sore leg.
It is better to start each exercise with a healthy leg.
One of the main rules is to increase the load gradually, carefully. The amplitude of movements is small at first, but increases from session to session. The number of repetitions in the first days is minimal. Then every four days they are increased by one or two.
When the pain subsides and the range of motion increases, the complex includes exercises performed in the knee-elbow position and sitting on a chair. You can refuse exercises 2, 3 and 5, and do 11 after 16. The pace, depending on how you feel, is slow or medium.
If slight pain occurs, you should not limit your range of motion. But don't let the pain become severe. This can cause an undesirable increase in muscle tone and further limit the range of motion in the affected joint. That is why, if the pain after performing an exercise does not go away within 5 minutes, the next day you should reduce the range of motion and the number of repetitions, especially those exercises that cause pain.
After four weeks of exercise, when the range of motion has noticeably increased and the muscles of the sore leg have become sufficiently strong, you can perform the exercises from a standing position. The complex now includes the following exercises: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27. To reduce the load after three or four exercises you need perform breathing exercises—11 or 27.
It is advisable to exercise regularly 2-3 times a day for a long time.
For deforming arthrosis of the knee joint, first massage the corresponding segments of the spine, then the thigh muscles, using stroking, rubbing with the base of the palm, concentrically and with the pads of the fingers, kneading longitudinally and transversely with both hands (see Fig. Longitudinal kneading of the thigh muscles with two hands).
The purpose of these techniques is to create hyperemia (blood flow) and improve tissue metabolism.
Then the knee joint is massaged using flat and enveloping continuous stroking, semicircular rubbing in upward and downward directions, alternately with enveloping continuous stroking.
In places where there is pain, rub with the base of the palm, fingertips and continuous stroking.
The strength with which massage techniques are performed depends on the sensitivity of the tissue being massaged.
An excellent way to improve lymph and blood flow, as well as tissue metabolism in the joint, is massage in warm (36–38 °C) water.
For deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint, massage the fingers and foot using stroking and rubbing, and when massaging the joint - circular rubbing, pincer-like, grasping stroking.
Particular attention should be paid to massage the ankle area, heel tendon, and calf muscles.
The calf muscles are massaged in the direction from the foot to the knee joint, using stroking and kneading (see Fig. Double circular kneading of the lower leg muscles).
With arthrosis of the elbow joint, the joint itself is not massaged, since massage, increasing blood and lymph flow in this area, promotes calcification of the anterior part of the joint capsule.
The massage is carried out in the following sequence: cervicothoracic spine - muscles of the shoulder girdle, shoulder, forearm.
Apply the techniques of stroking, rubbing, kneading.
Finish the massage with active-passive movements and stroking the entire limb from the hand to the armpit.
Duration of massage is 10–15 minutes.
The main enemy of joints is excess weight. Most patients suffering from arthrosis of the knee and hip joints are noticeably overweight. Reducing body weight leads to a noticeable improvement in the condition of the joints.
An effective diet for arthrosis should help reduce excess body weight, while fully providing the body with all the necessary substances.
When choosing a diet, doing cleanses or fasting, you need to be very careful not to harm yourself. Women over 50 should be especially careful about all kinds of diets. Calcium leaching can contribute to the development of osteoporosis, and potassium leaching provokes seizures and heart disease. Regarding your diet, be sure to consult with your doctor, especially if you have concomitant diseases.
Proteins are used to build new tissues, including the restoration of cartilage tissue covering the articular surfaces of bones. Dairy products are especially useful for restoring joints. Milk protein is easily absorbed by the body; in addition, dairy products (especially cottage cheese and cheeses) contain a lot of calcium, which is necessary to strengthen bone tissue. Animal protein is found in lean meat and fish, vegetable protein is found in buckwheat porridge, beans and lentils. To ensure that proteins are better absorbed, it is preferable to include boiled, stewed or steamed dishes in your diet.
It is believed that jellied meat or jelly prepared on the basis of bone broth is useful for arthrosis. This broth contains a large amount of collagen, which is necessary for the construction of cartilage and bone tissue, muscles and ligaments. Edible gelatin is also useful. The chondroprotector substances it contains help restore cartilage tissue.
Carbohydrates provide the body with the energy necessary for the smooth functioning of metabolic processes. But carbohydrates are different. Simple sugars (sweet and rich foods) are easily absorbed by the body and provide a quick burst of energy, some of which is stored as fat reserves. Complex carbohydrates (found in vegetables and fruits) are absorbed slowly, so they do not turn into fat. This is very important from the point of view of preventing excess weight.
Fats are also necessary; without them, metabolic processes slow down sharply. But the diet of patients with arthrosis should consist mainly of vegetable fats and butter.
Vitamins and minerals are of great importance for proper metabolism. Vitamins of group B are especially useful. Thus, vitamin B1 is found in peas, baked potatoes, whole grain bread, and beans. Vitamin B2 - in dairy products, bananas, eggs, B6 - in bananas, potatoes, chicken meat, nuts. Folic acid (vitamin B12) - in bananas, lentils, cabbage.
The best way to maintain healthy joints is to eat a diet that is low in carbohydrates, limited in protein and calcium, and rich in fruits and vegetables.
Prevention of deforming arthrosis includes methods and measures to eliminate causative factors. First of all, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, controlling your body weight, a balanced diet, moderate physical activity, and others.
The clinical picture of the disease varies and is often similar to the manifestations of arthritis.
Among the main signs, experts identify the following:
In addition, the disease has three stages according to the severity of the lesion. Arthrosis of the 1st degree manifests itself as pain in the legs after exercise. Soreness and stiffness in the limbs at stage 2 of the disease haunt a person even at rest. Deforming arthrosis of the foot is the 3rd degree of the disease: it becomes impossible to move the leg, the damaged joint begins to deform.
At this stage of the disease, a person develops a characteristic walking style: in an effort to unload the affected joints, the unfortunate person tries to step on the outer side of the foot. This type of gait leads to the formation of painful calluses.
The development of a degenerative disease is influenced by many factors, including:
The risk group for this disease includes people with a genetic predisposition to it. An unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and a sudden refusal from sports training can also provoke the disease. Often the disease develops in those who professionally engage in ballet, dancing, as well as those sports that are characterized by leg injuries.
If foot arthrosis is diagnosed, treatment is first aimed at reducing pain in the joint and returning it to normal function. An important role in this process is played by non-drug treatment methods that can significantly slow down the progression of the disease:
Treatment of foot arthrosis with medications has two goals: pain relief and restoration of cartilage tissue.
To relieve pain and reduce inflammation, experts prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Paracetamol and the like). Warming anti-inflammatory ointments (Diclosan, Menovasin, Apizatron and others) also help relieve pain.
IMPORTANT! These medications should only be taken on the recommendation of a doctor. Uncontrolled use of painkillers risks the patient no longer sparing the affected joint and this provokes the progression of arthrosis.
The use of chondroprotectors (Structum, Teraflex, Alflutop, Chondroxide and others) stops the destruction of cartilage and strengthens the joint.
IMPORTANT! Taking chondroprotectors should be continued for a long time, at least four months, since these are medications with a delayed duration of action. They are able to stop degenerative changes in the affected joint.
Often, the patient is also prescribed vitamin and mineral complexes to increase immunity and normalize metabolic processes, they give the body the strength to recover independently (Oligovit, Vitrum, Bischofite).
Physiotherapy (UHF, phonophoresis, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, laser therapy and others) are prescribed exclusively in combination with drug therapy and are not carried out if the joint is affected by an inflammatory process.
Properly selected therapeutic exercises are no less effective. Preventive exercises for the legs are aimed at working the Achilles tendon, stretching, strengthening and bending the toes.
Degenerative processes in the joint with grade 3 arthrosis can lead to total destruction of cartilage. In advanced forms of the disease, conservative therapy does not achieve any effect.
We have to resort to surgical intervention. The following types of operations are used:
You can add treatment at home to your doctor’s prescriptions. An integrated approach gives the best results in the fight against an unpleasant disease.
It is useful to start the morning with light physical exercise:
IMPORTANT! Exercises should not be painful. After an unsuccessful element of gymnastics, be sure to rub the sore spot with warming ointment. Remember that intense exercise only increases the manifestation of the disease.
For degenerative foot lesions, walking barefoot on small pebbles, deep sand, dug up earth or mown grass has a beneficial effect on the joint.
It doesn’t hurt to know how to treat arthrosis of the foot at home using folk recipes that have been proven over decades. Therapeutic baths enhance blood microcirculation in the vessels of the diseased joint and stimulate metabolic processes:
Blue clay contains minerals and trace elements that are beneficial for articular cartilage. It is added to baths or diluted to the consistency of thick sour cream, applied to sore joints and left for an hour. At the end of the procedure, it is recommended to wear warm socks or warm your feet in another way.
Homemade warming ointments for feet have an analgesic effect:
Medicine distinguishes three stages of the disease, each of which corresponds to a certain degree of severity.
Osteoarthritis of the foot can occur due to reasons such as:
The development of the disease can be affected by previous injuries and numerous microtraumas, especially for athletes.
Deforming arthrosis involves treatment using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, including:
These medications effectively fight inflammation and reduce pain.
If drug treatment does not bring results, steroid drugs are injected into the joint, such as:
These are highly effective agents that relieve inflammation and eliminate pain, both in the joint itself and in the soft tissues adjacent to it.
Long-term use of chondroprotectors is prescribed. Drugs in this group stop further progression of deformation and destruction of cartilage, restore nutritional metabolism in the joints and thereby inhibit the worsening of the disease.
Physiotherapeutic treatment is widely used:
With the help of physiotherapy, pain is significantly reduced and inflammation subsides, thereby accelerating the healing process.
Diet adherence is important. The consumption of carbohydrates such as flour and sugar, as well as animal fats, should be strictly limited. The patient's diet should mainly consist of vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, fish (mainly sea fish) and lean meats.
Reasonable physical activity also plays a very important role in the recovery process. A specialist doctor selects a set of exercise therapy exercises for each patient individually. You cannot suddenly start putting weight on the sore foot and you should avoid excessive stress on it, however, regular performance of a set of therapeutic exercises helps improve blood supply to the tissues of the joint, relieves inflammation and accompanying symptoms of pathology.
Deforming arthrosis of the foot in an unadvanced form can be alleviated and even healed with folk remedies at home. Foot baths based on honey, healing herbal decoctions of thyme, St. John's wort, mint, juniper, oregano with the addition of sea salt are of great benefit. They generally have excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. But we should not forget that treatment with folk remedies, despite numerous positive reviews, can only serve as an addition to the main treatment, and not at all as a replacement.
Therapy is also indicated in sanatorium-resort conditions, provided there is no allergic reaction - apitherapy (treatment with bee venom) and leeches (hirudotherapy).
Conservative measures for the treatment of arthrosis are effective only in the initial stages of the disease. The third stage of arthrosis inevitably requires surgical intervention, since in this case the progression of the disease becomes uncontrollable and cannot be stopped. To relieve the patient from incessant, exhausting pain, they often resort to anklosion of the joint (its complete immobilization). Another alternative to this is joint replacement.
There are methods for preventing arthrosis, starting from childhood, natural factors that should definitely be used. This is walking barefoot on sand, on mown grass, on loose earth, on a fleecy rug. Walking barefoot will benefit both children and adults, thus strengthening the muscles and improving blood circulation in the feet. But walking barefoot on asphalt and bare floors is harmful to your feet.
At the first signs of joint deformation or pain that bothers you when walking or running, do not delay going to the doctor. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chances of recovery.