Deforming osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joints of a degenerative-inflammatory nature, which is characterized by damage to the hyaline cartilage covering the articular surfaces of bones, as well as the underlying bone tissue itself, the development of osteophytes, and in later stages - persistent deformation of diseased joints.
Deforming arthrosis ranks first in prevalence among all joint pathologies, and is also the main cause of disability and disability in middle-aged and older people. The disease significantly worsens a person’s quality of life, causes constant and intense pain, and limited range of motion in the affected joints.
Most often, deforming osteoarthritis affects the small joints of the hands, the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe, the joints of the cervical and vertebral spine (here the disease is called osteochondrosis), the hip, knee, ankle and shoulder joints. But according to the prognosis and impact on a person’s life, the most severe localization is considered to be damage to the hip, knee, ankle and shoulder joints, since the loss of function of these particular joints leads to disability and the need for surgical endoprosthetics.
Almost all joints of the body are susceptible to arthritic changes.
Arthrosis deformans develops due to an imbalance between the mechanical load on the articular surface of the cartilage and the ability to compensate for this load, which leads to degeneration and destruction of cartilage tissue. Several groups of factors can contribute to the development of this dissonance:
Hyaline cartilage consists of cells, chondrocytes, and an extracellular matrix (collagen fibers and proteoglycans), which are produced by chondrocytes. It is the intercellular substance that provides cartilage tissue with elasticity and resistance to damage. The development of arthrosis deformans begins with metabolic changes in the structure of cartilage, resulting in its depolymerization and loss of proteoglycans. Inferior cells cannot synthesize the required amount of new intercellular substance, and this leads to a change in the mechanical abilities of the tissue and a decrease in hydrophilicity (the ability to retain water molecules).
Pathological changes in deforming osteoarthritis
As a result of these changes, the cartilage loses its elasticity, becomes rough, and begins to crack. In some cases, it disappears completely, exposing the bone tissue. Under such conditions, the articular parts of the bones also succumb to pathological changes. A sclerotic process develops in them, cystic cavities form, which leads to the development of erosive arthritis (gradual destruction of the bones that form the joint).
At the same time, a compensatory reaction develops, which is aimed at stabilizing diseased joints - the proliferation of osteophytes. These are marginal outgrowths of cartilage tissue, which ossify over time. Such tissue gradually bricks up the joint cavity and leads to its ankylosis and severe deformation, as a result of which function and the possibility of any movements are lost.
Today, they do not wait for the natural end of pathological changes in the joint, but begin to treat deforming arthrosis immediately after diagnosis. If conservative methods are ineffective, then surgery is performed.
Depending on the causes of its occurrence, deforming osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary. The primary variant of the disease is diagnosed when there are no obvious reasons for the development of arthrosis changes. In this case, the main role is played by the genetic predisposition to this disease and the presence of risk factors. Secondary deforming osteoarthritis develops as a consequence of the underlying pathology, for example, post-traumatic arthrosis after a sports or household injury, osteoarthritis against the background of congenital defects of the musculoskeletal system.
Risk factors for developing osteoarthritis:
Important to remember! The presence of these risk factors does not mean that a person will have osteoarthritis, but the more there are, and the longer the exposure time, the greater the chance of developing such a pathology.
This disease can be found under several names: arthrosis deformans, osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, but according to the ICD 10 classification, these are synonyms.
The pathology can occur as monoarthrosis (only one joint is affected), oligoarthrosis (no more than 2 groups of joints are involved in the pathological process, for example, knees and hips) and polyarthrosis, when 3 or more articular groups are affected, for example, joints of the hands, feet and ankle joint.
Joint pain is the main symptom of arthrosis
The disease develops slowly. At the very beginning, those joints that are subject to maximum load suffer, and gradually other joints can be retracted.
Common signs of osteoarthritis:
There are 3 degrees of deforming arthrosis:
Stage 3 deforming osteoarthritis of the hands
As a rule, diagnosing osteoarthritis is not difficult. An examination by an orthopedic or rheumatologist and a series of functional tests is sufficient. Typical patient complaints, the presence of risk factors for pathology, together with an X-ray examination, make it possible to quickly and accurately diagnose the disease. Differential diagnosis must be made with rheumatoid arthritis, especially when small joints of the hands are affected, with gouty arthritis.
Treatment for osteoarthritis should begin immediately after diagnosis, and the sooner this happens, the better the prognosis. There are conservative and surgical methods for treating the disease. As a rule, the therapeutic process begins with lifestyle modification, the use of medications, alternative treatments and other conservative methods. In case of their ineffectiveness and further progression of the disease, they resort to surgery.
The regimen for osteoarthritis is aimed mainly at reducing the load on the diseased joint, especially during an exacerbation. For this purpose, bed rest, refusal of usual physical activity is used (it is prohibited to perform any therapeutic exercises), and the use of additional objects for support, for example, a cane, special handrails. If necessary, limb traction and immobilization with orthoses and bandages are performed.
No special diet is required for osteoarthritis. It is necessary to ensure a balanced diet, as well as its enrichment with vitamins and microelements. In case of obesity, the diet should be low-calorie in order to normalize weight and reduce the load on sore joints.
Exercise therapy is the main method of treating osteoarthritis. Regular and proper exercise can strengthen the muscles around damaged joints, which will create excellent support and reduce the load on damaged cartilage. All exercises should be performed only when there is no exacerbation and in the absence of pain. The complex of therapeutic exercises is selected individually in each case, depending on the location of the lesion, the stage of arthrosis, the patient’s age and his physical fitness.
Physical therapy is the main method of treatment and prevention of joint arthrosis
Since the main symptom of arthrosis is pain, almost every patient takes painkillers. For this purpose, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and glucocorticoid hormones are prescribed. Treatment is supplemented with the use of chondroprotectors, drugs that improve microcirculation and eliminate muscle spasms. When large joints are affected, drugs are administered directly into their cavity. Most often these are chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid, and glucocorticoids.
Recently, a technique such as intra-articular oxygen therapy has become quite popular. Ozone is introduced into the joint cavity, which helps eliminate the lack of oxygen and the accumulation of intermediate metabolic products in the cartilage tissue.
Often, the standard treatment regimen is supplemented by treatment with folk remedies and other methods of alternative therapy (hirudotherapy, apitherapy), physiotherapeutic courses (electrophoresis, laser therapy, phonophoresis, magnetic therapy, central CVS, mud applications, water procedures).
If conservative therapy is ineffective, they resort to surgery to replace the destroyed joint with an artificial endoprosthesis. Sometimes only such drastic measures can relieve a person of chronic pain and allow him to move independently again.
Osteoarthritis of the foot is characterized by inflammatory processes in the periarticular tissues and destruction of cartilage. As a result, the patient experiences severe pain that affects his gait. A sick person cannot step on the injured foot. He tries to shift all the load to the outer edge.
The reasons for the development of stage 1-2 diseases are different, their condition is associated with circulatory problems, the rhythm of a person’s life and other factors . Thus, osteoarthritis of the foot can develop due to the structural features of the foot. Improperly formed joints, flat feet or wide feet - all this invariably leads to illness. Deformed toes are of considerable importance.
Standing for a long time and heavy overload also contribute to the disease. Osteoarthritis of the foot develops especially often in athletes due to injuries. If treatment has not been started in the near future, then the likelihood of developing the disease increases many times over.
Hypothermia of the feet, impaired metabolism, endocrine and chronic diseases should also be noted. Deforming osteoarthritis of the foot can appear with other ailments in this area. The list of diseases is presented by arthrosis of the ankle joint, polyarthritis and other degenerative changes.
In addition, a number of patients are initially at risk. We are talking about those people who wear shoes with a narrow toe, high heels, or simply tight. As a result, the big toe becomes deformed. Heredity should also be taken into account, so if close relatives have arthrosis or arthritis, you yourself need to think about the likelihood of osteoarthritis.
Low mobility and the absence of any sports activities have a negative impact on health. Poor lifestyle and poor nutrition have a negative impact. The likelihood of developing the disease increases in people who are tall.
Symptoms of this condition manifest themselves differently in different situations. It depends on the situation in which the patient is, the degree of the disease and its development. The patient may often complain of pain, this is the most common symptom.
For grade 1, there are mild symptoms, namely a slight pain that occurs after a long stay on the feet and occurs periodically. As for degree 2, in this case the patient’s discomfort increases, joint mobility is limited, and the metatarsal bones thicken. At grade 3, deformities begin and it is difficult to move and step on the foot. Swelling often occurs.
In general, the disease is characterized by a crunching sound when walking, painful sensations during and after exercise. During the cold season, pain also occurs. After sleep, the patient has limited movement, the muscles are in a tense state. An increase in body temperature is not uncommon. Patients experience increased fatigue, they quickly get tired of exertion, and their level of performance decreases.
Treatment of foot joints involves the use of several methods. The traditional method is a conservative one, in which the patient is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Steroid drugs are injected directly into the diseased joint.
It is necessary to indicate the means used by the doctor to treat the patient. These include anti-inflammatory and painkillers, including the following drugs:
As for local medications and chondroprotectors, the following drugs are used:
Along with conservative methods, the method of physical rehabilitation of joints is widely used. The specialist selects the appropriate procedure and regimen for the patient. In this case, therapeutic physical education, manual therapy, special massage and physiotherapeutic procedures are used. Physiotherapeutic procedures include the following methods:
It must be said right away that treatment with folk remedies should be carried out after consultation with a treating specialist. Those cases where patients self-treat with these medications are marked by a high rate of complications, since people use the technique incorrectly. Only a doctor will help you choose the right recipes and prescribe proper treatment for your feet.
Foot baths are often practiced, and there are a wide variety of recipes. The first recipe is a bath with pine branches and honey. You need to take 2 dry pine branches, 1 tbsp. l. honey, 1 tsp. purified turpentine, Jerusalem artichoke root and a little bath salt. Jerusalem artichoke is finely chopped, the presented components are added to the bath. Next, lower your legs and hold them for about 10 minutes.
After the procedure, be sure to dry your feet well and make an iodine mesh at the affected area. Then you need to apply gauze with pork fat to this area. You should go to bed with this compress. A course of 10 such procedures is implied, but the doctor may prescribe a different number.
Thus, the elimination of osteoarthritis of the foot of the first and subsequent degrees is an important need. The lack of quality treatment can lead to the development of complications and the transition of the disease to the next stage, which should not be allowed.
When the first signs of the disease appear, you should immediately contact a specialist.
Take care of your feet, if symptoms appear, contact a specialist immediately
Pathological changes in the human musculoskeletal system are always painful, and the lack of therapy can provoke partial immobility and lead to disability. Deforming osteoarthritis of the foot is one of these pathologies. The disease manifests itself as an inflammatory process in soft tissues; the improper functioning of some systems leads to premature wear of cartilage.
The distal part of the lower limb consists of three parts, contains 26 bones and even more joints. Enormous loads fall on this part of the leg; the foot can withstand the weight of the entire body and additional loads. Sometimes this leads to trauma to individual parts of the joint, which can be accompanied by deformation and inflammation. People aged 40–50 years are susceptible to deforming osteoarthritis, although earlier cases of the disease are also encountered.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the joints of the feet develops against the background of past traumatic injuries. The disease does not develop immediately; it may appear several months or a year after the fracture. All this time, the patient will feel minor pain after exercise, which is more likely to be attributed to fatigue than to osteoarthritis of the joints. According to statistics, in 50% of cases, a deforming disease occurs after bruises, fractures, or dislocations. The main causes of pathological changes in the foot:
Primary degenerative-dystrophic pathologies, for example, arthrosis, polyarthritis, lead to the development of deforming osteoarthritis. Individuals whose professional activities require standing for long periods of time, for example, dancers, gymnasts, salespeople, managers, postmen, builders, and cleaners, are susceptible to the formation of deformation of the joints of the foot.
Deforming osteoarthritis has four degrees of development. At the very beginning of the development of the disease, the patient does not experience discomfort, there are no tangible signs of the disease. However, during physical exertion, working without long rest, slight discomfort appears, which is attributed to fatigue. It is at this moment that it is important to understand that osteoarthritis has begun to develop, especially if this is not the first time such a symptom has bothered you. Sometimes minor pain may appear, which, as a rule, victims do not attach importance to. Crunching in the fingers is another sign of early stage disease.
Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree of the foot is manifested by deformation and increased pain. During this period, the patient begins to deviate the thumb towards the index finger. Painful sensations begin to occur not only during physical activity, but also during rest. The disease is accompanied by hyperemia in the area of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. The joint begins to bulge to the side, in medicine this condition is called halus valgus. Deformed big toes make choosing shoes very difficult.
The disease at stage 3 is almost impossible to stop. This stage is characterized by the appearance of acute pain, which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot cope with. The mobility of the foot is noticeably lost, the patient's gait changes, lameness appears, and a crunching sound when moving is heard by others. The 2nd to 5th toe is deformed. Further, deforming osteoarthritis develops into the 4th degree of development, which is characterized by loss of the supporting function of the foot. The load on the spinal column is distributed incorrectly, resulting in degenerative changes in the joints of the spine. Nodular growths in the area of joints affected by osteoarthritis are visually visible.
Diagnosis of the disease begins with taking a medical history; to determine the stage of the disease, the doctor will need to conduct some mobility tests. During the examination, do not forget to mention the medications you started taking and say whether they help or not; this information will also be useful in making a diagnosis. In the presence of deforming osteoarthritis of the foot joint, the deformation is visually noticeable, the doctor can immediately tell the patient what disease he has.
To confirm the pathological condition, an x-ray examination will be required. The resulting image allows you to determine the stage of development of deforming pathology. Diagnostic signs of the disease:
The results of the x-ray examination give the specialist the opportunity to prescribe more effective treatment.
At the initial stages of development of deforming osteoarthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. NSAIDs quickly relieve pain, which greatly alleviates suffering. Representatives of this group include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Sulindac, Meloxicam, Analgin, Flurbiprofen, Tenoxicam. These agents are non-selective inhibitors that block the enzymes COX-1 and COX-2. The drugs have a negative effect on the victim’s gastrointestinal tract and should not be abused.
For deforming osteoarthritis of the foot joints, it is recommended to take selective NSAIDs. Medicines are used in the presence of certain pathological processes, for example, inflammation. Selective NSAIDs do not have such a strong effect on the gastrointestinal tract, but they negatively affect cardiac activity and can increase blood pressure. Celebrex, Prexage, Arcosia, Denebol, Dynastat are often prescribed.
The use of chondroprotectors is mandatory. Medicines restore cartilage tissue by regenerating cells and restoring blood circulation in the feet. In addition to medications, therapeutic foot massage, physiotherapeutic procedures (electrophoresis, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, low-intensity laser irradiation, radon baths, phonophoresis, UHF), and physical therapy are prescribed. Acupuncture, hirudotherapy, and apitherapy help a lot. The treatment regimen and physical procedures are selected individually.
The lack of a positive effect and progression of the disease forces patients to turn to radical methods of treatment. If the joints of the foot are so deformed that even the use of a splint does not help, surgery should be performed to return to the normal anatomical position. The main surgical measures taken for deforming osteoarthritis:
When resorting to surgical treatment methods, carefully select a surgeon. If the doctor in a public clinic does not have a very good reputation, it is better to turn to a private surgeon and avoid complications, such as infection, than to spend even more money later.
Prevention of the disease should begin at an early age. Parents are obliged to monitor the child's health. Children are advised to walk on mown grass, barefoot on sand, loose soil or a fleecy rug. If the feet are injured, an X-ray examination must be performed after six months and a year to exclude the development of osteoarthritis. The examination should be carried out even in the absence of signs of osteoarthritis; as is known, in the first stages of development the disease may not manifest itself. Adult patients should follow the following recommendations to prevent the development of deforming osteoarthritis:
Deforming osteoarthritis of the feet is a pathology that inevitably progresses if measures are not taken. You should always take care of your health and pay attention to the intensity and nature of the pain. Timely detection of the disease gives a good prognosis and absence of relapse in the future.
When patients detect joint pain or dystrophic changes in cartilage tissue, doctors diagnose deforming osteoarthritis.
The disease is characterized by a degenerative state of the osteoarticular apparatus complex and its functional insufficiency.
Competent drug therapy will help slow down the progression of deforming osteoarthritis; in severe cases, endoprosthetics are performed. Without the intervention of doctors, the disease risks developing into a pathology.
DOA of the knee joint, or deforming osteoarthritis, is a pathology characterized by impaired regeneration of connective tissue and its changes.
This leads to aging of the articular cartilage proteoglycan fraction: they become thinner, become rougher, crack, and lose strength and elasticity.
With deforming osteoarthritis, the inner bone in the joint is exposed, becomes denser, and cysts and osteophytes grow in it along the edges.
The disease deforming osteoarthritis develops in healthy cartilage with a congenital decrease in endurance function. This is called the primary type.
Secondary osteoarthritis deformans occurs when there are cartilage defects inside the joint, the appearance of which arose due to trauma, tissue inflammation, aseptic necrosis, hormonal or metabolic imbalances.
Russia has adopted the International Classification of Diseases. This is a single document used to keep records of diseases, morbidity and reasons for visiting hospitals. According to him, DOA of the joints belongs to the class of arthrosis and group M15-19:
Doctors identify the following signs of DOA of the knee joint, which characterize the disease:
A factor in the appearance of osteoarthritis of the deforming type is the discrepancy between the load and the safety margin of the joints. The causes that cause disease and damage to the joint are:
The development of deforming osteoarthritis manifests itself in three stages known to doctors. They are characterized by a gradual complication of the disease:
The diagnosis of DOA is made to the patient based on consultation with a rheumatologist and research. Doctors conduct x-ray diagnostics, which allows them to see narrowing of the cracks, growth of osteophytes, deformation, and the presence of cysts.
A detailed examination of deforming osteoarthritis is possible using ultrasound, computed tomography and MRI.
For a clearer diagnosis, puncture, arthroscopy, and study of the properties and elements of articular, synovial fluid and cartilage tissue are performed.
Therapy for osteoarthritis of the deforming type should be comprehensive. It includes preventive measures that reduce the load on diseased organs, as well as drug treatment. Here are the main points recommended by doctors:
Important methods in the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis are physical therapy and massage.
When performing exercise therapy, it is important to make not too intense movements, to perform the exercise carefully, without injuring the affected area.
Carefully increase the number of repetitions and intensity of exercises for osteoarthritis deformans. It is optimal to perform them lying down and sitting, ideally in the pool.
Balneotherapy, thermal radiation, cryotherapy and ultrasound are considered auxiliary methods of local treatment of deforming type osteoarthritis.
They reduce pain, muscle spasms, and stiffness, but together with acupuncture and laser they have many contraindications and are used as prescribed by a doctor.
A number of cases of osteoarthritis of the deforming type require arthroscopy - washing the joint to remove particles of cartilage and relieve pain.
Effective methods of alleviating the condition of patients are considered to be fixation of ligaments and tendons with an elastic bandage or bandage; in advanced cases, sticks or crutches are used. Promising directions for the treatment of osteoarthritis of a deforming nature are called:
To reduce pain, drug treatment of deforming type osteoarthritis is used.
For mild pain, doctors prescribe Paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Diclonate, Voltaren, Ibuprofen, Xefocam, Movalis. For complications in a patient with ulcers and erosions of the gastrointestinal tract, Nise, Mesulide, Celebrex are used.
For local effects in osteoarthritis of the deforming type, pain-relieving ointments are used - Finalgon, Feloran, Capsicam, Fastum-gel.
To improve blood flow, Agapurin and nicotinic acid are prescribed. Chondoprotectors help restore the structure of cartilage - preparations based on hyaluronic acid Chondroxide, Teraflex and Alflutop are taken orally, administered intramuscularly and intraarticularly.
To correct immune processes in osteoarthritis of a deforming nature, Cycloferon is used, and for severe pain that cannot be eliminated by basic means, intra-articular injection of glucocorticoids is prescribed.
They have a quick effect, which is noted by doctors.
Local medications to relieve pain during inflammatory processes of osteoarthritis of the deforming type are prescribed drugs with an irritating effect on the skin - ointments, gels, creams.
If it is difficult to use these medications, intra-articular administration of glucocorticosteroids is recommended - injections are allowed no more than four times a year.
4-20 mg of medications Dexamethasone, Kenalog, Hydrocortisone are administered.
For osteoarthritis of the deforming type of joints of the lower extremities, it is useful to use physiotherapy. It reduces pain, reduces tissue swelling, muscle spasm, and improves microcirculation. Popular areas of treatment for deforming osteoarthritis are:
If conservative methods of treating deforming type osteoarthritis do not help, or the joint is completely destroyed, doctors use surgery. The types of operations are:
After the last operation, significant stress should be avoided for normal healing.
To prevent pain, the development of infections and the formation of blood clots, ice is applied to the joint. When the swelling subsides, you can do gymnastics.
In parallel with physical exercise, patients with osteoarthritis of the deforming type continue to take medications. The stitches are removed after two weeks.
If the operation is successful, on the third day a splint is applied to prevent displacement of the prosthesis. It lasts up to five weeks.
A patient with deforming type osteoarthritis simultaneously engages in physical therapy - stretches and strengthens the calf muscles.
After 1.5-2 months from the date of the operation, it is allowed to move without restrictions, fully loading the joint.
After surgery and elimination of the pain reaction, the joint functions better, but complete restoration of cartilage in an adult cannot be achieved.
Osteoarthritis of the deforming type without treatment threatens to develop into severe complications and can cause dysfunction of the limbs, which ends in incapacity and disability.
The result of therapy depends on the rate of progression of the disease, the degree of development, age and general health of the person.
To prevent the formation of deforming osteoarthritis, doctors recommend a set of the following measures:
What problems do people face when they develop deforming osteoarthritis? What is the peculiarity of this disease? Who is most at risk of getting it? What are the symptoms and treatment of deforming osteoarthritis ? And what needs to be done to never experience problems with joints, and if there are difficulties, lead a normal lifestyle?
The development of deforming osteoarthritis results in degenerative damage to the joints, their deformation and complete immobility.
Such a condition of the osteoarticular apparatus does not arise in one day or even in several months.
Without proper treatment, deforming osteoarthritis can develop over years, gradually wearing out the joint and ultimately leading to complete “paralysis” of the problem area.
Serious problems are preceded by a series of negative processes: disturbances in the functioning of cartilage tissue, thickening of synovial fluid, and the formation of osteophytes - bone growths with which the body tries to “cover” the exposed joint.
How does deforming osteoarthritis occur? For various reasons, the process of premature “aging” of cartilage begins - metabolic processes in tissues are disrupted, they cease to renew themselves at the cellular level.
Chondrocytes (the main cells of cartilage) synthesize insufficient amounts of collagen.
Changes also occur in the synovial fluid, which nourishes the osteochondral tissues and is a natural lubricant for them during movement.
Over time, cartilage loses its elasticity, cracks, and exposed bone tissue is “covered” by new growths - ossified processes of deformed cartilage. If the load on the joint continues, then during movement it becomes displaced and deformed, which is why the pathology is called “deforming osteoarthritis.”
A sign of deforming osteoarthritis is ankylosis - joint immobility.
Deforming osteoarthritis is most typical for large joints that experience the greatest load - hip, knee, ankle, interphalangeal.
There are primary and secondary pathologies . The first develops in a healthy joint due to various reasons that may remain unclear. This type of pathology is more typical for mature and elderly people, and the risk of developing it increases after 40 years.
Secondary osteoarthritis affects joints that were previously weakened by injuries, congenital or acquired pathologies, surgeries, hormonal imbalances, tissue necrosis and other factors.
By retirement age, primary osteoarthritis is found in almost everyone.
Despite the fact that treatment of deforming osteoarthritis of the knee , hip or ankle is more often required in older people, pathology can also develop in younger patients.
The main danger for weakened cartilage, covered with microcracks and burrs, as well as for a joint deprived of natural shock absorbers in the form of cartilage and synovial fluid, is excessive loads. Therefore, the first group of reasons for the development of pathology includes:
The remaining causes can be divided into two large groups - congenital and acquired..
Hereditary factors that provoke the development of deforming osteoarthritis include dysplasia, deformations and abnormalities of the spine, atrophy or hypermobility of ligaments, in which the load on the articular surfaces is also distributed incorrectly.
The group of acquired “provocateurs” that trigger the process of destruction of cartilage tissue includes:
More often, the diagnosis of “deforming osteoarthritis” is made to women after 45 years of age. This is due to hormonal imbalances during menopause or excess weight. At a young age, on the contrary, the disease more often develops in men due to excessive stress and bad habits.
The symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis depend on the degree of development of the pathology, while the general signs of the disease in the first two stages differ only in the degree of manifestation.
The main symptoms of the disease include pain and limited mobility (stiffness in the joint).
During emergency treatment of stage 2 deforming osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or ankle, one has to direct efforts not only to eliminate pain, but also to solve the problem of a shortened limb and changes in gait (lameness, “duck” gait, dragging the leg).
Deforming osteoarthritis is accompanied by muscle atrophy. That is why regular physical therapy exercises are so important for its effective treatment.
Let us once again list the main symptoms of deforming osteoarthritis:
How do symptoms manifest themselves at different stages of development of deforming osteoarthritis?
It is difficult to diagnose the disease at an early stage, since the symptoms are not clearly defined, may resemble manifestations of other diseases, and can also be attributed to the general state of health - age or physical activity. So, pain appears after a busy day, if a person, for example, spent a long time on his feet or sat in front of the computer.
After rest, the pain subsides and disappears.
At the first stage, there may be slight stiffness in movements, which is caused by pain - intuitively you want to take care of the problematic leg or arm, so the person steps on his leg less, tries to bend his knees less or use his left hand more. A characteristic crunch may appear in the joint during movement, which is barely noticeable.
For the most effective treatment of deforming osteoarthritis, it is desirable to identify it at an early stage. It’s difficult, but perhaps you just need to be more attentive to your body.
A timely visit to the doctor and an x-ray examination already at stage 1 will show the development of pathology - the initial destruction of cartilage.
Usually, patients come for help when the pain begins to be constant in order to receive a disappointing diagnosis - deforming osteoarthritis of the hip or other joint of the 2nd degree, the treatment of which must begin immediately.
Going to the clinic no longer seems surprising, because the pain does not go away on its own and accompanies a person during movement, intensifying with loads on the joint. Swelling and the first signs of joint deformation may appear.
An X-ray with grade 2 osteoarthritis will show a significant narrowing of the joint space (by more than 40%) and the formation of osteophytes.
Often the image shows a so-called joint “mouse” - a fragment of bone that causes sharp pain during joint movement. At this stage, the patient still retains the ability to move, but uses a cane while walking.
By the way, the doctor usually recommends third-party support in order to reduce the load on the injured joint.
The third stage of pathology development is final. If treatment is not carried out, the cartilage tissue is completely destroyed, and the joints are completely immobilized.
The pain is constantly present, the crunching of the joint is clearly audible, palpation is accompanied by acute pain, the joint is severely deformed (increased in size, displaced, etc.).
The patient can move only with the help of aids - a cane, crutches, a wheelchair. The problem is clearly visible even without an x-ray, although it is, of course, done to clarify the situation.
In the third stage of deforming osteoarthritis, the only way to restore mobility is endoprosthetics - a surgical operation to replace a joint with an artificial implant. That is why it is so important to identify the symptoms of the disease in the early stages, when treatment is still possible without drastic measures.
The main tasks that arise for the doctor and the patient in the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis:
Deforming osteoarthritis is not an inflammatory disease, but is chronic in nature, so once a pathology of cartilage tissue appears, you will have to fight throughout your life.
But before treatment, it is important to correctly diagnose the disease and determine its degree , because this is what will largely determine the specifics of the treatment course. For diagnosis the following is carried out:
It is worth taking seriously the fact that you can only get reliable information about how to treat osteoarthritis deformans in a particular patient from the attending physician.
It is important that the treatment of deforming osteoarthritis is carried out only comprehensively, and the program necessarily includes medication , as well as, at the discretion of the doctor, manual therapy, physiotherapy and massage, physical therapy and other methods.
Conservative therapy is carried out using non-steroidal drugs (Voltaren, Brufen, etc.), which help eliminate inflammation and relieve pain.
For reactive synovitis (fluid accumulation in the joint cavity and inflammation of the synovial membrane), drugs of the aminoquinoline group (Plaquenil, etc.) are used, and if the pathology is accompanied by muscle spasms, then a course of muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, etc.) is prescribed.
To increase vascular tone, a short course of novocaine injections is given.
We should not forget about chondroprotectors - drugs that help restore the natural structure of cartilage tissue . Neither diet nor traditional medicine can cope with this task in full.
Severe pain symptoms are eliminated with the help of intra-articular hormonal blockades, but their administration is treated with extreme caution, since the drugs have strong side effects.
In the early stages, ointments and gels that minimize adverse reactions can be used to eliminate pain, improve the structure of cartilage tissue and accelerate blood flow. The most popular products for external use include diclofenac, ketoprofen, and ibuprofen.
Adjusting your diet is of great importance. It helps to reduce excess weight and thereby reduce the load on the affected joints.
Fatty and excessively salty foods, smoked foods, sweets, and white bread are excluded from the menu.
Jellied meat with a high content of collagen , as well as berry, fish or chicken aspic prepared on the basis of gelatin, become a healthy dish.
It has already been said about the importance of physical therapy, but you should do it only after consultation with your doctor and under the guidance of a physiotherapist who will monitor the correctness of the exercises. Otherwise, you risk causing even more harm to your joints.
There is a lot of debate about whether traditional medicine is effective.
Most experts are convinced that treatment of deforming osteoarthritis with folk remedies can bear fruit only in the early stages and in combination with traditional methods of influencing the affected joint, primarily medications.
Those patients who tried to treat osteoarthritis at home with the help of various compresses and rubbings prepared on the basis of herbs or natural products, sooner or later ended up seeing a doctor because the pain intensified and the joint became deformed. Is it worth wasting time trying to delay the inevitable? The answer seems obvious.
To prevent deforming osteoarthritis, it is important to exclude all provoking factors, which means:
Patients with deforming osteoarthritis may be recommended annual sanatorium-resort treatment , the program of which includes various baths (radon, sulfur) and mud therapy.
Effective treatment of deforming osteoarthritis directly depends on the timely identification of symptoms, so listen more carefully to your body and do not hesitate to visit the clinic if your knees have become “unruly”, your hips are “shooting”, and your fingers refuse to perform simple movements.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the foot is a chronic degeneration of the joints of the foot due to degeneration of the articular cartilage, which causes changes in the surfaces of the bones and their deformation, the proliferation of bone formations and the development of synovitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the cartilage).
Movement is life.
Due to physical inactivity or heavy loads on the musculoskeletal system, injuries, excess weight and aging, cartilage structures wear out, provoking various forms of arthrosis. Deforming osteoarthritis (DOA) of the foot is considered one of the most unpleasant manifestations of this process.
In the process of biological aging of articular cartilage, metabolism is disrupted and cartilage elasticity decreases.
It itself loses its fibrous structure, becomes covered with cracks, becomes rough, thereby exposing the underlying bone. Osteophytes grow on the edges of bones, hindering movement.
The process is aggravated by inflammation of the articular cavity due to the entry of microscopic cartilage fragments there.
This picture is typical for the development of arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoarthritis. In the presence of a disease on large joints (knee, hip), DOA often occurs in the foot, phalangeal, interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal zones. The disease was assigned code M 19 according to the international classification of diseases - ICD 10
Causes of DOA feet:
Other features of foot osteoarthritis:
Symptoms appear gradually. This is explained by the staged nature of the destruction of joints and cartilage. It is almost impossible to pay attention to pathology at an early stage. Osteoarthritis of the foot can be recognized as grade 2 or 3 by the following signs:
Depending on the complexity of the disease, deterioration of the joints and cartilage, there are 3 degrees of DOA of the foot: