Home Arthritis Arthritis of the ankle joint: causes and treatment
Every year more and more people suffer from various joint diseases. The fact is that recently the lifestyle of a modern person has changed a lot. Often these changes become sources of dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. According to the official classification, these diseases are divided into two groups: independent and secondary, which arise as a result of another pathological process. If we talk about independent disorders, there are two types: arthritis and arthrosis. In this article we will talk about arthritis of the ankle joint, the causes of which are most often: poor diet, sedentary or sedentary lifestyle, fashion for high-heeled shoes, injuries, hypothermia, excessive stress on the ankle joints. Experts have noticed that genetic predisposition to bone and joint diseases is of great importance, sometimes being the only cause of this disease. The number of people suffering from arthritis is increasing every year. Medical experts suggest that the overall incidence rate will increase significantly within 10 years, and there will be one million more such people. This disease is terrible not only for its symptoms, but also because it is increasingly becoming a cause of human disability. Most often it affects older people, but recently patients are rapidly becoming “younger”. Today, young people between 20 and 40 years old often suffer from this disease.
Arthritis of the ankle can occur in both acute and chronic forms. To accurately diagnose the disease, you should definitely contact a specialized specialist, but you should be wary if you observe the following symptoms:
Arthrosis is one of the most common joint diseases, which is often called age-related. Indeed, it is rare that arthrosis occurs before the age of 50, and most often begins at the age of 55-60. We will talk about how to treat arthrosis in our article, but first a few words about the disease itself, since without a clear understanding of what arthrosis is, it can be difficult to cope with this disease.
Arthrosis is, first of all, deformation of articular cartilage. The cartilage gradually becomes thinner and loses its integrity, and sometimes the cartilage may even begin to separate into fibers. As the disease progresses, the bone is exposed, and small cracks begin to appear in the bone tissue, and inflammatory reactions in the joint intensify. The main cause of arthrosis in the vast majority of cases is aging of the body. Among the less common causes, we note various joint injuries, as well as “occupational” arthrosis associated with one or another type of activity. Thus, arthrosis of the knee joint often occurs in football players, and the ankle often begins to hurt in ballerinas. If measures are not taken, progressive arthrosis can lead to a complete loss of motor function of the joint, which, naturally, will lead to ankelosis - that is, complete immobilization of the limb.
There are different treatment methods, but we still recommend that you consult a specialist before using them. The fact is that proven methods may not always be effective in certain cases. And in order to exclude wasted treatment or even harm to the body, the best solution would be to consult a doctor who will tell you exactly how effective a particular method of treating arthrosis can be in your case. Now let's move on to a description of the methods: both medical and folk.
Piskovatsky Pavel Enlightened (28058) 5 years ago
It would be good to know what kind of arthritis begins - gouty, rheumatic, rheumatoid, reactive arthritis, arthritis due to tuberculosis, gonorrhea or caused by other reasons? It is always necessary to promptly diagnose and adequately treat. For restraining therapy, you can use traumeel cream and willow bark decoction.
Sergey Sviridov Oracle (73133) 5 years ago
“Methods of Dr. Bubnovsky. Improvement of the spine and joints. Library of healthy lifestyle"
Stas Isovskiy Guru (3296) 5 years ago
It would be good to know what kind of arthritis begins - gouty, rheumatic, rheumatoid, reactive arthritis, arthritis due to tuberculosis, gonorrhea or caused by other reasons? It is always necessary to promptly diagnose and adequately treat. For restraining therapy, you can use traumeel cream and willow bark decoction.
“Methods of Dr. Bubnovsky. Improvement of the spine and joints. Library of healthy lifestyle"
Arthrosis of the joints is a very common degenerative disease that can lead to serious pathological changes in the joints with limited mobility to its complete loss if you do not start fighting it in time. Namely, when arthrosis of the 1st degree has not yet continued its further development. But even in this case, it will not be possible to completely cure this disease, but it will be possible to permanently stop the ongoing cascade of destruction of cartilage tissue in the joint.
Arthrosis of the joints of the 1st degree is very difficult to diagnose. This is due to the fact that he has almost no visual changes, and often even X-ray images do not show anything that could suggest the onset of the development of the disease. At this stage, disturbances occur in the metabolic processes of joint tissues. But it should be said that treatment of grade 1 arthrosis will be most effective precisely at this degree of development of the disease.
The knee, pelvic and ankle joints are most often affected, as they experience serious stress every day.
Patients with incipient arthrosis seek help in isolated cases, attributing the first mild symptoms to temporary fatigue, magnetic storms or other strange and not so strange reasons. The symptoms of this degree of pathology are so mild that they do not really attract attention until it is too late.
The patient may be disturbed by a crunching sound during sudden movements, a slight limitation in motor activity that goes away very quickly during movement, rapid fatigue and minor aching pain after intense stress on the legs.
Arthrosis of the first degree manifests itself differently depending on the location of the process.
Treatment methods for incipient arthrosis are prescribed by a specialist in this field.
The patient is offered a comprehensive treatment, including therapy using medications, as well as physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, massage and diet therapy. As additional methods, you can use recipes from traditional healers, but after agreeing on their use with your doctor.
The goal of the entire complex of treatment measures is not only to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also to redistribute the load placed on the joint and, most importantly, to prevent further destruction of cartilage.
Answering the question of how to live with arthrosis of the 1st degree, it must be said that if you follow all medical recommendations, give up bad habits and review your diet, little will change. Life at the initial stage of arthrosis will not be much different from what it was before the diagnosis of joint arthrosis was established. So the prognosis regarding the development of the pathological process depends entirely on how early the person sought qualified help and how regularly and conscientiously he follows all the recommendations and instructions received.
Arthrosis of the knee joint occupies a leading position in terms of frequency of origin in the group of diseases of arthrosis of the joints. In terms of severity, the disease is in second place after the end of coxarthrosis.
Every fifth person on the planet suffers from gonarthrosis. People over 40 years of age are particularly predisposed to this disease and, as noted along with this, the incidence rate in women is almost 2 times higher than in men. According to statistics, 7-22% of people in the world suffer from gonarthrosis.
It is possible to say that along with this disease, the articular cartilage cracks and becomes narrower, along with this losing its fibrousness and shock-absorbing properties, which, in principle, does not make it possible to soften periodic impacts of the knee joint and body on the go.
Now we will look at arthrosis of the knee joint, define what it is, what are the symptoms of this disease, and tell you effective methods of treatment, as well as at home.
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Under what circumstances does arthrosis of the knee joint begin, and what is it? Every day, our knee joints are subjected to physical stress while walking, supporting the weight of the entire body. Cartilage tissue wears out over the years, leading to joint damage. Based on this, arthrosis of the knee joints appears in older people.
People at risk for gonarthrosis include:
The disease begins slowly, it is extremely important to promptly seek qualified help from a doctor in order to avoid restriction of joint movement and disability in the future.
With arthrosis of the knee joint, certain symptoms are observed. Temperament of pain:
The most important symptom indicating the origin of gonarthrosis is pain in the knee joint area. Along with this, the disease does not appear suddenly; the pain will increase over many months and even years. At first, they will disturb the patient only when there is increased stress on the legs, and after that, in addition, in a state of calm.
It is not difficult to completely restore JOINTS! The most important thing is to rub this into the sore spot 2-3 times a day.
Arthrosis of the 1st degree occurs virtually without visible signs. This phase of development is characterized by:
Painful symptoms, if they occur, appear to a minor extent. Now arthrosis of the knee appears on an x-ray in the form of small irregularities on the cartilage tissue and the surface of the bones.
In addition, a slight narrowing of the gap between the bones may be observed. At this stage, it is very difficult to diagnose pathology; therefore, radiography is mandatory.
With grade 2 arthrosis of the knee joint, the symptoms are more pronounced. Pain appears already from minimal exertion or immediately after it. In the affected part of the leg, pain is caused by virtually any movement. After a sufficiently long rest, in most cases it goes away completely. But the next physical action immediately leads to pain.
Approximately at the second stage of development of the disease, the following pain sensations are added:
The uncouth arthrosis crunching of joints, in most cases, is barely audible at first, but as the disease progresses it becomes very loud and distinct. When you try to bend your leg, a sharp pain appears in your knee. In some cases, this can only be done up to an angle of 90 degrees, and even then with great difficulty and overcoming pain. In addition, a change in the shape of the joint becomes obvious, which is also aggravated by the accumulation of pathological fluid in it.
Characteristic features of grade 3 arthrosis are severe pain, regardless of the amount or intensity of physical activity. The joint also disturbs a person at night, causing significant inconvenience.
The mobility of the knee joint is impaired and the person can no longer bend the leg at the knee independently. There is sensitivity to weather changes, to which the affected area reacts very sensitively.
An x-ray can demonstrate global transformations of cartilage tissue, joint surfaces, and uncharacteristic growths. An O-shaped or X-shaped curvature leads a person to disability.
The doctor, having listened to the patient’s complaints, during the examination first of all pays attention to visible transformations in the structure of the limb (coarsening of the bones, deformation), decreased mobility in the joint. Palpation is accompanied by pain, and a crunching sound is heard when the kneecap shifts.
The main method for diagnosing gonarthrosis is radiography of the joint (along with this, at the first stage the pathology may not be recognized). There may be a couple of such images in order to track the dynamics of the development of the disease. In addition to X-rays, MRI or computed tomography may be prescribed.
All these studies are needed in order to correctly find the causes of the disease and differentiate gonarthrosis from other joint diseases.
For diagnosed arthrosis of the knee joint, treatment may include the following methods:
Goals of treatment of gonarthrosis:
Massage procedures, physical therapy and proper balanced nutrition (diet) are very important. If you see a doctor too late or if no method gives any results, then surgery on the joint is possible: surgical intervention is called installation of an endoprosthesis.
The main groups of medications used to treat arthrosis include the following categories:
The drugs used as NSAIDs are diclofenac, ketoprofen, piroxicam, butadione, indomethacin, ibuprofen, nimulide, Celebrex and their derivatives.
For arthrosis, non-steroidal, i.e. Non-harmonic, anti-inflammatory drugs are traditionally used to eliminate inflammation and pain, because due to severe pain it is not possible to begin treatment. Only after the pain has been eliminated with anti-inflammatory drugs can you move on to massage, a complex of therapeutic exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures.
In the event that NSAID treatment is not enough and the disease continues to progress, the doctor may prescribe injections of hormonal drugs. They are considered heavy artillery and help to quickly eliminate pain, relieve inflammation and swelling of surrounding tissues.
Quite commonly used hormonal drugs:
Due to the huge number of side effects, hormonal drugs are prescribed in small courses, only in the acute period of the disease, at a time when inflammatory fluid accumulates in the joint cavity. The drug is administered into the joint space no more than once every 10 days.
They are the only medications that specifically affect the condition of joint arthrosis. Especially in the early stages and especially those that contain chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate.
Chondroprotectors include:
The effect of these drugs is based on restoring the normal production of synovial fluid and damaged cartilage tissue.
Quite effective in the initial stages of arthrosis of the knee joint. Injected intra-articularly.
The procedure is not inexpensive. Helps reduce abrasion of joint cartilage surfaces. The main thing is that the medicine does not penetrate into the bloodstream, there is a risk of embolic complications.
There is a large list of ointments and gels aimed at relieving pain and reducing the inflammatory process.
This list includes ointments for arthrosis of the knee joint:
The list of ointments for knee joints is large and is not limited to those listed by us, and the composition of the medicines included in the ointments is not uncommon, similar to each other.
How to treat knee arthrosis at home? Drug therapy can be supplemented with some traditional medicine recipes.
Many patients with arthrosis of the knee joint note a great improvement in their condition and a decrease in painful and unpleasant sensations after finishing using traditional medicine intended for external or external use.
A positive outcome is not likely without a course of therapeutic exercises, which can be done at home. It strengthens muscles and increases blood circulation in the joint. To get the desired result, you need to forget about intense joint tension.
The basic rule when treating with gymnastics is slow and measured movements without any jerks.
Proper nutrition is an important component of successful treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint.
Eat more often, eating small portions at the same time. This will speed up your metabolism, which will lead to weight loss. Snacks are allowed between main meals when hunger pangs occur. They can eat fruits, with the exception of grapes and bananas, and whole grain bread.
Arthrosis is a disease of the body that results in inflammation of the joints. The occurrence of arthrosis is associated with excess weight and insufficient nutrition of cartilage tissue, as well as with inactivity. With arthrosis of the knee joint, a crunching sensation appears, pain occurs, and the knees stop bending. This is the extreme, catastrophic stage of the disease. Before its occurrence, the initial stage of the disease is observed for a long time, when the knees partially lose mobility, ache and begin to crunch. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the result can be achieved. In the early stages of the disease, you can achieve complete recovery, in the later stages you can only support the body and joints and delay the time of their destruction.
Effective treatment of arthrosis is achieved by two targeted actions:
Let's take a closer look at what therapeutic measures contribute to joint treatment.
The knee joint tends to accumulate deposits inside itself and form salt build-ups in the presence of stagnation of internal fluids. The more active a person leads a lifestyle, the less likely he or she is to develop arthrosis of the knee joints. Preventive measures include daily walking, slow running (jogging), vigorous sports, and active games in the fresh air. Treating a disease after its manifestation is more difficult than preventing its development with preventive measures.
If pain and immobility have already appeared, then the disease requires immediate treatment and normalization of lifestyle. Consultations with specialists confirm the need for action in two directions: lifestyle changes and medication.
Treatment of arthrosis is a long process that drags on indefinitely and does not always guarantee results. Osteoarthritis of the knee joints is often accompanied by destructive changes in the joint. Often treatment can relieve pain and partially restore knee mobility, but when exposed to unfavorable factors, arthrosis worsens. Such an incompletely cured disease is called chronic. Almost all types of arthrosis of various joints (knee, hip) are chronic diseases.
Treating knee arthrosis with medications is better than removing the disease with surgery.
Surgical treatment is used for complete destruction of the joint and its nonfunctionality. In such cases, the diseased joint is replaced with a metal prosthesis.
Official and traditional medicine offers its own treatment methods. Pharmaceutical drugs used for inflammation of the knee joints have a targeted effect:
Treatment of knee joints is carried out comprehensively. Depending on the stage of development, the age of the patient and his general condition, the necessary medications are selected.
Available in tablet form, gel, ointment and patch.
They have an analgesic effect and relieve inflammation.
Available in the form of capsules, tablets, injection solution and preparations for local treatment. But intra-articular injections show the greatest effect.
Available in the form of an injection solution. It is placed inside the joint.
According to their therapeutic effects, all methods of physiotherapeutic treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint are divided into several groups.
The drug has the form of an emulsion of yellow-brown or dark green color. It is made from the bile of pigs and cattle with the addition of preservatives in the form of alcohol, furatsilin and other substances.
It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It also improves metabolic processes in the joint and is able to resolve ossified growths.
For gonarthrosis, it is used for compresses and making healing ointments.
The simplest compress on the knee is prepared as follows: a piece of gauze is folded into 5 layers and soaked in bile. Apply to the joint and cover with wax paper. Polyethylene cannot be used. Wrap yourself in a warm scarf over the paper. If desired, you can add cotton wool. Maintains for two hours. If the gauze is dry, it is soaked in the preparation again. The manipulation is carried out daily for 5-30 days.
Pepper tincture for compress. It is prepared from hot pepper – 10 pcs., camphor alcohol – 4 bottles, medical bile – 250 ml. The mixture is infused for two weeks in a dark, cool place. Then it is filtered and the solution can be used for compresses. The duration of the procedure should not exceed 20 minutes.
Medical bile has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, it also improves blood circulation in the periarticular tissues, strengthens muscles and helps increase range of motion.
Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with folk remedies often gives a more noticeable effect than the use of ready-made medications.
Arthrosis of the knee joints in folk medicine is treated with various means of plant natural origin: herbs, seeds, leaves, fruits, bee products, natural minerals. The three pillars on which the success of arthrosis treatment is based are: elimination (of waste), nutrition (necessary substances) and physical activity (to normalize blood circulation).
Measures to increase physical activity are introduced when the patient is able to perform them (after pain has been relieved and accessible mobility has returned). It is better not to delay the introduction of available physical exercises and walks, they enhance the effectiveness of treatment. Saturation of the knee joints with vitamins, microelements and other necessary substances ensures their ability to function (bend, straighten, withstand weight load). To restore cartilage tissue, medications containing chondroitin are prescribed. Clearing existing deposits allows you to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Treatment from the inside involves the use and absorption of medicinal substances through the digestive tract that promote healing. Such natural medicines and stimulants are mumiyo, raw vegetable and fruit juices and herbal teas.
Consuming freshly squeezed juices and mumiyo supplies the body with essential nutrients. In this case, the substances come in an digestible form. Juices supply the human body with a huge amount of vitamins. The correct selection of the composition of fruits and vegetables in juice forms a set of elements that contribute to the prevention, treatment and recovery of knee joints. Effective treatment of arthrosis is achieved by drinking juice obtained from cranberries, beets and black radishes.
Mumiyo is a natural supplier of a whole range of useful substances to the body:
Such a rich complex of substances provides anti-inflammatory and restorative effects, removes toxins and saturates with vital elements. Shilajit is a natural stimulator of collagen production, which forms the basis of connective tissue (bones, cartilage and tendons). Shilajit is consumed 0.2 g in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before meals. It is better not to mix natural balm with food, allow it to be fully absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and effectively support the diseased organ or joint. Mumiyo, cleared of sand and clay, can be purchased at a pharmacy in the form of tablets or packaged in bags.
Among the herbs that help treat arthrosis, we highlight eucalyptus, wood lice and dandelions. Eucalyptus tea is consumed three times a day in the presence of significant inflammation and an ESR of more than 14 units (in a blood test). Woodlice is used to brew tea three times a day. An alcohol tincture is often made from dandelions and consumed in drops, diluted in a glass of water, once a day, in the morning.
Compresses allow the joint to absorb the nutrients it needs through the skin. As a rule, compresses have a resolving effect. Among the herbal preparations that improve the condition of arthrosis joints are burdock and birch buds.
Burdock leaves are used to wrap a sore joint. For a compress, collect several (5-10 pieces) large leaves, knead them to release the juice, heat them slightly (place a pan of hot water on top). After which a stack of prepared burdocks is applied to the sore knee with the velvety (bottom) side. Cover with polyethylene and secure with a scarf or elastic bandage (not tight).
A similar treatment for the knee joint can be carried out with a compress of snowdrop flowers, birch leaves and raw potatoes. For a compress, grate the potatoes on a fine grater to form a paste. It is better to use the smallest grater available so that the size of the potato particles in the gruel is minimal. The consistency of semolina is required, from which raw potato juice is easily released. Before applying, grated potatoes are slightly heated in a water bath; the heating duration should not be long so that the potato particles do not turn black. Next, the warm pulp is placed on the sore knee, covered with polyethylene and wrapped in a scarf.
Arthrosis in its early stages can be treated with compresses made from medical bile. To enhance the resorption effect, ammonia, iodine and glycerin are added to the bile. The listed components are infused together with bile for ten days and only after that are used for compresses. Before wetting the fabric, the infused liquid is poured into a glass container and heated in a water bath.
In the initial stages of arthrosis of the knee joints, a compress of crushed and steamed horseradish roots also helps.
Vinegar, alcohol, turpentine and camphor oil (1 tablespoon each) are placed in a glass and poured with melted internal fat (pork, beef). The mixture is mixed, warmed up and soaked into a compress cloth before use.
By massaging the skin over the diseased organ or in its response zone, increased blood flow is achieved. Normal blood flow is the basis for successful treatment of inflammation. With the blood flow, food comes in and slag ballast leaves. You can enhance the effectiveness of massage by using additives in massage oil. Celandine has an effective effect on joint inflammation. The technology for making massage oil with celandine is as follows: freshly picked leaves and stems of celandine are placed in a dark glass container (bottle or jar), filled with vegetable oil and infused for two weeks. After which it is filtered and used as oil for massage and kneading.
You can alleviate the condition of the joint and achieve recovery by rubbing with alcohol. The rubbing tincture contains not only alcohol, its effect is enhanced by the addition of medicinal plants: dandelion flowers, stems and roots of cinquefoil (another name is cinquefoil). To prepare the tincture, use a dark glass container with a tight lid. Infusion time is from two weeks to a month. The entire bottle is filled with dandelions, after which it is filled with vodka. For cinquefoil arthritis, 50 g per 0.5 liter container is sufficient.
You can treat the knee joint with rubbing. They are made from various raw materials that supply the cartilage tissue with the necessary nutrients and restorative substances. Various rubbings of turpentine, internal fat, mumiyo, camphor are used in addition to yolk and vinegar, which supply collagen and microelements inside the knee cartilage.
Here are recipes for preparing ointments that are most effective in the treatment of arthrosis.
The rubbing ointment is applied to the affected knee, lightly rubbed in and wrapped in a warm cloth. For wrapping, it is better to use natural fabrics (cotton bottom layer, wrapped in a woolen scarf or down shawl for warmth). Heat promotes better penetration of active substances into internal tissues, increased blood circulation, which, in turn, accelerates the supply of nutrients and the removal of toxins and salts. Such procedures, accompanied by warm wrapping, are performed at night, leaving the ointment to be absorbed and act during the entire night's sleep (about 8 hours). In the morning, the remaining ointment is washed off or wiped with a damp towel. The bottom cotton cloth after wrapping yourself at night contains toxins released from the sore knee. Therefore, for the next wrapping, it must be rinsed and dried.
Performed using honey. Natural honey is applied to the knee joint. After this, lightly press on the knee with your fingers and palms and lift them. When pressing, the honey sticks to the hands; when raising the hands, the skin of the knee is slightly pulled behind the fingers and palms. By sticking and unsticking the hands to the skin, a kind of massage is performed, during which some of the unhealthy deposits that have accumulated inside the joint are pulled onto the surface of the skin. It is these toxic deposits that cause immobility and the growth of salt deposits and cause pain. The duration of this massage is 10-15 minutes, after which the remaining honey is thoroughly washed off. Honey residues on the skin contain a large amount of slag substances, so they must be thoroughly washed off or wiped to prevent re-absorption. After a stretching massage, the knee is wrapped in natural woolen fabric, this enhances the effectiveness of elimination, since in the warmth the ongoing processes of freeing the joint from toxins continue.
Clay has a natural ability to cleanse the environment in which it is found. To cleanse joints, apply it as a mask and leave until dry. It is important to know that after drying, the clay must be removed (shattered, washed off). Dry clay should not be left on the body, since the ballast harmful substances drawn into it can diffuse back through the skin into the internal tissues. In severe cases, several clay masks can be applied sequentially. After the first layer of clay has dried, it is washed off and a second one is applied, then the next third.
Baths with essential oils in the treatment of knee joints are more of a pain reliever than a remedy. Adding oils slightly enhances the anti-inflammatory effect. The traditional treatment regimen for arthrosis uses eucalyptus, St. John's wort, and calendic ether for pain relief.
To treat a joint successfully, it is necessary to understand the nature of the disease and the effects of various substances on cartilaginous joint tissue. The treatment regimen for the knee joint includes a complex effect on the diseased joint with various drugs that supply anti-inflammatory and restorative substances to the cartilage tissue.
The basis of this method is a combination of drug therapy, physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. There is no universal program. It is selected individually in each individual case.
What happens in the body during treatment according to Evdokimenko:
Like any therapeutic method, this treatment system has its contraindications:
Treatment according to Evdokimenko is recommended for stage 1 and 2 arthrosis of the knee joint. More severe forms require surgery.
This technique is fundamentally different from conservative methods of treating gonarthrosis. It does not involve the use of medications or surgical treatment. The basis of treatment is kinesiotherapy and physical therapy.
The therapeutic complex is selected individually. A preliminary x-ray examination of the joint is performed. Classes are conducted by a special instructor.
If all medical results are observed, after Bubnovsky’s course the following changes are observed:
It is not recommended to use the Bubnovsky system for the treatment of arthrosis if:
The therapeutic complex recommends visiting the bathhouse, massage and swimming. Therefore, after undergoing treatment according to Bubnovsky, not only the functionality of the joint is restored, but the general condition of the body is also strengthened.
Read reviews from patients who underwent treatment abroad. In order to receive information about the possibility of treating your case, leave us a request for treatment using this link.
...I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and prescribed treatment. I was treated in a hospital, spent several hundred hryvnias from my pension - and nothing helped. It is even difficult to put shoes on my right foot. Please print the specialist’s recommendations regarding my illness. Sincerely, Nadezhda Vasilievna. Belaya Tserkov, Kyiv region.
The editors receive a lot of similar letters in which readers ask for advice and help from a specialist with joint diseases, and osteoarthritis in particular. We asked the doctor, hereditary herbalist Vyacheslav VARNAVSKY, to tell us more about arthrosis and give recommendations regarding the treatment of this disease.
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE
Arthrosis (osteoarthrosis) is a degenerative disease of the joints associated with slow degeneration and destruction of intra-articular cartilage. Over time, restructuring of the articular ends of the bones, inflammation and degeneration of the periarticular tissues appear. Osteoarthrosis of the hip joints is called coxarthrosis, osteoarthritis of the knee joints is called gonarthrosis. Osteoarthritis can be primary, due to age-related and/or biomechanical changes, or secondary, for example, after an injury, due to diabetes mellitus or thyroid disease. Of the small joints, the most commonly affected are the terminal segment of the finger joint (Heberden's or Bouchard's nodes) and intervertebral joints (spondyloarthrosis). Less commonly, the proximal joints of the thumb and toes are affected. Unlike large joints, the disease of small joints does not occur singly; as a rule, arthrosis simultaneously affects the terminal segments of all joints of the fingers of both hands. Characteristic symptoms are pain during exercise, subsiding with rest, limited mobility and crunching in the joint, muscle tension in the joint area, possible periodic swelling, and gradual deformation of the joint. Without proper treatment, a joint susceptible to arthrosis not only destroys itself, but also disrupts the biomechanics of the spine and other joints; hence herniated intervertebral discs and arthrosis of other joints. Therefore, treatment should be started as early as possible. In the early stages, arthrosis can be stopped. But sometimes we begin to react only when any movement causes unbearable pain and the joint loses mobility. But time is running out. At this stage of the disease, it is only possible to remove the inflammation associated with arthrosis and reduce pain, but it is almost impossible to restore damaged cartilage. Why are joints affected so often? The fact is that our musculoskeletal system is constantly exposed to all kinds of stress. At the same time, the ability of articular cartilage to recover is extremely low. Normally, a joint consists of two or three bones, the ends of which are covered with cartilage. In the early stages of arthrosis, the cartilage becomes dry, loses its elasticity, and cracks appear on its surface. Subsequently, the cartilage continues to crack and thin, until the underlying bone is completely exposed. The bone, deprived of a shock absorber, is subjected to increased load and gradually becomes deformed and flattened. The goal of treatment of primary arthrosis is to restore blood circulation in the tissues of the affected joint. Therapy should be comprehensive: medication, physiotherapy, and sanatorium-resort treatment.
DRUG TREATMENT OF ARTHROSIS
If the wear and tear of cartilage has not yet progressed too far, medications containing glucosamine sulfate, a natural substance obtained from the shells of marine animals, can help. It has a positive effect on cartilage metabolism and improves joint mobility. A special place is occupied by heparin, which improves intracapillary blood flow and increases tissue tolerance to hypoxia (lack of oxygen). To improve the absorption of oxygen by joint tissues, B vitamins are used. The most common drug for pain relief and anti-inflammatory therapy is everyone’s favorite herbal drug - aspirin. It also improves microcirculation. The drug feprazone is used for the same purpose. It is more promising because it has almost no effect on the gastrointestinal tract and can be prescribed even for gastric ulcers. You can additionally use fresh hogweed leaves as a pain reliever. The leaves must be doused with boiling water, wrapped in gauze and applied to painful areas.
1. You need to start with rubbing. To do this, use ointments: - flax seed oil, propolis, gum turpentine (4:1:1), based on beef bone fat; — wax — 10 parts, propolis — 2 parts, bee venom — 0.5 parts, horseradish — 3 parts, based on beef bone fat. These ointments should be alternated, after which I recommend additional treatment with a pharmaceutical ointment - Dikul ointment. — Rubbing ficus tincture with ficus tincture helps many: fill a 0.5 liter bottle with ficus leaves, add vodka and leave for 2 weeks. — In my practice, it was effective to use a liquid ointment for rubbing, consisting of pharmaceutical bile, formic alcohol, ammonia, glycerin (10 ml each) and 5-6 drops of iodine. — In case of joint pain and crunching, sometimes rubbing internal beef fat helps quite well. It is rubbed in until only one film remains in the hand. — It’s even better to take 200 g of salt, 100 g of dry mustard, add enough kerosene to get a mixture with the consistency of sour cream. Rub the resulting ointment dry into sore spots overnight.
2. After rubbing, compresses follow. — Prepare a steam of cinquefoil with fern (1:1). 4 tbsp. l. mixtures of herbs are boiled for 15-20 minutes in 3 liters of water. Hands or feet are held for 20-25 minutes in a steam temperature of 40-42 degrees, after which they are wrapped in woolen clothing or rabbit fur. — A compress of cake made from rye flour also helps. It must be kneaded with ammonia. They apply it and wrap it up. Repeat 3-5 times. — Clay compresses are also useful. They are made at night. I advise you to alternate the use of white and blue clay. — For joint pain, make compresses of honey and salt. 1 tbsp. l. honey and 1 tbsp. l. Mix fine salt, apply to a piece of linen and place on the sore spot, cover with compress paper, wrap. Do it daily at night. — Another remedy for pain available at home is compresses with bischofite. This is a natural bromine-chlorine-magnesium brine with a high content of boric acid, iodine, copper, bromine, iron, lithium and other trace elements. Apply a hot heating pad to the joint for 10 minutes, pour 2 tablespoons of bischofite into a saucer and, after wetting your fingers with brine, rub it into the skin around the joint for 5 minutes. Moisten the gauze with the remaining solution, place it on the joint, cover with compress paper or plastic wrap and wrap it with cotton wool or a woolen scarf. With arthrosis of the hip joint, it is better to do this while lying in bed on your healthy side, and pull the sore hip towards your stomach (as if you were sleeping curled up). In this case, applying a compress yourself is not very convenient - let your family help you. The compress is usually applied at night for 2 weeks in a row, and removed in the morning, washing off the remaining bischofite from the skin with warm water. After 2-3 weeks the procedure can be repeated. Note. First of rubbing and compresses, I recommend taking a bath (see below).
3. At the same time, you need to drink medicinal herbs: - 1 tbsp. l. pour one glass of boiling water over the leaves of young May birch warty. Leave for 6 hours in a dark, warm place. Take 1/2 glass of infusion 3 times a day. - 5 tsp. pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over the hernia. Leave for 6 hours. Take 2 tablespoons before meals. When inflammation reaches a chronic stage, the only way is to remove pain, swelling, and restore joint mobility. Thus, it is possible to make the cartilage more dense. This requires a sufficient supply of easily digestible collagen in the body. I recommend natural remedies: - Artros - powder of medicinal shiitake mushrooms. This medicinal mushroom has been the pride of medicine for thousands of years. Shiitake polysaccharides help activate nonspecific immunity, which manifests itself in increased interferon synthesis and ensures the highest possible degree of restoration of the joint structure. — Geladrink contains a unique combination of substances: collagen hydrolyzate, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine sulfate, as well as methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), vitamin C, vitamin B6, biotin and minerals (calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper) necessary for the normal functioning and restoration of cartilage tissue . — Dikrasin is a drug created from extracts of the herbs St. John’s wort, oregano, and hawthorn. It contains essential oils, tannins and flavonoids. The therapeutic effect of the drug is based on its ability to strengthen blood vessels, prevent inflammatory processes, and improve blood supply to tissues. Dikrasin dissolves salts and removes toxins accumulated in the joints. After treatment, in many cases the functions of the damaged joints are restored. 4. For washing with arthrosis pain, I recommend using a strong aqueous solution of peppermint. 5. If you are overweight, I recommend an infusion for weight loss: buckthorn bark - 3 tbsp. l., dandelion roots - 1 tbsp. l., parsley fruits - 1 tbsp. l., fennel fruits - 1 tbsp. l., mint leaves - 1 tbsp. l. for 3 liters of boiling water. Take 2 glasses in the morning before meals. In addition, you need to eat gooseberries (1-2 glasses 2 times a day before meals).
To cure arthrosis, it is necessary to remove calcium deposits from the cartilage tissue. Unfortunately, many ointments and emulsions cannot do this; they simply do not get into the joint capsule, no matter how much we rub them. Temporary relief occurs due to a decrease in painful irritation of nerve endings. Attempts to get rid of pain through exercise often accelerate the destruction of cartilage and cause inflammation of the joint, adding arthritis to arthrosis. Meanwhile, there is a natural biostimulator that causes the cells of the tissue adjacent to the cartilage to increase the production of joint fluid. Its increased circulation not only flushes away calcium deposits, but also activates the restoration of thinned cartilage. This is honey, a unique natural compound. It contains vitamins, microelements, organic acids and enzymes that have a multidisciplinary therapeutic effect. Massage with honey helps a lot. It is done like this: place a tablespoon, about half filled with honey, on an inverted lid of a kettle with hot water and place it on low heat. Lie down under a blanket, place a heating pad with hot water on the sore spot and hold it for 15-20 minutes, periodically changing position to evenly warm the entire joint. Then sit down, take a little warmed honey with two fingers and gently rub it in a circular motion over the entire area. As soon as it is absorbed and your fingers begin to stick to the skin, take a new portion and continue the massage. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes. In this case, you need to make sure that the skin is covered with honey at all times. At the end of the massage, fold gauze napkins into 3-4 layers, place them on your shoulder without removing the honey from it, and put on a warm shirt or jacket. After 2-3 hours (but not earlier), the napkins can be removed and the shoulder washed with warm water. The course of medical treatment is 10 sessions. The first three should be done daily, then every other day. If necessary, after two weeks the course of massage with honey can be repeated, but sessions should be done after 2-3 days.
NUTRITION AND PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
With arthrosis, it is very important that alkaline food enters the body. On average, one part of acidic foods should be two parts of alkaline foods. Acidic foods include meat, refined and thermally processed foods that contain few mineral and alkaline salts. For arthrosis, it is useful to consume alkaline foods such as goat milk, whey, broth from veal bones cleaned of meat, cabbage juice, celery stems and roots, and wild berries. Honey has a good healing effect, which can be used both internally and externally in the manner I described above. It is necessary to regularly consume birch sap in unlimited quantities. Fresh vegetables, fruits, grain fiber (bran, whole grains) are useful. Harmful: animal fat, flour, smoked, spicy. The consumption of foods containing purines is also limited - meat, fish, beans, peas, dairy products, tomatoes. Physiotherapeutic methods occupy a leading place in the treatment of degenerative joint diseases. However, they should be treated with great caution, especially if there are any dysfunctions of the internal organs. The most widely used are ultrasound and electrophoresis with applications. Ultrasound is used in a continuous mode using a labile technique: sound intensity 0.5-0.8 W/cm2, duration of exposure to the joint 6-10 minutes, every other day, 10-12 procedures in total. In addition, novocaine or iodine electrophoresis is performed on the joint area. Among thermal procedures that help improve blood circulation and metabolism in the joints, I recommend paraffin or ozokerite applications. X-ray therapy. This method is often not used by doctors for fear of developing severe complications, although it is well developed, precise indications for its use have been determined, so one can expect a beneficial effect even when all other methods of treating arthrosis are ineffective.
MASSAGE IS ONE OF THE MAIN REMEDIES
One of the main means of treatment is self-massage. How to use this tool correctly? If you are worried about severe pain in the joint, massage begins from the areas above and below, using light, shallow techniques. 1. Stroking on the upper part of the buttock and lumbar region - 8-10 times. The same on the lower part of the buttock and the upper third of the thigh. 2. Kneading the muscles around the hip joint. First, it is carried out with the base of the palm - 5-6 times, then with the pads of four fingers (circular), with the fingers spread apart, and rotation done towards the little finger. If the pain is not very severe, then after kneading, rub around the hip joint. 3. Rubbing: a) dotted - with the pads of four fingers in all directions; b) circular - with the pads of four fingers; c) circular - with the ridges of the fingers; d) circular - with the ridge of the thumb, which bends and rests on the index finger. Each technique is performed 5-8 times. Self-massage ends with shaking and stroking. As the pain subsides, the number of repetitions of each technique increases, as does the number of techniques. Important! It is better to do a massage with balm. Balm composition: 100 ml olive oil, 40 ml sesame oil, 10 g vitamin A in oil.
THERAPEUTIC GYMNASTICS STRENGTHENS AND RESTORES
All exercises should be performed in a position that is easy for the joint - lying, sitting or standing with support on the back of a chair.
For the hip and knee joints.
1. I.p. - lying on your back, right leg bent at the knee at a right angle, left leg straightened. Bend your left leg at the knee and pull it towards your chest. Pull it up quickly and then lower it to the floor. The same with the right foot. Repeat 4-6 times. 2. I.p. - lying on your back, legs straightened as much as possible, feet apart by about 15 cm. Turn your right leg first inward and then outward, trying to keep your knees straight. The same with the left foot. Repeat 4-6 times. To strengthen the musculo-ligamentous system of the knee joint, lying with your legs straight, press the knee of your right leg to the floor as much as possible. Tighten your thigh muscles. Slowly count to five. Relax. The same with the left foot. Repeat 3-4 times.
For fingers, toes and ankles.
1. I.p. - lying on your back, arms along your body, legs shoulder-width apart. Take a short breath several times, exhale a long time, and then, in time with your breathing, bend and straighten your fingers and toes 4-10 times. 2. I.p. - Same. Simultaneously bend and straighten your wrist and ankle joints 4-10 times. 3. I.p. - sitting on a chair, bend your knees at a right angle, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on your knees. Flex and straighten your wrist and ankle joints 2-4 times. 4. I.p. - the same, hands on knees. Perform circular movements in the wrist joints. Repeat 4-10 times. 5. I.p. - Same. Raise your feet as high as possible, resting on your heels, and then place them on your toes, lifting your heels. Repeat 4-6 times. Important! In case of severe pain syndrome, in order to reduce pain, it is advisable to prescribe massage after therapeutic exercises, and in case of contractures or significant muscle tension - preferably before it.
BALNEOLOGICAL AND OTHER PROCEDURES
1. In most patients, improvement occurs after taking hydrogen sulfide, radon baths, and mud applications. Patients with osteoarthritis are advised to undergo sanatorium-resort treatment in areas with low relative humidity, without frequent weather changes and cyclones. I highly recommend the mud of Lake Saki and the natural baths of the hot springs of the Arabatskaya Strelka (Genichesk). 2. At home, baths with larkspur root have a healing effect. To do this, first prepare a decoction of the root at the rate of 200 g per 10 liters of boiling water. 3. For pain in the arms and legs, warm baths made from hay dust (stems, leaves, flowers, seeds) are very useful. It is prepared like this: 5 handfuls of hay dust are brewed with boiling water, the container is closed and allowed to cool to a temperature of 31-32°C. The duration of the bath is 25-30 minutes. Wrapping the limbs in canvas soaked in a decoction of hay dust has a beneficial effect. Reflexology. The essence of the method is the impact of low-intensity laser radiation on biologically active points. Currently, restoration of cartilage tissue through the incorporation of chondroitin and glucosamine and activation of regenerative processes has become widespread. In addition, laser reflexology has a pronounced analgesic, antispasmodic, and anti-edematous effect. The use of leeches. Scientists have isolated a whole range of biologically active substances from the saliva of a medicinal leech that provide a good therapeutic effect. I recommend taking 6-8 courses of treatment. Additional treatment for arthrosis of the joints of the hand and elbow joint. A good effect in this case can be achieved by local treatment using compresses with medical bile, bischofite, dimexide, taken in equal proportions, as well as rubbing in anti-inflammatory ointments. Coniferous and salt baths sometimes give a good effect.
1. Use of orthoses . Orthoses are knee braces that are very effective for unloading and correction in case of deformation of the knee joint along its longitudinal axis. Knee pads (both soft and hard) can help reduce laxity. 2. Injection. With the advent of hyaluaronic acid preparations, injection therapy becomes real. A radical remedy for quickly and effectively relieving inflammation in a joint is also the introduction of a glucocorticosteroid into it. However, intra-articular injections do not cure arthrosis, but help suppress inflammation. Their frequent (more than once every 3 months) administration does not make sense and can even damage the joint. 3. Eastern medicine methods are being actively introduced into practice, namely low-frequency (Dance) and high-frequency (Sim) therapy . The drugs Dance and Sim Tik have been developed for family use and in physiotherapy rooms. At the same time, after reading information from electromagnetic pulses emitted by diseased cells of joints and cartilage, pulses are generated of exactly the same frequency, but of the opposite sign. They absorb impulses coming from diseased cells. My practice of their influence on biologically active points has shown the effectiveness of their use in arthrosis at its initial stage and in relieving pain syndromes at various stages of the disease.
-Avoid hypothermia. -Avoid long walking, long standing. -Perform therapeutic exercises to prevent contractures. -Do not do therapeutic exercises if there is severe pain in the affected joints. -Do not perform the exercises abruptly, as this increases the pain and reflex muscle spasm, which increases the pain. -To relax muscles - swimming in warm water, cycling. -If your legs are of different lengths, you must use orthopedic shoes. -Use elastic bandages to secure joints.
Believe more than ever: this disease can and must be stopped!