Arthrosis is a joint disease considered dystrophic and associated with the slow destruction of cartilage inside the joint. With arthrosis, over a long period of time, changes occur, restructuring of the articular ends of bones, inflammatory processes occur and degeneration of periarticular tissues occurs. The concept of “arthrosis” also includes a not yet very large group of joint diseases of a degenerative-inflammatory nature, which have different causes of occurrence and similar mechanisms of their development.
Arthrosis is considered the most common joint disease in the world; according to statistics, up to 80% of the world's population suffers from arthrosis to one degree or another. Lesions of this type are very common, and are in third place, after oncology and cardiovascular diseases.
The likelihood of developing arthrosis increases many times with age. The disease equally affects both men and women, with the only exception being arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints, since it is most often seen in women. Arthrosis affects people of working age - from 30 years old, and every year the number of cases is steadily and steadily increasing.
Arthrosis develops due to metabolic disorders in the joint, which in turn leads to the fact that the cartilage begins to lose elasticity. This can be facilitated by the complete or partial loss of proteoglycans from the cartilage; this usually occurs due to rather deep cracks in the cartilage itself. Loss of proteoglycans can also occur for another reason: due to a failure in their production by joint cells.
According to experts, the reasons why articular cartilage may begin to deteriorate can be metabolic disorders, hormonal disorders, decreased blood flow to the joint, hereditary factors, old age, injuries, as well as diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and even psoriasis. And yet, the most common cause of arthrosis is abnormal load on the joints, while the cartilage cannot resist it.
In addition, the following reasons may affect the occurrence and development of arthrosis:
Previous injuries. These can be dislocations, bruises, fractures, ligament ruptures and other injuries.
Metabolic disorders.
Excess body weight, leading to additional stress on the joints.
The inflammatory process in the joints is acute purulent arthritis.
Low quality food.
Autoimmune diseases - lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis.
General intoxication of the body.
Frequent colds.
Bleeding disorder (hemophilia).
Perthes disease is a disorder of the blood supply to the head of the femur.
There are also several genetically determined causes leading to the development of arthrosis:
If we consider arthrosis of the hand and fingers, then scientists have found that the so-called Bouchard and Heberden nodes, as a disease, can be inherited.
Violation of the formation of joints and ligaments in the prenatal period, leading to dysplasia. Against this background, rapid wear of the joint occurs and arthrosis develops.
Type 2 collagen mutations. When disturbances occur in the structure of the fibrillar protein located in the connective tissue, then rapid destruction of cartilage occurs.
Also at risk of getting a disease such as arthrosis in the near future are people whose professions include: bricklayer, miner, fisherman, blacksmith, metallurgist - and other areas of activity associated with increased physical labor.
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A symptom of arthrosis is pain when the joint is loaded, which subsides when the joint is at rest; decreased joint mobility, crunching, feeling of muscle tension in the joint area. Periodically, a joint affected by arthrosis may swell and become deformed over time.
Consider the following 4 large groups of symptoms of arthrosis:
Pain. The presence of pain is the first sign of joint arthrosis. It can be assumed that with any damage, similar sensations arise, but with arthrosis, the pain has some features. Firstly, this is the occurrence of sharp pain or significant discomfort during movements. It will be localized in the place where the diseased joint is located. When a person stops moving and goes into a state of rest, the pain goes away.
At night, a person experiences virtually no unpleasant sensations, except when turning the body over, having found the optimal position, the patient calmly falls asleep. Pain appears during rest only at the stage of progression of the disease; it has some similarities with dental lumbago, when a person cannot fall asleep. They appear closer to the morning - around 5 o'clock.
So, at the beginning there is practically no pain, it can only be felt during load or palpation, over time the person’s suffering intensifies, and the joint requires more and more periods of rest. Then life completely turns into torture - the hyaline cartilage becomes thinner, the bone is exposed, and osteophytes begin to grow. Acute pain torments almost constantly, intensifying even more in bad weather and the full moon.
Crunch. An equally indicative symptom of arthrosis is the presence of a crunching sound. It becomes audible due to the fact that the softness of rotation of the bones in the joint is reduced, they rub against each other, as a result of which a characteristic sound arises. Crunching can be heard in other diseases, and even when the joints are healthy. But it is the arthrosis crunch that is distinguished by its “dry” sound. The more the disease progresses, the brighter the sound becomes. Moreover, if a crunch is heard, pain will also be felt. This is what makes it possible to distinguish the sound made by joints with arthrosis from the usual harmless clicking.
Decreased joint mobility is another characteristic symptom of arthrosis. At the initial stage, this phenomenon does not bother the patient, but with the progression of arthrosis, the germination of bone tumors leads to the fact that the muscles spasm, and the joint space almost completely disappears. This is the cause of immobility of the limbs at the site of the lesion.
Joint deformity. Its modification is caused by the fact that osteophytes grow on the surface of the bones and synovial fluid arrives. Although deformation is one of the most recent symptoms, when arthrosis has already affected the joint to a significant extent.
The course of the disease is characterized by stages of exacerbation and stages of remission. This significantly complicates self-diagnosis of arthrosis, relying only on one’s own sensations. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for clarification of the diagnosis.
When conducting an x-ray examination, he will be able to detect the following signs that allow him to determine the degree of progression of the disease:
Stage 1 is characterized by the absence of osteophytes, the joint space may be somewhat narrowed.
At stage 2, there is a suspicion of slight narrowing of the gap; osteophytes have already formed.
At stage 3, the narrowing of the gap is clearly visible, there are multiple osteophytes, and the joint begins to deform.
Stage 4 is characterized by an almost complete absence of joint space, multiple osteophytes, and significant deformation.
If arthrosis is not given due attention and is not treated promptly and correctly, this can lead not only to the complete destruction of the diseased joint, but also to a change in the biomechanics of the spine, which can cause herniations in the intervertebral discs and the development of arthrosis in other, still healthy joints. . It is better to avoid complications of joint arthrosis.
The following pathologies are identified as the main complications of arthrosis:
Inability to carry out movements.
Violation of the biomechanics of the spine and other joints.
Herniated intervertebral discs.
Decrease in the patient's standard of living.
It is better to treat diseased joints at an early stage; the treatment itself should be pathogenetic and comprehensive. The essence of treatment is to remove the causes that contribute to the development of this disease; it is also necessary to eliminate inflammatory changes and restore functions that were previously lost.
Complex treatment of arthrosis includes medications that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and physiotherapeutic procedures that have an analgesic effect on the joints should also be performed. If the treatment is carried out at a sanatorium, it consists of climatic conditions that have a beneficial effect on the joints, as well as the use of mineral waters and mud.
The treatment of arthrosis is based on several basic principles:
Damaged joints should be relieved of excessive stress. If possible, during treatment it should be kept to a minimum.
Following the established orthopedic regimen.
Physical therapy classes.
Completion of a course of physical therapy, which includes magnetic and electrotherapy, shock wave, and laser therapy.
Sanatorium treatment. To do this, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment at specialized resorts once a year, on the recommendation of a doctor.
Saturation of the joint with oxygen, or so-called intra-articular oxygen therapy.
Drug therapy.
Intraosseous blockades, as well as decompression of the metaepiphysis.
A rational approach to nutrition.
Let's take a closer look at drug treatment:
Anti-inflammatory drugs. By approaching the treatment of arthrosis in a comprehensive manner, it is possible to slow down the course of the disease and significantly improve the quality of life. It is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on some points of treatment. In particular, drug therapy includes, at the initial stage, pain relief, as well as the elimination of inflammatory processes occurring in the joints. For this, all doctors use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Experienced doctors do not recommend their oral use, since these drugs significantly irritate the walls of the stomach. Therefore, depending on the drug chosen, either intravenous or intramuscular administration is used. Sometimes NVSP is used as an auxiliary agent in the form of ointments, but their absorption is extremely low, so a significant effect cannot be achieved.
Hormonal corticosteroids. When arthrosis is at the acute stage, it is advisable to take hormonal short-term steroids. They are injected into the joint, using drugs such as hydrocortisone or diprospan. Externally, you can use a special patch, ointment or tincture, which are made from hot pepper.
Chondroprotectors aimed at restoring cartilage and improving the qualitative composition of synovial fluid will also not be superfluous. The most common agents in this group are glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate. The course lasts for quite a long period of time until improvement occurs. However, if the expected effect does not appear within six months of use, the drugs should be discontinued. Also, intra-articularly, along with chondroprotectors, it is advisable to use drugs made on the basis of hyaluronic acid. They contribute to the formation of the membrane of cells responsible for the formation of joint cartilage.
Diacerein. The treatment regimen can be supplemented by taking diacerein, which promotes the regeneration of cartilage tissue. But you should not expect an immediate effect; as a rule, improvements occur two weeks or even a month after the first dose.
If the case is particularly severe, then narcotic analgesics may be prescribed. But they are used extremely rarely, when other means have not brought the desired effect.
It is worthwhile to pay special attention to nutrition during an exacerbation of the disease. There are also certain recommendations here - you should not overeat, as this will contribute to the accumulation of extra pounds, but you should not starve, since the supply of important elements to cartilage will be disrupted. The primary task facing an overweight patient is weight loss. To do this, you simply need to remove fast carbohydrates from your diet; they are found in all flour products and sweets. Alcohol is prohibited, especially beer.
There are absolutely no complaints about fish dishes - you can consume quite a lot of them, naturally, in reasonable quantities. But you should not lean on its too fatty varieties, as they are high in calories, which means the extra pounds will not keep you waiting.
Jellied meat plays an important role in the treatment of arthrosis. Surprisingly, this is the dish that all doctors recommend including in your diet. Such food will be a real storehouse of microelements for sore joints. The most important component in jellied meat is collagen of natural origin. It is absorbed by the body quite quickly and is the basis of any connective tissue. Thanks to regular consumption of jellied meat, you can achieve good results - joints will become more mobile, the tissues lining them will become elastic, and cartilage and bones will gain strength.
Do not forget about the regular intake of vitamins from food. B vitamins are especially relevant for patients with arthrosis. They are responsible for ensuring that metabolism occurs without unnecessary disruptions. And where the metabolism is smooth, the joints feel great. Thanks to thiamine from beans and peas, the synthesis of fats, carbohydrates and proteins will accelerate.
Pyridoxine will help produce hemoglobin. You can “get it” by eating bananas, nuts, cabbage and potatoes. It is worth getting carried away with greens and legumes. They will become a source of folic acid. Liver, mushrooms, dairy products, and eggs will be useful. They are rich in riboflavin. You can, of course, take vitamin complexes, but all the necessary elements are absorbed better from foods, which means the process of cartilage restoration will go faster.
The basic principles of nutrition for arthrosis come down to the following points:
Do not consume heavy food at night, so as not to cause an attack of arthrosis.
Constantly monitor your weight in order to avoid weight gain, and therefore additional stress on sore joints.
When there is no exacerbation of the disease, take walks after eating.
The menu must be balanced and compiled together with the attending physician.
By following the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor, you can ensure that the disease recedes and the damaged tissue begins to recover.
Author of the article: Kaplan Alexander Sergeevich, traumatologist, orthopedist
Osteoarthritis is often called an inevitable accompaniment of aging, they say, sooner or later it will appear in everyone, like, for example, wrinkles or.
Arthrosis is almost never observed in those who are under thirty years of age. But by the age of seventy, damage to, for example, the knee joints is detected in 30–40% of patients.
As the body ages, it loses the moisture needed for cartilage to remain elastic. In addition, chondrocytes - the cartilage cells responsible for its restoration - begin to become lazy, and the processes of destruction of cartilage tissue become predominant.
After 50 years, it is useful to take drugs that improve metabolism in the joint - chondroprotectors. If the cartilage is damaged, they cannot return it to its original state, but its destruction is significantly slowed down. Their preventive use allows you to stop arthrosis at the earliest stages. Of course, you can carry out the course only after consulting a doctor.
Cane. Reduces pressure on leg joints. It must be selected exactly according to height. Wear shoes with the type of heels that you wear most often, and stand straight with your arms extended freely along your body. The handle of the cane should be level with the base of the thumb. If your right leg hurts, you should hold the cane in your left when walking, and vice versa.
Arch supports and insoles. Unloads the legs and spine. Be sure to choose them individually, because each of us has a different foot pattern. An incorrectly selected insole can cause harm.
Comfortable chairs. Many people with arthrosis of the leg joints find it difficult to get up from a sitting position. To make your task easier, place chairs at home with armrests that protrude forward. When standing up, lean on them, placing the main emphasis on the wrists (with arthrosis, the joints of the hand often suffer, so the main emphasis should not be placed on them). Thanks to this, the body weight will be distributed and will not fall only on the legs and spine.
Damage to the joints of the hands is observed in the fairer sex 10 times more often than in men. This type of osteoarthritis has a hereditary structure - it is transmitted through the maternal line. And in general, women experience arthrosis to a greater extent.
Don't lift heavy objects. It is also harmful for men, but they have strong muscles and ligaments. In women they are weaker, so the interarticular cartilage bears a greater load.
Starting from the age of forty-five, regularly undergo x-ray examination of the musculoskeletal system. If the images reveal even minimal narrowing of the joint space, you need to start treatment without waiting for the disease to begin to progress.
Seamstresses usually experience arthrosis in the joints of the hands, and workers who use jackhammers usually experience arthrosis in the elbow and shoulder joints. In other words, the cartilage that experiences the maximum load throughout life suffers first.
Immediate damage and injuries are also important. The disease often begins to progress after them.
But this does not mean that you need to give up physical activity. The nutrition of the cartilage is also disrupted if the joint is “inactive”. This happens when a person leads a sedentary lifestyle.
Alternate work with rest to allow your joints to relax. In your free time, perform gymnastic exercises to relax the muscles around stressed joints and ensure blood flow to them.
Excess body weight increases the load on supporting joints - hips and knees. In addition, fat impedes the flow of blood to the joints, which disrupts the nutrition of the cartilage.
It is important to be active to control your weight. But you can’t abuse fitness. This applies to both strength training, which requires lifting weights, and aerobic exercise. They should be pleasant, not exhausting both in time and intensity.
A diagnosis such as arthrosis of the fingers is mainly made to older people, and mainly to women. This is explained by the fact that with age, representatives of the fair sex experience hormonal changes in the body and collagen production decreases. The disease is characterized by decreased mobility of the fingers, and its chronic form leads to dysfunction of the hands and deformation of the joints. Damage to the joint capsule is also observed. So what is arthrosis of the fingers? The symptoms and treatment of this pathology will be discussed in detail in the article.
This pathology mainly affects older people. Over time, joint structures wear out greatly, bone density decreases, cartilage becomes thinner, cracks, and bone spurs appear. An untreated disease causes curvature of the fingers, severe pain, which increases with load on the joints, movements become limited, and stiffness appears. In advanced cases, a person cannot do basic things: it becomes impossible to pick up a fork or unscrew the cap on a bottle.
The main cause of the pathological condition is considered to be genetic predisposition. If someone in your family has had such a disease, then there is a high probability that it will appear in the next generation.
Another reason why arthrosis of the finger joints occurs is increased stress on this area. Professions at risk for developing the disease include pianist, massage therapist and office workers. The work of the latter involves constant typing on a computer.
It provokes the occurrence of pathology diabetes mellitus and diseases of the endocrine system. The hormonal changes that occur during menopause in a woman’s body lead to a decrease in estrogen levels, resulting in loss of moisture, which causes the cartilage tissue to become thinner and bones and joints to become fragile.
The most common cause of the development of pathology is injuries to the wrist joints and flanks of the fingers, especially when an inflammatory process occurs. The disease is also caused by alcohol abuse, smoking, frequent colds, weak immunity, radiation exposure, endocrine disorders, allergic reactions, infectious diseases (chlamydia).
If arthrosis of the fingers occurs, the symptoms of this disease may be different. When you move your fingers, a crunching and aching pain occurs, which after some time becomes chronic. The joints thicken, which is very noticeable from the outside, and the affected area begins to swell. The periarticular muscles are almost always in a tense state. Such symptoms are characteristic of the initial stage of the disease, when there is a loss of elasticity of the joint capsule.
During the second stage, the cartilage becomes thin and deformed. Constant pain occurs, finger movement becomes limited, the affected area turns red, and body temperature rises. The swelling begins to increase even more, and the finger or even the entire hand loses sensitivity.
The last stage of a disease such as arthrosis of the fingers is accompanied by complete destruction of the cartilage, causing severe pain, the fingers become deformed, and their length changes. Swelling and edema in the affected area progress to Bouchard's and Heberden's nodes. The formation of the former occurs on the outer joints of the fingers, the latter - on the middle ones. Joints and bones become deformed, fingers practically stop moving. Instead of cartilage, growths appear on the periarticular bones.
If in this case the arthrosis of the fingers is not treated, then complete immobilization of the hand is possible. The resulting nodules are often accompanied by a disease such as rhizarthrosis, which affects the base of the thumb, the symptoms of which resemble ordinary arthrosis.
To diagnose arthrosis of the fingers, the doctor examines the patient and palpates the affected area. To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor sends the patient for x-rays and blood tests. The resulting images clearly show bone deformation, narrowing of the cracks in the affected joints, and osteophytes. Blood tests should be within normal limits, and if there are abnormalities, the doctor suspects the occurrence of other, more serious diseases, such as arthritis.
If arthrosis of the fingers occurs, how to treat this pathology? The result will be much more effective when carrying out complex therapy, which includes methods such as:
A remarkable effect is achieved when using ointments. They are able to eliminate pain, restore mobility, and increase blood flow to the pathological area. Such medications include Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Voltaren-Emulgel, Dolgit-cream, Butadione.
At an early stage, there is still a high probability of complete cure of deforming arthrosis of the interphalangeal joints and restoration of cartilage tissue. At stages 2-3, the pathology becomes irreversible. In this case, the doctor prescribes preservative therapy aimed at preventing further changes and destruction of tissue.
If arthrosis of the joints of the fingers occurs, treatment is usually carried out with medications that should only be prescribed by a doctor.
The initial stage of the disease is rarely treated with medications. Typically, the patient undergoes a course of therapy with chondroprotectors (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine), which help restore and nourish cartilage tissue. Physiotherapy is very effective at the initial stage. You should also be sure to take vitamins and minerals. Warming compresses relieve pain.
The second stage of the disease is accompanied by severe pain, inflammation and deterioration in joint mobility. In this case, the doctor prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Indomethacin, Ketoprofen, Butadione, Diclofenac, Piroxicam), chondroprotectors and hyaluronic acid. Treatment of arthrosis is recommended to be carried out comprehensively, so the course of therapy also includes the use of vasodilators. These are mainly Pentoxifylline, Agapurin, Teonicol.
At the third stage, strong painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Nise and Fastum-gel, are usually used. Surgical treatment is carried out when all of the above methods have proven ineffective, and deformation of the cartilage tissue has caused a complete loss of mobility of the fingers.
If arthrosis of the joints of the fingers occurs, treatment is carried out using traditional methods. But they will not be aimed at combating symptoms, but at strengthening the immune system and restoring metabolism.
There are the following ways to treat the disease at home:
To avoid such a terrible disease as arthrosis of the fingers, doctors recommend taking preventive measures, namely:
Such preventive measures are the best remedy for finger pathology.
Thus, we found out what arthrosis of the fingers is, the symptoms and treatment of this disease were also considered. This pathology occurs mainly in old age, when the body is already worn out. This disease causes discomfort and subsequently severe pain. It is important not to let such a disease progress, and if you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, a complete recovery occurs.
Arthrosis is a serious disease of the joints, which is manifested by progressive degeneration of cartilage tissue, it becomes thinner and destroyed. Subsequently, the ligamentous apparatus and bone tissue are involved in the process. Treatment of joint arthrosis is aimed at stopping the progression of the disease, reducing pain, preventing complications and restoring mobility of the diseased joint.
The disease must be treated comprehensively and for a long time, with the selection of an individual regimen of medications and non-drug medications.
All methods of treating arthrosis can be divided into 4 groups:
non-traditional methods, traditional medicine.
Patients often have a question: where to treat arthrosis? The initial stages are treated in a rheumatology hospital. Patients requiring surgery are admitted to the orthopedic or surgical department.
At the initial stage of the disease, the main treatment methods are methods without drugs.
Balanced diet, healthy lifestyle. To prevent the progression of the disease, patients must strictly adhere to work and rest schedules and eat healthy foods.
Today there are special schools to cover methods of treating arthrosis. Training courses help the patient adapt to his illness and successfully fight it.
Reducing stress on joints. If you have excess body weight, it is necessary to reduce it - this will help normalize metabolic processes and also reduce the load on the joints.
Therapeutic exercise is carried out in a non-acute stage, performed in a supine or sitting position. Swimming and skiing are very useful.
Physiotherapeutic methods: applying heat to the affected area (for example, paraffin baths), laser therapy, ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation.
Use of various unloading devices. If the legs are affected, walking with a cane is recommended; for arthrosis of the knee joint, heel wedges are used - this way you can reduce the load on the joints and, therefore, reduce the manifestations of the disease.
Massage improves blood circulation and helps restore joint mobility.
Patients with arthrosis are advised to take a sanatorium-resort holiday, which has a beneficial effect both on the condition of the articular system and on the entire body as a whole. Recovery in a sanatorium should take place outside the stage of exacerbation of arthrosis, after examination by a doctor and taking into account his recommendations.
Drug therapy is the main method of treatment. The choice of drugs for the treatment of arthrosis is not so wide; all drugs used can be divided into two large groups:
Symptomatic drugs are intended to eliminate the main manifestations of the disease and are prescribed to patients first. Chondroprotectors help stop the progression of the disease and should be taken for a long period of time.
The main and one of the first symptoms of arthrosis is pain. Medications that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects help relieve it. To quickly reduce pain, local forms of medications in the form of ointments and gels can be used, but their effect is short-lived.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. For the treatment of joints, it is preferable to use selective NSAIDs, which act primarily on joint tissue without negatively affecting other organs.
When using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it must be remembered that more than one NSAID should not be used. The drug must be changed if there is no effect from therapy after 2 weeks. The doctor must select the minimum dose of NSAID tablets that will reduce pain.
Glucocorticosteroid hormones have a dual effect. On the one hand, the hormone protects cartilage from destruction and relieves the inflammatory process, but on the other hand, it destroys cartilage tissue with prolonged exposure. Therefore, it is necessary to treat arthrosis with them strictly under the supervision of a doctor. It is often more effective to use glucocorticosteroids in the form of intra-articular injections, which have fewer side effects.
The treatment regimen for arthrosis using chondroprotectors involves their long-term, constant use. The effect of these medications is delayed, 2–8 weeks after the start of administration.
All drugs in this group have a stimulating effect on cartilage tissue, some of them slightly relieve pain.
In addition to traditional methods, the use of traditional medicine can provide some positive effects. Applicable:
All traditional methods should be used only under the supervision of the attending physician and in no case can replace the main traditional treatment.
Surgical methods for the treatment of arthrosis are used in cases where drug therapy has not given the desired effect. There are several types of surgical intervention:
Arthroscopy is a low-traumatic method of treating and diagnosing joint diseases. This method allows you to perform an operation through small incisions, without opening the joint, using a special device and visually assess the degree of damage to the cartilage. Thanks to arthroscopy, the rehabilitation period and hospital stay are reduced, and the number of complications in the operating and postoperative period is reduced.
Arthrodesis is one of the methods of surgical treatment, during which the immobility of the articular surfaces is created. This technique allows you to relieve pain if it is impossible to use other surgical interventions.
Arthroplasty is a manipulation to replace articular cartilage with a spacer made from the patient’s own tissues or from artificial materials. This operation significantly alleviates the condition of patients, since it allows them to restore a sufficient range of movements.
Replacing damaged joints is an effective treatment for arthrosis; this method allows you to treat its severe degrees. With complete prosthetics, all components of the joint are replaced. The prosthesis is made of a special metal that is not perceived by the body as foreign; the service life of such grafts is on average 10 years. After prosthetics, patients fully restore their functionality.
Modern methods of surgical interventions are being developed, such as tissue and cartilage cell transplants. First of all, they are aimed at preventing the progression of the disease and eliminating its main manifestations.
Despite the fact that arthrosis is considered an incurable disease, early and comprehensive treatment can stop the process of cartilage destruction and preserve joint mobility as much as possible. And complete and accurate compliance with all the recommendations of the attending physician helps to avoid disability and significantly improves the quality of life of patients.
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A big hello to all visitors. The article is incredibly useful, thank you! They inspired me to write a review about how I was coping with my arthrosis of the 1st degree (I was diagnosed in 2015, knee pain, I couldn’t stand on my feet for more than 40 minutes). In short, ointments, tablets - all this in my case gave a short-term result, I almost ruined my stomach with these synthetic pharmaceutical products in the end (I already have chronic gastritis). What helped me was a course of mud therapy with Tambukan mud. First, I took a course at the sanatorium, the pain began to subside within a month after the course, and then the doctor said: in order not to go to the sanatorium again, I advise you to buy this mud in applicators - and do it at home. I have already completed the second course of mud therapy - and my knees, like 20 years ago, almost do not feel pain when walking. The only thing is that they are difficult to find in our Moscow pharmacies, I had to search on the Internet. In short, it helps for a long time and my knees really stop hurting. Now the son of a basketball player is being treated like this. Thing. I want to help everyone with arthrosis!
Galina, thank you for sharing your tips. Be healthy!
Hello! I have pain in my shoulder and limited movement; I can’t move my right arm back; when I move suddenly, I get acute pain. I went to the doctor, took an x-ray, and was diagnosed with stage 1 arthrosis of the shoulder joint. They prescribed Milgamma injections and tablets. Nothing helped, no improvement at all. When I was taken again, Actovegin injections and Keltican tablets were prescribed. Doubts crept in that I was like a guinea pig, since this didn’t help, let’s try this again. And I don’t know if I should take these medications or not? I asked for an ultrasound, but they refused. For what? And so everything is clear.
Hello, Elena. Ultrasound is not informative in your case, especially after x-rays. The best research method is MRI. As for prescribing medications, one thing helps some, while others need another treatment. This happens because everything is different for each person. For treatment to be effective, it must be comprehensive, I write about this all the time. That is, to the treatment that was prescribed to you, you need to add physiotherapeutic treatment, taking chondroprotectors internally and externally in the form of ointments, as well as therapeutic exercises. Exercise therapy is as important as everything else.
Actovegin was prescribed to you to improve blood circulation in the vessels, and Keltikan replenishes the balance of phosphate compounds, which in turn allows you to fight many diseases caused by soft tissue neuralgia and relieves extensive inflammation.
I have arthrosis of the knee joint on the left and the beginning of the right. The x-ray showed that the osteophytes were acute and there was even acute pain. I couldn't sit down. I got up with difficulty (on a chair normally), began to do exercises, smear Sustamed gel on badger fat, a neighbor advised me and I still walk on my knees. I feel great.
Galya, you are just great for not giving up and “working” on your disease. Therapeutic exercises always help well and are mandatory in the treatment of arthrosis.
Hello. My son is 11 years old, he suffers from hemophilia A, he has been limping for 3 months and doctors diagnose him with arthrosis of the 2nd degree. Now we are undergoing physical treatment and have been prescribed calcium. Maybe some additional medications are needed?
Hello, Gulnar. Hemophilia A is diagnosed with a deficiency of antihemophilic globulin factor VIII, and inheritance for hemophilia A and B occurs according to a recessive trait. More reliable are the results obtained by using the polymerase chain reaction technique, which allows you to diagnose specific changes in chromosomes: inversion and deletion. Then the possibility of prescribing treatment will be more effective. Treatment of hemophilia in childhood is carried out using replacement therapy, for example, for hemophilia type A, direct blood transfusions are given (from relatives), and sometimes freshly collected citrated blood is used. Among antihemophilic drugs, antihemophilic globulin, antihemophilic plasma, and cryoprecipitate are very often used. With increased fibrinolytic activity of the blood, 5–6% epsilon-aminocaproic acid is used. Immunosuppressants are sometimes prescribed.
Naturally, such appointments are not made via the Internet.
Since childhood, I watched my mother as she suffered from constant joint pain. As I grew older, I realized that this “reward” was waiting for me too. The result is arthrosis of the shoulder joint. She was constantly engaged in treatment: mud, compresses, blockades, she even tried traditional medicine, but relief never came. There were short-term effects, and then everything started all over again. Until I came across hyaluronic acid on one of the arthrosis treatment forums. It was important for me not to provoke an allergic reaction, as I once did with ice-caine compresses. After consulting with the attending physician, it was decided to take a course of Viscoplus injections, because... it does not contain animal protein, which means it is hypoallergenic. With the first injection the inflammation went away, after the second the pain went away. In total, there were 3 injections with an interval of 10 days. For six months now, the pain has not bothered me, I could return to my previous lifestyle, and most importantly, I did not listen to myself or the weather outside the window.
Katerina, ViscoPlus is used for the treatment of mild to moderate osteoarthritis as part of a complex treatment (not applicable for septic arthritis). Also, chondroprotectors, which are taken for at least 6 months, are important for effective treatment.
There was arthroscopy of the knee. The stitches were removed on the 15th day. The incision healed later, after I opened the film with white liquid that came out of the incision and treated it with peroxide. I told the surgeon about the redness and hot spot (he’s getting older, he said don’t make things up). 7 months have passed, pain in all joints appeared at 3-4 months, this is fever, chills, temperature. At the moment everything has calmed down, and there is pain in my legs. The therapists are sending me to a psychologist. The rheumatologist sent me to an orthopedist. Deforming arthrosis 2 has developed in the knee. Even my fingers hurt. Which doctor should I go to? The swelling in the hip joints subsided, but severe pain remained. Who can diagnose this? They refuse to perform a puncture because the knee is not swollen. And my feeling is as if cold is flowing down my shin, and it hurts in the area of the foot joint. Help. 34 years. I’ve never had bone pain, and I didn’t know that such pain existed!
Victoria, each person’s recovery period after surgery is very different. This depends on the nature of the damage, the age of the patient, the experience of the surgeon, and also on how well the patient himself carries out the prescribed measures for recovery. Diagnosis is carried out by a traumatologist or surgeon.
For eye problems, consult an ophthalmologist.
I would really like to share my very successful experience in treating knee arthrosis. Rather, it’s not so much a treatment as an effective pain relief.
I suffered from pain in my knees for many years, and recently the pain has only gotten worse. At work you
The doctor recommended injections of a special gel into the joint, which replaces the joint fluid and protects the joint.
We settled on Noltrex (there are many different ones, Noltrex seemed to be the best price, and the hospital worked with it, it was in stock).
The injection is almost painless, it stung a little. It helped almost immediately. The drug moves the joints apart, preventing them from rubbing against each other and becoming damaged. I have been walking for about 6 months after the injections - the pain has not returned. At the same time, I am taking a course of chondoprotectors, because Noltrex only protects the joint; the body needs to be helped from the outside to restore.
Highly recommend. In cases of joint destruction, like mine, such injections are simply a salvation.
The only question that worries me now is that the doctor said that the injection will need to be repeated, because... The drug is eliminated from the joint over time. But after half a year I didn’t notice any special changes, the pain has not yet returned.
So I advise everyone to consult a rheumatologist about this, I am very pleased.
Hello, I have severe pain in the outer ankle of my right leg. the ankle is swollen. The pain is severe at one point and you cannot touch it. I have mixed flat feet. in 2015, surgery for hallux varus of both legs. operation without problems. I am taking courses of chondroprotectors and calcium supplements. In this case, can I take new generation NSAIDs?
Gulnar, it is possible, since these drugs are much more effective, act comprehensively, and cause less harm. But NSAIDs have a wide list, and your doctor will decide which drug is best for you. Do not self-medicate.
Yes, I went to the doctor 3 months ago, they told me
They told me to drink some Nise and that’s it.
I’ll tell you straight away that I can’t go to the doctors, I don’t have time, don’t worry about it
Please prescribe me inexpensive drugs. I have arthrosis of the right shoulder joint when bending my arm back, I feel pain, how can I cure it, I think I have stage 1 or 2
Recently I started hitting the bones and around with a stick for an hour in the hope that this would replace a massage, I tried Thai warming ointments, but no, they don’t help at all
Regards, Mikhail
Please write me a course of treatment to my address [email protected]
Mikhail, only a face-to-face consultation with a doctor will help you. It is impossible to prescribe treatment in absentia, especially for such serious diseases as diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Quite. Only treatment with Rumalon is long-term, do not expect an immediate effect.
I’m 54 years old, now I work as a loader in a store. There were pains in the knees under load, and it was also difficult to just stand. They recommend Rumalon, can it help in my case? Thank you.
Arthrosis is a chronic joint disease. Occurs as a result of prolonged injury to joints, endocrine disorders, excess weight, and metabolic disorders in the body. The development of arthrosis is also caused by chronic trauma to the articular cartilage due to constant excessive physical stress on the joints, for example. among dancers, typists, athletes. Arthrosis of the foot joints can be caused by wearing tight shoes.
Both large (knee, hip, ankle, elbow) and small joints, including the spine (spondyloarthrosis), are affected. The process involves cartilage covering the articular surfaces of the articulating bones, which is gradually destroyed and thinned, as well as bone tissue and the inner surface of the joint (synovium). Sometimes spiky bone growths form on the surface of the joint.
The disease arthrosis begins with the appearance of mild and intermittent pain in the joints after significant physical activity, which disappears with rest. Then the pain occurs even with slight exertion and gradually becomes constant. The joints may swell (trauma to the synovial membrane due to bone growths), pain appears when palpated, and their flexion and extension are often accompanied by a crunching sound. The shape of the joints may change. The most often thickened and deformed are the interphalangeal periungual joints of the hands and the joints of the big toes.
With spondyloarthrosis, so-called radicular pain appears, caused by injury to the nerve roots by bone growths. These pains can occur when any part of the spine is affected and are localized both near it and at a distance (pain in the back of the head, chest, limbs). Pain points may appear in the heart area or in the abdomen.
Treatment depends on which joint is affected and the stage of the disease; its goal is to normalize metabolic processes in the body and eliminate overload in the area of the affected joint. In some cases it is necessary to resort to surgical operations. It is necessary to get rid of excess weight.
In this section you will find folk remedies (see below) for the treatment of arthrosis. Also on our website there are the most famous folk remedies for the treatment of most diseases, which have been accumulated by traditional healers for thousands of years and passed down from ancient times from generation to generation. Traditional medicine knows many remedies for getting rid of diseases, most of which are easy to prepare at home.
Treatment of arthrosis with stem cells
Osteoarthrosis, or arthrosis of the joints, is a disease based on degenerative processes occurring in the articular cartilage, leading to thinning of the cartilage, exposure of adjacent bone, numerous bone growths and disorders of the articular surface. Arthrosis of the joints is familiar to almost 15% of the world's population; the frequency of diseases increases with age. The disease affects both women and men equally. Arthrosis of the joints can be primary and secondary. Primary arthrosis develops in a practically healthy joint and is observed in almost 50% of all cases. Secondary arthrosis occurs as a consequence of injuries and various inflammatory joint diseases. Arthrosis of the joints is a progressive, long-term disease that provokes loss of mobility in the affected joints and the formation of ankylosis.
The main cause of this disease is a disturbance in metabolic processes and nutrition of joint tissues. Since cartilage tissue does not have its own vascular system, and the joints constantly experience various loads, with age, or under the influence of various injuries, disturbances in the nutrition of the articular tissues occur and the articular cartilage gradually atrophies. He cannot recover without outside help. The thinning of the articular cartilage leads to the fact that with each range of movement there is an increase in the force of pressure on the periosteum, which contains numerous nerve endings. This is where joint pain comes from. As a reaction to pain, swelling begins to develop, which limits the range of motion of the joint. The inflammatory process slowly progresses and enters the chronic stage.
The most characteristic symptoms of arthrosis of the joints are pain during exercise, which subsides at rest, crunching and limited mobility in the joint, periodic manifestations of edema and swelling, muscle tension in the joint area, and gradual deformation of the joint. Initially, only the cartilage base is affected, and then the bone is damaged. Arthrosis in which joint deformation is severe is called arthrosis deformans. This process can occur in any joint of the human body, from small joints of the hand to fairly large joints. If the hip joint is affected, we are talking about coxarthrosis, and if the knee joint is involved in the process, then the disease is called gonarthrosis.
One of the stages of arthrosis development, in which various specific changes are observed in the articular ends of bones, such as thinning of cartilaginous tissue, bone marginal growths and narrowing of joint gaps, is called deforming arthrosis. This arthrosis is divided into post-traumatic and metabolic. Metabolic arthrosis occurs as a result of disruption of various metabolic processes in the body, and also as a complication of diseases such as rheumatoid polyarthritis, gout, etc. Post-traumatic arthrosis is a consequence of damage to cartilage or capsular-ligamentous structures as a result of various mechanical influences. At this stage of the disease, joint pain is observed, accompanied by dysfunction of the joint and the development of degenerative changes and joint deformities.
Gonarthrosis (knee arthrosis)
Almost 70% of all injuries to the musculoskeletal system are various injuries and defects of the knee joint, which subsequently cause pathology such as arthrosis of the knee joint.
The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the human body. It is formed by the junction of the femur, tibia and patella. The knee joint, in addition to the articular surfaces, has a number of fairly strong ligaments. Due to the presence of joint fluid in it, free, smooth sliding of the knee joint is ensured. Also, intra-articular cartilaginous lamellar bodies - menisci - play a huge role in the knee joint to ensure joint stability when running and walking. Gonarthrosis, as a rule, is milder than hip arthrosis, and almost never leads to disability. Most often, athletes, obese women and people with severe varicose veins suffer from gonarthrosis. With knee arthrosis, gradual deformation of the joints, increased pain, and decreased functionality of the limb are observed. A sharp pain and crunch in the joint occurs every time you try to bend your leg at the knee, and the ability to completely straighten your leg disappears.
Coxarthrosis can develop as an independent disease or against the background of various pathologies, such as congenital dislocation of the hip joint, or necrosis of the femoral head.
As a rule, the pathogenesis of this disease is based on some pathology of the ligaments of the femoral head, either partial or complete damage to it, or changes in the localization of the attachment site, properties and dimensions. Dysfunction of the articular ligaments leads to disruption of the normal mechanics of the joint.
Coxarthrosis is characterized by joint deformation, pain, limitation of motor functions and range of motion. Most often occurs in older people, in women during menopause or after childbirth, if a hip dislocation has previously been observed.
Another well-known type of articular arthrosis is ankylosing spondylitis. This disease is characterized by fusion of the vertebrae, and on an x-ray the human spinal column resembles a bamboo stick.
Timely comprehensive treatment of articular arthrosis consists of a number of medicinal methods, which include the prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs and various agents to improve trophism in the joint tissues. Currently, medications containing hyaluronic acid and chondratin sulfate, which are necessary for the normal synthesis of synovial fluid and cartilage tissue, have proven themselves to be effective. Physiotherapeutic methods, physical therapy, massage, and dietary nutrition are also used. In particularly complex and severe cases of arthrosis, which are characterized by joint immobility and complete destruction of cartilage tissue, the help of surgical medicine is resorted to. Interventions such as joint replacement are also possible. Traditional medicine is aimed only at stopping the course of the disease and preventing the destruction of articular cartilage, but it is not able to cure arthrosis.
An innovative method of treating arthrosis today is cell therapy. Autologous cells have enormous potential for healing and regeneration, and the growth factor simultaneously stimulates the growth of the existing germinal layer of damaged joint cartilage. Since bone is an organic living tissue, unique autologous cells ensure its complete renewal and the growth of new healthy and strong blood vessels that supply all nutrients to the bone. Self-derived stem cells transplanted into the patient’s body completely restore all vital nutritional processes. Regenerative therapy is aimed at restoring joint cartilage tissue and strengthening the immune system. Regenerative therapy uses a special technique aimed at speedy restoration of cartilage tissue. As a result of the use of cell therapy, in patients with arthrosis, trophism in the joint tissues is completely restored, pain and inflammation disappear, swelling disappears and joint mobility is fully restored.
The cartilage becomes denser and performs all its functions normally. Treatment of arthrosis with cell therapy should begin as early as possible, before irreversible joint deformation occurs.
(495) 50-253-50 - free consultation on stem cell treatment in Moscow and abroad
Department of Cell Therapy - Center for Minimally Invasive and Arthroscopic Joint Surgery, Sports Orthopedics Prof. Lille in Munich.
Revitalization (rejuvenation) with the help of stem cells - the method is based on the ability of stem cells introduced into the body to merge with damaged structures, differentiate according to their type, giving rise to the growth of new healthy tissue, and release various active substances (including growth factors) that have direct stimulating effect on surrounding structures.