Arthrosis is a disease of the joints, with progressive and destructive inflammatory processes in the cartilage tissue, which makes it thin and impairs functionality. As the disease develops, the skeletal system and nearby ligaments are drawn into the pathological process. Therapeutic therapy has several goals: to stop inflammation, reduce pain and restore mobility in the affected joint.
Treatment of this disease is a long and difficult process that does not always give the expected result. Progress and success depend on the timely initiation of therapy and the correct choice of medication regimen and the use of recovery agents. In the initial stages, the disease is treated in a clinic. Seriously ill patients are hospitalized in the surgical department. Methods used to treat arthrosis are divided into groups:
The use of medications is considered the basis of the treatment of arthrosis. Drugs that are prescribed at all stages of the disease are divided into two groups:
Glucocorticosteroids help reduce swelling and inflammation in the joints.
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Such therapy is possible at the very beginning of the development of the disease. During this period, many drugs are used that can stop inflammation and improve joint mobility by relieving pain:
To improve metabolic processes, foods containing vegetable fats are introduced into the diet. It is important to pay attention to vitamin saturation. For arthrosis, B vitamins, which are found in dairy products, nuts, bananas and potatoes, have a beneficial effect. Folic acid, which is present in lentils and cabbage, enhances regenerative processes in cells. To cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, you need to increase the amount of vegetables and fruits. To normalize joint function, it is advisable to reduce the consumption of protein foods.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are indispensable in the treatment of arthrosis and are used at all stages of the disease:
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In addition to traditional methods, alternative medicine is used that has a positive effect on the condition of the joints, but with a less pronounced effect. Tinctures are used for internal and external use, as well as compresses and ointments. To treat arthrosis with folk remedies, medicinal herbs are used: horsetail, thyme and cinquefoil, which not only reduce swelling in the joints, but also promote the regeneration of cartilage tissue cells. Willow leaves are very useful, used in the form of compresses and in steam treatment.
If you take 20 g of crushed horseradish roots and mix with 25 g of Vaseline, you will get an ointment that will help reduce pain and stop inflammation in the joints.
Surgery for arthrosis is used in severe cases of the disease. Most often, radical measures are used when the hip and knee joints are affected, which complicates a person’s movement. The most common procedure is puncture, which removes exudate that accumulates in the joint and helps restore its mobility.
At the second stage of the disease, arthroscopy is used. Thin and elastic instruments are used, thanks to which the top layer of destroyed cartilage tissue is removed without cutting the joint cavity. When the disease progresses significantly, endoprosthetics is used. In this case, the affected area is replaced with a biocompatible design
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is a chronic disease in which the cartilage tissue of the knee becomes thinner, gradually destroyed, and then the restoration of the joints becomes extremely difficult. The main symptom of arthrosis is pain. Without proper treatment, over time, the cartilage is completely destroyed, which leads to loss of mobility and disability. Restoration of a damaged knee joint is possible only in the first stages of the disease. The main thing: do not miss the moment and contact a specialist.
The disease is based on metabolic disorders in the body that arise due to poor nutrition and lifestyle. Bad habits, unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins and lack of exercise are the main factors contributing to the development of arthrosis. Other most common causes of arthrosis include the following.
Cartilage covers the ends of the femur and tibia. The place of their connection is covered with a sealed capsule - the joint capsule. The inner lining of this bursa produces a special synovial fluid that fills the entire cavity of the joint capsule. Since cartilage tissue does not contain blood vessels, its nutrition is provided only by this synovial fluid. The porous structure of cartilage provides its nutrition. When pressure is applied to the joint, the cartilage contracts and all the fluid comes out of its pores. When the pressure stops, the cartilage takes its original shape and, like a sponge, absorbs liquid.
In the presence of negative factors, the composition of the synovial fluid changes. It becomes thicker and no longer contains essential nutrients. As a result, the joint begins to dry out and cracks appear on its surface. If in normal condition the cartilage slid easily, now friction appears between its surfaces. The distance between the bones is reduced, and degenerative processes worsen.
The patient begins to feel stiffness in the limbs, it becomes difficult for him to perform familiar everyday things, and lameness appears.
Restoring the knee joint with arthrosis is possible today. The main thing is that destruction does not begin to occur in the cartilage. If the disease is in its early stages, then it is possible to stop its development. For arthrosis of the knee joint, complex treatment is necessary. Methods of such treatment include:
Since the disease is based on metabolic disorders and a lack of useful elements, treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint begins with dietary adjustments. If the patient has extra pounds, then it is imperative to get rid of them. The diet itself for arthrosis is not rigid and is more the norm for any person’s diet than a restriction. It is necessary to exclude fatty, salty and sweet foods from the diet. You should not eat pork and lamb, as well as fried and smoked foods. Completely give up smoking, alcohol, sugary carbonated drinks and coffee.
Divide your daily diet into 5 parts plus 1-2 snacks between meals. To supply the body with a sufficient amount of calcium, consume low-fat (but not low-fat) cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, and butter every day. Give preference to homemade dairy products.
Poultry meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit), as well as fish, is mandatory. Meat and fish should be consumed either baked or boiled. Frying in sunflower oil is strictly prohibited. Doctors also recommend consuming broths cooked on bones, as well as jellied meats and jellies. These dishes contain natural collagen, which is necessary for the formation of cartilage and bone tissue.
Don't forget about liquid too. You need to drink about 1.5 liters per day. clean water. Herbal decoctions, fruit drinks, compotes and homemade juices are also useful.
For arthrosis of the knee joint, medications are prescribed that have different effects. First of all, it is necessary to relieve pain and inflammation in the joint. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used for this purpose. These drugs can reduce swelling of the knee, relieve pain and inflammation. For knee arthrosis, NSAIDs are used in the form of ointments or gels: Voltaren emulgel, Diklak gel, Finalgon, Indomethacin. If fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, a puncture is necessary. To do this, a needle is inserted into the joint cavity and excess fluid is pumped out. During the same procedure, anti-inflammatory drugs (Diprospan, Kenalog) or antibiotics can also be introduced into the joint cavity.
Restoration of joints is carried out using chondroprotectors. Chondroprotectors are drugs whose action is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue. Thanks to these medications, cartilage cells are formed much faster, thereby forming new tissue. Such drugs include the following: “Arthra”, “Chondrolone”, “Chondrotin complex”, “Structum”. Chondroprotectors can be taken as tablets and also used in the form of ointments.
The most effective is to inject a chondroprotector directly into the joint. The results of such treatment will appear only a year after the start of treatment. Today, combination drugs have appeared that combine chondroprotectors and NSAIDs. This eliminates the need for the patient to take additional anti-inflammatory drugs and brings the most positive results.
The operation is performed at those stages when the cartilage tissue is destroyed and the pills do not bring relief. Arthroscopy is considered the mildest method of surgical treatment. Two small incisions are made in the knee, into one of which an endoscope (this is a kind of video camera connected to a monitor) is inserted. Surgical instruments are inserted into another incision to perform the necessary manipulations. During this operation, damaged tissue is removed or transplanted.
Osteotomy is a surgery that removes part of the bone in a joint so that the weight of the body is transferred to a healthy area of the knee. Endoprosthetics is the complete replacement of a joint with an artificial prosthesis.
Another important point of treatment for arthrosis of the knee joint is physical therapy. Physiotherapeutic procedures promote tissue regeneration and restoration of metabolic processes. They are also able to eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. To treat arthrosis, procedures such as phonophoresis, paraffin therapy, and electrophoresis are used. Magnetic therapy is considered the most effective procedure. Using magnetic therapy, the joint can be warmed up by 2-3 degrees. The depth of heating reaches 9-12 cm. This has a beneficial effect on blood circulation in the joint, helps restore tissue and reduce swelling.
With arthrosis of the knee joint, large loads on the joint are contraindicated. But exercise therapy is extremely beneficial for restoring the health of your joints. Simple exercises can be performed at home on your own.
When you wake up in the morning, do not rush to jump out of bed. Lie down for a few minutes. Then, lying on your back, begin the bicycle exercise. And during the day you can perform such simple exercises.
Exercise No. 1. Lying on your back, lift one leg 15-20 cm from the floor. Lock your leg in this position and then slowly lower it. Do the same with the other leg.
Exercise No. 2. While sitting on the floor, keep your legs straight in front of you. Wrap your hands around your toes and slowly pull your foot toward you.
Exercise No. 3. Lie on your stomach, bend your knee and clasp your foot with your hand. Pull your foot towards your buttock so that your toes touch it. Then start doing the exercise on the other leg.
Exercise No. 4. For this exercise, you will need a chair with a backrest or a table for support. While standing, grab the back of a chair or table surface with your hands and move your leg to the side. At the highest point, hold your leg for a few seconds.
Exercise No. 5. For this exercise, you will also need a chair or table for support. Only now you need to stand sideways to the supporting surface and swing your legs forward and backward.
Exercise No. 6. This exercise can even be done at your workplace. To do this, simply sit on a chair and swing your legs back and forth.
All exercises should be performed at a moderate pace, without strain and with a small range of motion. Running and jumping are prohibited. If you do squats, they should be shallow.
The complex of measures aimed at treating arthrosis can also include treatment with folk remedies. To treat arthrosis, both external and oral medications are used. Before starting treatment with traditional methods, consult your doctor.
There is no specialized diet for those suffering from arthrosis. However, there are products that can improve your well-being if you have joint problems. Make sure they are in your diet!
One of the most common causes of arthrosis is a metabolic disorder in the tissue of intra-articular cartilage. Normally, the processes of its natural restoration and destruction are in balance. But as the body ages, recovery slows down and the cartilage gradually wears out.
You cannot stop this process with diet alone - you need full treatment. However, by saturating the diet with certain components, you can improve the nutrition of cartilage and create more comfortable conditions for its functioning. What substances are needed first?
Collagen is a special protein that is found in large quantities in cartilage tissue, ligaments and skin. In articular cartilage, collagen fibers form a kind of network. It is essentially a cartilage frame, giving it strength and elasticity, allowing it to compensate for the load during movement. It is not surprising that with a lack of collagen, cartilage becomes vulnerable.
Collagen is synthesized in the body. But with arthrosis, as a rule, it is not enough, so it is advisable to include foods rich in it in the diet.
People suffering from arthrosis are often recommended to eat more jellied meat precisely because this dish contains a lot of healthy collagen. However, jelly also has a high cholesterol content. Therefore, it is advisable to enjoy it no more than once a week (and if you have been diagnosed with atherosclerosis or hypertension, then even less often). On other days, it is better to replace jellied fish with jellied fish or fruit jelly. When preparing them, gelatin is used, which is essentially collagen, only slightly modified.
In order for the body to produce collagen on its own, it needs protein, both animal and plant. Therefore, the menu must include lean meat and fish, dairy products and legumes.
Sulfur is found in all cells of our body, but most of all it is in the skin and cartilage. It is involved in the production of collagen - without sulfur it simply would not be formed in the body. Proteoglycans, other molecules that make up cartilage tissue, would not be synthesized. In their shape, they are similar to dish brushes, between the “bristles” of which there is water. By holding it, these molecules provide hydration to the cartilage, and its ability to withstand load largely depends on this.
With arthrosis, the number of proteoglycans in the cartilage is reduced - it becomes drier and more brittle. If against this background a sulfur deficiency occurs in the body, the painful process accelerates. Therefore, its shortage must be replenished. At the same time, it is important that the menu includes foods rich not only in sulfur, but also in selenium. Without this trace element, sulfur cannot become a building material for cartilage.
Beef, chicken, chum salmon, cod, and sea bass are rich in sulfur. There is a lot of this macronutrient in eggs, legumes and cereals, radishes, radishes, onions, all types of cabbage, apples, plums, gooseberries.
With selenium, everything is somewhat more complicated. There is a lot of it in Brazil nuts, mussels, shrimp, coconut - products that many cannot afford. But you don't have to choose delicacies. Selenium can be obtained from eggs, milk, cod, garlic, and whole grain bread. The microelement content in them is less than in seafood, but if such food is on your table regularly, problems most likely will not arise. By the way, there is one good source of selenium that is inexpensive - seaweed.
Unlike arthritis, arthrosis is considered to be a non-inflammatory disease. In fact, inflammation often occurs against the background of destruction of articular cartilage. It’s just not as strong and pronounced as with arthritis. To reduce the risk of inflammation and reduce it, your diet should have enough omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. They not only have anti-inflammatory properties, but also activate regenerative processes in cartilage.
Fatty fish: herring, salmon, sardines, mackerel. They are quite high in calories, so it is advisable not to add oil to them when cooking, not to fry, but to bake or steam them.
Salad dressings based on flaxseed oil will be useful - it also contains a lot of omega-3 acids. 1-2 teaspoons per day is enough.
Chondroprotectors are medications that have a restorative effect aimed at cartilage structures. They are widely used to treat arthrosis of the knee joints. These medications have a beneficial effect on damaged cartilage, eliminating discomfort and normalizing the pathological changes that have occurred. Chondroprotectors for arthrosis of the knee joint act as follows: they activate the production of necessary acids and increase the synthesis of synovial fluid, diluting it.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors are currently used to treat arthrosis. What is the difference between these medications? Chondroprotectors nourish cartilage structures, nonsteroids relieve the inflammatory process. Drugs from both groups reduce pain.
NSAIDs give an almost immediate effect, but the effect after their use lasts no more than 2-3 hours. With chondroprotectors, the situation is different - in order to achieve results, you need to undergo a weekly or even monthly course of treatment. The effect of the drugs in this case lasts much longer.
Chondroprotectors and non-steroids are prescribed together. These groups of drugs in combination with each other alleviate the condition of a patient with arthrosis of the knee joint. Complex treatment gives a more pronounced result than mono treatment.
Drugs whose effectiveness is aimed at restoring joint structures in arthrosis have a number of advantages:
With the development of degenerative-dystrophic disorders of the knee joint, a decrease in the functions of the limbs occurs, which is accompanied by severe discomfort. If there is no timely treatment, joint deformation occurs.
The purpose of using chondroprotectors is to restore cartilage structures affected by arthrosis. Medicines in this group contain chondrosulfate and glucosamine. These substances activate the mechanisms for the production of natural substances that make up cartilage (collagen, glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycan and hyaluronic acid), which contributes to its restoration.
All drugs included in the group of chondroprotectors have almost the same composition. Only the proportions of active substances vary. Some medications contain only one active substance, while others contain several. That is why a doctor should prescribe chondroprotectors after conducting a comprehensive examination and identifying the cause of arthrosis.
The effect of substances included in chondroprotectors:
Chondroprotectors are prescribed not only for arthrosis of the knee joint. These drugs are widely used to treat the following diseases:
Chondroprotectors are prescribed only at the initial stages of the development of pathological changes in the joints, as a rule, at stages 1 and 2 of progression. The course of treatment is long - varies depending on the condition of the cartilage structure and lasts 3-6 months. During treatment, the patient must be under outpatient observation. The specialist performs the necessary tests and, if necessary, adjusts drug therapy.
Primary improvements after the start of treatment occur no faster than after 3 months. You should not give up if the symptoms of arthrosis have not completely disappeared. In this case, the doctor reconsiders the tactics of the therapy and adjusts it in order to achieve a more pronounced result.
Drugs that belong to the group of chondroprotectors are classified as follows:
Despite the fact that chondroprotectors almost never give side effects, there are a number of contraindications to their use:
Among the most popular drugs from the group of chondroprotectors are the following:
Before you start restoring a knee joint affected by arthrosis with the help of chondroprotectors, you must consult with an experienced doctor. Only a qualified physician can determine the degree and form of the disease and select the most effective medicine. The dosage is prescribed strictly individually, depending on the degree of damage to the articular structure.
At the initial stages of the development of pathological disorders, chondroprotectors give extremely positive results. If treatment with these drugs is not started in a timely manner, then, as a rule, it is not possible to avoid surgical intervention. The operation involves replacing the affected joint with an artificial one. This measure avoids disability and significantly improves the patient’s standard of living.
In order for medications to give the expected results, you must follow certain recommendations:
First of all, you need to pay attention to the composition of the drug. Only a specialist can choose the most suitable chondroprotector based on the active components. To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to use chondroprotectors in different forms: ointments, injections and tablets.
It is more advisable to purchase medications from a well-known pharmacological manufacturer. The cost of the drug is usually high. Low prices for medicines indicate that the drug is of low quality.
When choosing chondroprotectors, it is recommended to pay attention to the dosage of the constituent components. If the active substances are contained in the medicine in small quantities, then the treatment of arthrosis will take longer.
The course of treatment with chondroprotectors must be completed. The patient should be patient and take the drug until the last dosage. Only in this way can you get a positive result within 3-6 months and prevent further progression of dystrophic and degenerative processes in the joint area.
If you have problems with your joints, do not delay, consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe a course of chondroprotectors and give additional recommendations. Timely drug therapy will relieve inflammation, pain and restore damage in the cartilage area quickly enough.
According to the observations of doctors, gymnastics for arthrosis is the basis of therapy.
If there is no inflammation, acute pain, severe contracture that accompany advanced arthrosis, a set of exercises developed for the patient will help. Gymnastics gives the following results:
When a person treats arthritis and arthrosis with movements, the result of therapy depends only on the patience, perseverance, desire to recover and perseverance of the patient. For arthrosis, do not use exercise equipment. The weight of your body is enough, which provides the required load with an effective and gentle effect on the spine. Therapeutic exercises for spinal arthrosis, performed in specialized institutions, are useful, although treatment of arthrosis is also possible at home.
Gymnastics for arthrosis and arthritis of the damaged cervical spine is recommended for periodic stiffness in this area, dizziness when turning the head to the sides. You cannot use exercise equipment for arthritis and arthrosis of the neck, since this part of the spine is vulnerable and cannot tolerate excessive loads:
Therapeutic gymnastics for thoracic arthrosis allows you to restore the mobility of this department, relieving discomfort between the shoulder blades, restoring the functionality of internal organs:
With arthritis and arthrosis of the lumbar region, unpleasant sensations appear. Using gymnastics, you can avoid discomfort:
For arthritis and arthrosis, physical therapy takes first place among other therapeutic procedures. To further strengthen the spinal muscles that protect the human spine, exercise equipment should also be used, since gymnastic equipment is not contraindicated for arthritis and arthrosis of the lumbar region.
Gymnastics for any type of arthrosis becomes an important method of restoring the functional performance of joints, since thanks to a set of exercises the following occurs:
The goals of gymnastics depend on the period of the disease - remission or exacerbation. In the acute phase of the pathology, it is important to ensure the circulation of blood and lymph inside the joint, relax the muscles, widen the joint space, and relieve pain. During the period of remission, gymnastics is aimed at strengthening the articular muscular-ligamentous apparatus and restoring natural functions.
When performing therapeutic exercises, you should remember:
A sick person strives to relieve pain in order to return to a normal lifestyle. Patients consider light gymnastic exercises unnecessary for joint diseases. Many people strive to find a complicated program. This is a dangerous approach to solving the problem. The joints should be gradually loaded. At the same time, important nuances are taken into account:
When performing therapeutic exercises, learn to listen to the body. As soon as the pain in the joint intensifies, stop the activity. For patients, there is no clear number of repetitions of each exercise. The complex is selected individually. In this case, they are guided by the severity of the disease, the well-being and fitness of the body.
After each exercise, you should organize a short rest. This is necessary to restore breathing, normalize the pulse, and increase blood flow to the sore joint.
Gymnastics using the Popov method is now popular. The essence of the classes is to perform “small movements” that warm up the muscles. Popov’s gymnastics consists of the following basic exercises:
An experienced specialist will tell you which of these exercises will help. Gymnastics using Popov’s method has been practiced by sports rehabilitation specialist Muslim Dzhamaldinov for many years. The use of these exercises has become an important factor in the successful complex of prescribed therapeutic procedures. Without doing therapeutic exercises, it is impossible to hope to get rid of any degree of arthrosis. Physical education will help patients of different ages.
Traditionally, hormonal or non-steroidal drugs that stop the inflammatory process are used for pain relief for arthrosis. However, folk remedies have long been used by the population and relieve swelling and inflammation with herbal tinctures, compresses, ointments and rubbing. These drugs provide pain relief because they contain alkaloids or essential oils.
It has been noticed that folk remedies successfully help against a disease such as arthrosis. Healers often recommend using:
When starting therapy using recipes from traditional healers, you should remember that after a couple of months of treatment, a break is necessary, after which you can repeat the course until recovery.
Gymnastics, nutrition and daily routine are important in the treatment of arthrosis. Dietary recommendations should be followed, regardless of the patient’s degree of obesity, since they are based on the principles of rational nutrition.
To lose weight, you need not only gymnastics, but also dietary nutrition for arthrosis, alternating balanced exercise with rest. To lose weight, you should limit your intake of carbohydrates and animal fats, eat plant fiber, eat dairy products and cereals, and drink enough liquid every day.
Products containing gelatin and collagen (jelly, jellies, jellied dishes, jellies and jellied meats) will help cure arthrosis. Care should be taken to ensure that the body receives the required amount of vitamins and minerals.
Depending on the period of the disease, gymnastic exercises pursue different goals. In case of exacerbation, the joint needs rest, loading is contraindicated. Exercises should be performed no earlier than 5 days after the pain disappears. During this period, the purpose of therapeutic exercises is as follows:
When arthrosis affects the upper limbs, it is necessary to perform exercises while sitting. If your legs hurt, lie down. Initially, passive movements of flexion and extension are recommended for diseased joints. A thick cushion is placed under the knee, gradually increasing its diameter. During remission, gymnastics helps increase the range of motion and mobility of the joint. Exercises for the arms can be done while standing, if there is no high blood pressure and you are not dizzy.
At the next stage of destruction of the hip joint, the articular capsule is involved in the process, and the synovial membrane is degenerated. The intra-articular fluid becomes more viscous, its circulation slows down, the articular cartilage does not receive nutrients and fluid from it in sufficient volume, and the lubrication of the joints deteriorates. Breakaway pieces of decaying cartilage can irritate the synovium, causing inflammation - synovitis. As a result, the synovial fluid is diluted by an inflammatory effusion; such a substance no longer nourishes the cartilage, but aggravates their destruction.
In addition to articular tissues, periarticular structures are affected. The muscles atrophy as the person tries not to put any weight on the affected leg to minimize pain. The ligaments weaken, stretch, and cannot stabilize the joint.
When the hip joint is destroyed, the symptoms increase gradually, at first the disease manifests itself as short-term moderate pain and stiffness at the beginning of movement. These symptoms are often not given enough attention. Only intense, prolonged pain and severe limitation of mobility force the patient to consult a doctor. When the cartilage is worn out, bone deformation is visible even through the thickness of the tissue, the leg dries out and shortens due to muscle atrophy, and restoration of the joints becomes impossible. Either surgery or intensive therapy is required, which allows delaying surgery, relieving symptoms, but not restoring the function of the joint and leg as a whole.
Not all components of the joint are subject to restoration and correction. The volume and composition of synovial fluid can be normalized. It is possible to restore cartilage in which degenerative-dystrophic processes have just begun, but it is more realistic not to reverse, but only to slow down the process of destruction. As for bone deformities, they can only be corrected surgically. At stage 2, minimally invasive intervention is possible - arthroscopy; at stage 3, more complex and serious operations are resorted to. If you start treatment as soon as the first signs of arthrosis appear, the chances of healing are higher. When symptoms clearly indicating destruction of the hip joint appear, treatment is ineffective.
Most methods of conservative treatment for coxarthrosis are symptomatic. They alleviate symptoms, but do not affect the mechanism of development of the disease and do not contribute to the restoration of articular structures. These methods include:
NSAIDs, corticosteroids, analgesics and anesthetics help relieve the main symptom accompanying the destruction of the hip joint - pain. To some extent, drugs with a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect slow down the destruction of cartilage, since the inflammatory process produces substances harmful to it. But hormonal drugs, as well as most NSAIDs, themselves negatively affect cartilage tissue and suppress natural regeneration processes. Therefore, they should be taken only according to indications, in short courses, depending on the symptoms, drugs with pronounced analgesic or anti-inflammatory activity should be selected.
The effect of physiotherapeutic procedures is also mainly symptomatic: pain relief, swelling, increased joint mobility. Activation of blood circulation and metabolic processes slows down the destruction of cartilage. Some procedures should trigger tissue regeneration processes, but they have little effect on cartilage. The most effective in this regard are ozone therapy and shock wave therapy.
The effectiveness of ointments for coxarthrosis is greatly exaggerated by advertising. The hip joint is located deep in the tissue, and the active components of ointments simply do not penetrate into the joint capsule. It is impossible to start the recovery process in this way, even if you use an ointment, gel or cream with cartilage tissue components. The therapeutic effect is due to massaging movements when rubbing the drug. Ointments with warming, vasodilating, local irritating components relieve pain, swelling of soft tissues, and stimulate blood circulation. The use of NSAID-based ointments for the inflammatory process inside the hip joint is pointless. Treatment with compresses and baths is also purely symptomatic.
There are 2 groups of drugs not intended for the treatment of arthrosis. However, in some cases they are used for coxarthrosis. This:
Traditional medicine for external and internal use can also be used as an auxiliary treatment. They relieve pain and inflammation quite well, and in the early stages increase the mobility of the joint. But you should not expect to restore the joint with lotions, rubbing, compresses and wraps. A therapeutic diet is an essential component of treatment, but its capabilities should not be overestimated. By adhering to a diet, you can correct your metabolism, violations of which provoke joint destruction. Excess weight is also detrimental to them, which a balanced diet helps them lose.
Chondroprotectors can stop wear and tear of the hip joint. 1st generation drugs made from animal or plant materials are not particularly effective. 2nd generation monopreparations containing chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride or sulfate, as well as 3rd generation drugs that combine both components, have a more pronounced therapeutic effect. For coxarthrosis and other joint diseases, you need to take medications prescribed by your doctor, and not sports and dietary supplements with a low concentration of active ingredients. And the treatment should be quite long, several courses with an average duration of 2–3 months or more.
Chondroprotectors have a complex effect:
The drugs are positioned as a stimulator of regeneration and repair. But experts say that their protective (protective) function is much more pronounced than their reparative (restorative) function. So it is better to take them to prevent cartilage destruction. Recovery is possible only at the initial stage, when the cartilage becomes cloudy and dries out, but its cracking and delamination has not yet begun.
Injections of hyaluronic acid into the joint replenish the deficiency of synovial fluid, normalize its composition and consistency. As a result, one of the most important factors causing the destruction of articular cartilage is eliminated, and bone movement becomes painless and facilitated by natural lubrication. Due to the location of the hip joint, it is quite difficult to make injections into the joint capsule. In case of coxarthrosis complicated by synovitis, you must first stop the inflammation and remove effusion from the joint cavity, otherwise the injections will be ineffective.
Recently, a number of clinics and medical centers have been providing non-drug treatment for arthrosis using drugs obtained from the patient’s own blood, bone marrow or adipose tissue. These are so-called cell therapies. The most popular is autoplasma therapy (PRP therapy, plasma lifting). The course is significantly cheaper than a course of hyaluronic acid injections; blood products are not rejected by the body and do not cause side effects. Venous blood is taken from the patient and divided into fractions in a centrifuge. Then concentrated plasma containing a large number of platelets is injected into the joint.
Platelets are a growth factor; they are involved in the healing of tissue after wounds and injuries. Plasma injections with thrombicites activate restoration processes in cartilage tissue, the production of synovial fluid, and have a beneficial effect on bone tissue. The rough cartilage becomes smooth again, the wrinkled synovial membrane straightens. Such injections effectively relieve pain, have a minimum of contraindications, and replace anti-inflammatory drugs that have an unwanted drug burden on the body. Treatment of arthrosis is recommended in courses of 5–7 injections at intervals of 3–5 days. If you start PRP therapy soon after the first symptoms appear and take 2 courses each year, surgery may never be necessary.
Along with autoplasma therapy, biological treatment methods include:
The therapeutically active protein is synthesized in special incubators by placing test tubes with the patient’s blood there. Then the serum with a high protein concentration is separated from other blood fractions and injected intra-articularly. Protein suppresses the activity of an inflammatory mediator. To obtain stem cells, bone marrow puncture or liposuction of a minimal amount of fat is performed and these preparations are processed using a special technique. Stem cells can transform into any cells in the body, including chondrocytes - young cells of cartilage tissue. In addition, they stimulate the production of growth factors and slow down the destruction of cartilage.
If joint destruction is associated with mechanical factors, they must be eliminated. In particular, you may need:
You can increase the clearance of the joint and reduce pressure on the cartilage through massage and traction of the joint. Massage also helps strengthen muscles and eliminate their spasms. For traction, a special traction device is used, which allows you to stretch the joint along the vertical axis. Through manual therapy, traction is performed at a more favorable angle, to the side and outward. Manipulation requires significant physical strength and high qualifications and experience. After a course of sessions, favorable conditions are created for the restoration of the joint, and the destruction of cartilage stops.
Movement in the hip joint is provided by 3 muscle groups. The higher their tone, the less load on the articular cartilage. You can strengthen muscles through massage, electrical myostimulation, but exercises are the most effective. Exercise therapy for coxarthrosis also performs another task: developing the joint, overcoming joint contractures. The longer a limb remains in a joint without movement, the more difficult it is to restore its function. You need to develop joints gradually, without making sudden movements. There are lightweight and enhanced complexes, complexes for the initial and late stages of the disease; your doctor will help you choose the optimal one. You need to exercise daily, if your general condition does not allow you to make active movements, you should at least do isometric exercises, tensing and relaxing your muscles.
Timely initiation of complex treatment can long delay the transition of arthrosis to stage 3. But often, sooner or later, there comes a time when the effect of conservative treatment is practically not noticeable. In this case, surgery is indicated. For arthrosis of the hip joint, several operations are used:
Only arthroplasty provides complete restoration of joint function. Joint endoprosthetics is a special case of this. As a rule, arthroplasty refers to operations that replace the shock-absorbing pad between bones and surround the articular ends with plastic tissue of organic origin. Endoprosthetics is the replacement of a joint or part of it with an artificial prosthesis, an implant. Prostheses are total and unipolar, with cemented and cementless fixation. The average service life of an endoprosthesis is 10–15 years. If the operation is performed at an advanced age, it can serve for life. Young people usually require revision surgery.
The limited service life of the prosthesis and high cost are the main disadvantages of endoprosthetics, but in general this operation is the most effective and progressive. After any operation, rehabilitation is necessary, including exercise therapy, physiotherapy, the use of orthopedic devices, and adherence to a special regime.
Coxarthrosis is a chronic disease; it is usually impossible to stop its development, much less reverse the process. But modern methods of treatment - chondroprotectors, cell therapy, injections of hyaluronic acid in combination with exercise therapy, massage and traction give a good chance of restoring the joint. The difficulty is that treatment is most effective at stage 1, and the disease is usually diagnosed at stage 2, or even 3. So therapy often comes down to preventing accelerated wear of the cartilage and joint deformation. A completely destroyed joint can be replaced with an endoprosthesis, but not everyone has the means for such an operation.