Joint disease osteoarthritis: what is it, what are its causes and symptoms, what treatment methods exist - the answers to these questions will interest many people, especially in old age.
Joint diseases and osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is called deforming osteoarthritis, which is a common type of arthritis. The disease is chronic, that is, damage to the skeletal and articular structures of the human skeleton is slow and irreversible.
What is osteoarthritis? This is the destruction of muscle tissue in the main joints, which include those that are most susceptible to stress: knee, hip, spine and hands.
Most often, this disease affects men and women after 45 years, but every year more and more cases of the disease are recorded among younger people.
Articular cartilage is a sufficiently strong material that acts as a shock absorber during impacts, providing smooth gliding of adjacent joint bones. With its destruction and abrasion, friction of surfaces increases, pain occurs, and deformation occurs.
Synovial fluid is a thick lubricant that reduces friction and wear on articular surfaces. As the disease progresses, it becomes less dense and elastic.
There are 2 types of disease: primary and secondary osteoarthritis. The first develops with the natural wear of cartilage as a result of human aging, and the second - under the influence of external negative factors.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Factors affecting the increased likelihood of a person developing a disease:
- hereditary predisposition due to a gene defect, which is responsible for the proper formation of cartilage, damage to it and causes joint problems - this is the most significant factor affecting the appearance of the disease in 30% of cases;
- obesity - contributes to the appearance of disease of the knee and hip joints due to the large load on them;
- injuries, especially in athletes, increase the risk of disease in those areas where injuries occur (back, knees, etc.);
- great joint tension due to professional activity.
The main reason osteoarthritis of the joints develops is a slowed metabolism, which is why changes in cartilage tissue occur. In addition, modern scientists identify other reasons for the development of the disease:
- age-related changes in the human body, in which there is a decrease in tissue elasticity;
- overweight and overload on joints and bones also contribute to destruction;
- the effect of toxins in viral diseases, with an improper lifestyle (alcohol abuse and smoking);
- endocrine disorders in the body: diabetes, menopause in women, hormonal disorders in diseases of the thyroid gland, etc .;
- diseases of the vascular system, atherosclerosis, changes in the walls of arteries.
Osteoarthritis: Symptoms
Manifestations of joint disease develop gradually, because of which the patient can not immediately guess about his problem. If untreated, cartilage tissue degenerates and the patient worsens. Therefore, you should pay attention to the appearance of pain in the joints immediately to begin treatment as quickly as possible and slow down the development of the disease.
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Pain in the joints during movement, which at first did not bother the person much, because in a calm state they are not.
- As the disease progresses, pain appears after a period of rest or from a heavy load. If during exacerbation at the initial stage, treatment is not started on time, then the disease progresses.
- There is an overgrowth of bone tissue in the joints of the knee, fingers, etc., pain is felt even with little activity.
- Swelling of the joints due to accumulation of synovial fluid.
With a sharp movement, the patient can hear a click in the area of the affected joint - crepitus, which is heard more clearly in cold and damp conditions.
Over time, periods of exacerbation of the disease begin to become more frequent, joint mobility decreases, and the patient may even completely lose motor function. This is caused by degenerative processes in the tissues. External changes also occur: redness of painful areas and an increase in the volume of articular cups.
At the next stage of development of osteoarthritis of the joints, fluid accumulates in the cavity of the joint bags, which often contributes to an increase in body temperature in the affected area: the joint swells and is hot to the touch. Overgrowing of tissues over time leads to compression of the nerve endings around the joints, due to which sensitivity decreases, numbness and pain reduction are possible.
Manifestations of osteoarthritis depending on the affected area
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee or hip differ only in the location of the pain during movement, and in the area of damage to the cartilage.
So, with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, pain is manifested during flexion and extension of the knees, in case of a hip lesion - in the hip area and is given to the groin area, in case of a spine disease - they are localized in the lumbar region or in the neck. Often pain is associated with a change in weather or climate, a load on a sore joint.
In severe cases, with overgrowth of articular tissues, blood vessels are squeezed, the consequences depend on the location of the diseased joints. If the spinal column is damaged, it is possible to compress the esophagus, which will lead to dysphagia, with the growth of joints in the neck, dizziness and severe headaches are possible.
According to scientists, 15% of the world's population have various forms of osteoarthritis. After 35 years of age, the risk of developing the disease is 50%, and after 50 years it rises to 75%, over 70 years old - already 90%.
What is it - "osteoarthritis" with age, almost every person learns as his body ages, and in the presence of negative factors or excessive load - even earlier.
Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis
The optimal way to diagnose osteoarthritis is a full examination of the patient in a hospital in a hospital. This allows not only to make the correct diagnosis, but also to develop the most effective treatment plan.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of analyzes and studies:
- general examination and description of symptoms;
- clarification of the location of the pain;
- X-ray of the affected area, ultrasound examination, if necessary, the doctor prescribes an MRI scan - changes in the joint are traced from the obtained images;
- puncture of the joint fluid (arthrocentesis) is done, its biochemical analysis is carried out;
- blood tests.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor gives a conclusion about the severity and degree of osteoarthritis, clinical recommendations for the use of pain medications, an individual treatment technique is being developed.
Therapies
The disease is chronic, so the main goal of doctors is to slow down the processes of joint deformation and the further development of the disease.
The purpose of the initial stage of treatment of osteoarthritis is to reduce pain during periods of exacerbation, for which painkillers are prescribed to help restore mobility in the joint. It should be borne in mind that the frequent use of such drugs may be accompanied by gastrointestinal diseases or the occurrence of gastritis, and they will not be able to stop the degenerative process.
The most effective treatments:
- weight reduction of the patient, which implies a special diet;
- medical gymnastics and physiotherapeutic procedures;
- taking medications for pain relief (tablets, etc.);
- the use of adaptive devices (orthopedic shoes, knee pads, tires, etc.);
- removal of articular fluid, the introduction of drugs into a diseased joint.
The main goal in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and other affected areas is weight loss and diet, as well as regular exercise, and swimming and cycling are very useful. In combination with physiotherapeutic procedures, this will strengthen the muscles, ligaments and tendons near the joint and normalize the process of the intake of beneficial nutrients in the tissues. Thermal procedures, compresses help well to relieve pain. With incorrect posture, as one of the causes of the disease, its correction is necessary.
If the disease progresses, then bandages and tires that immobilize the affected joint will help get rid of the pain. If the above methods do not help, then surgical intervention is recommended.
Medical preparations
With osteoarthritis, treatment should be comprehensive, aimed not only at relieving pain, but also at eliminating the causes of the disease, restoring cartilage tissue. To do this, apply:
- in tablet form: "Tylenol", aspirin, "Ibuprofen", "Celebrex", paracetamol, etc .;
- ointments and creams are applied directly to the affected joint;
- 3 generation chondroprotectors - are prescribed to protect cartilage tissue from destruction;
- preparations for molecular-structural restoration of cartilage tissue - improve joint mobility;
- injections into the affected joint are made with special drugs in cycles of up to 3-5 pieces per week; they are used only for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
Surgical methods
The most common treatment method and quite expensive is endoprosthetics, i.e. replacement of the joint with an artificial one. Such a prosthesis will not be able to completely replace the natural motor abilities, but it allows you to remove the pain. Most often they do the replantation of the knee and hip joints.
There are also other surgical methods:
- cleansing the joint with an arthroscope: piercing the skin in several places and polishing the damaged cartilage is done only in the early stages, but it is considered insufficiently effective;
- osteotomy - an operation designed to restore the function of a joint damaged by a disease for a while.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint and its treatment
The knee joint is most often affected by this disease, because it is under a lot of stress when walking and other movements.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee joint are similar to those already listed: knee pain during flexion and extension, especially when walking up the stairs. As the condition worsens, stiffness is felt, movement is difficult, swelling appears. Pain usually worsens in the morning, after resting, or after intense exertion, when kneeling.
During the examination, an x-ray shows a narrowing of the space between the joints of the diseased knee.
The attending physician, in accordance with the degree of damage and the symptoms of osteoarthritis, prescribes the treatment to the patient in the form of pain medication, recommends treatment and rehabilitation exercises that will help strengthen leg muscles and improve flexibility.
For severe pain, you can use special knee pads and tires, which, according to patients, help reduce pain and allow you to move more actively.
With this method, 2 types of tires are used:
- unloading, which reduces the load on the affected area;
- supporting - allows you to evenly distribute the load on the joint.
One of the methods of treatment is the use of dietary supplements, dietary supplements containing aminoglucose and chondroitin sulfates. These substances are natural components of articular cartilage. Supplements are made from products of animal origin or synthetic substances and are quite effective in the early stages of osteoarthritis. To achieve a tangible effect, it is necessary to complete the full course of taking drugs lasting at least three months. This will help reduce swelling and inflammation in the joint, improve the patient's motor activity.
It should be borne in mind that dietary supplements can interact with medications prescribed by your doctor, so be sure to warn about their intake.
Knee injections
One of the methods that help relieve pain and improve the condition is an injection into the knee joint. In this case, various medications can be used:
- Corticosteroids, cortisones - hormonal drugs that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The disadvantage of their use is the short duration of action and possible side effects, up to the destruction of the joint with too frequent procedures.
- Hyaluronic acid injections. They help strengthen the astringent function of the synovial membrane and make up for the missing fluid in the knee joint, this method is effective in the early stages of the disease, if other drugs do not help.
- Gold-hydrochloride sodium injection is one of the popular treatments for arthritis.
Alternative methods of treatment
Various herbal preparations and tinctures help reduce pain and stop the destruction of articular cartilage. They are effective in the complex treatment of osteoarthritis of the joints.
A popular folk recipe for oral administration: a mixture of elderberry, juniper, nettle leaves, horsetail, calendula, willow bark in equal proportions. At 2 tbsp. l mixes add 1 l of boiling water, it is necessary to insist 12 hours, and then strain. Infusion should be consumed in ½ cup several times a day, the course of treatment is 2 months.
Compresses and topical ointments help reduce pain, improve blood circulation, relax muscles and ligaments around a diseased joint.
The most popular recipes:
- Mix 2 tbsp. l castor oil with 1 tbsp. l turpentine. With this solution, rub the joint twice a day.
- The compress is made from crushed horseradish root, which is steamed over low heat, then the finished mass is placed in cotton fabric and applied to the diseased joint.
- Infusion of dandelion flowers. The bottle is filled with flowers, then alcohol or cologne is added to the top, insisted 1 month. and filter. Every evening, with dandelion infusion, you need to rub your sick knees for a month, in especially severe cases it can take longer. At the same time, it is recommended to chew several leaves of dandelion daily . You can store the infusion at room temperature.
- A mixture prepared from 5% iodine and 10% ammonia, May flower honey, glycerin and medical bile (in equal shares) is infused for 10 days in the dark. Before use, it should be heated in a water bath. It is applied in the form of a compress on the joint at night, on top of the knee they wrap polyethylene and a woolen scarf.
- Soak celandine juice to soak linen cloth and put on a sore knee for 40-60 minutes, then grease with sunflower oil.
It should be remembered that folk remedies are auxiliary methods of treating osteoarthritis, and are used in combination with medications prescribed by the attending physician.
Knowing the consequences of a lack of treatment for osteoarthritis, what it is and how to treat it, you need to carefully monitor your health, especially in old age, when the likelihood of a disease is maximum.