Arthrosis is a very common disease affecting the joints. It was previously believed that this pathology occurs only in old age, as it is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cartilage layer of the joints. Most often this happens due to the natural slowdown in metabolic processes that occurs with age. But the disease can occur in young people due to a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition or increased stress on the joints. If arthrosis is not started to be treated in time, the process of destruction of the cartilaginous layer can go far. Often this leads to complete immobility of the joint. Treatment of pathology should be comprehensive. The most commonly used pain reliever for arthrosis. Such drugs only eliminate the symptoms, but do not cure the disease itself. But despite this, they are the main part of complex therapy.
Why painkillers are needed
Arthrosis develops slowly. At first, a person may not even understand that something is wrong with his joints. There are small aching pains during exertion, then crunching and snapping may occur during movement. In contrast to the consequences of injuries and inflammation, pain with arthrosis most often develops when movement begins after prolonged immobility. And in the morning stiffness in the joint is observed.
Over time, the pain becomes strong, lasting. Therefore, painkillers for arthrosis are very necessary. This is the first mandatory stage of treatment. It is desirable that the doctor choose the drugs, which will take into account the individual characteristics and the degree of destruction of the cartilage tissue. Most of these drugs are sold by prescription only.
It is possible to relieve pain with arthrosis only when the degenerative processes stop. Analgesics alone can not do, because the disease will still progress.
How to relieve arthrosis pain
In the initial stages of the disease, the pain is usually mild. They can occur in the morning or after a break and pass independently after a while. But in the process of destruction of the cartilaginous layer of the joint, deformation of the articular surfaces, destruction of the heads of bones occurs. Pinching of nerve roots or blood vessels may occur. All this causes severe pains that themselves do not disappear.
Painkillers are especially often used for arthrosis of the knee joint, hip, and spondylarthrosis. After all, these joints are subjected to the greatest load, and often the pains are so strong that they do not allow a person to move.
There are many ways to relieve pain. With arthrosis, the following are most often used:
- intramuscular administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics;
- novocaine blockade;
- intraarticular injections of hormonal agents;
- application of painkillers ointments;
- compresses;
- taking painkillers inside.
Analgesics and antispasmodics
"Analgin" refers to non-narcotic painkillers. This is the most famous and common drug. But due to the large number of side effects, it has recently begun to be used less and less. Moreover, with arthrosis, it can relieve only mild and moderate pain.
Sometimes pain with arthrosis occurs due to muscle spasm due to inflammation or irritation of destroyed articular surfaces. In this case, antispasmodics will help, which relieve pain due to muscle relaxation. This is Baclofen, Midokalm, Sirdalud. They are usually well tolerated and have almost no contraindications.
NSAIDs: application features
Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve pain in arthrosis. They have the ability to relieve pain, swelling, hyperemia, reduce inflammation. There are many types of NSAIDs. Most of them are based on organic acids. Therefore, they can damage the surface of the digestive tract. In addition, such funds affect the composition of the blood, reducing its coagulability, disrupt the functioning of the kidneys. Therefore, they are taken only as prescribed by the doctor and in a strictly limited dosage.
In addition, a feature of NSAIDs is that different drugs have different effects. For example, Diclofenac or Indomethacin act locally, relieving pain at the level of the affected tissue. And "Paracetamol" acts on the central nervous system, suppressing pain impulses. Therefore, a combination of two drugs or complex agents are often used.
The best drugs of the NSAID group
In total, there are about 40 different types of drugs from this group. But not all of them are equally effective for joint pain. Most often, several painkillers for arthrosis containing NSAIDs are used:
- "Aspirin" is the most famous and long-used remedy. It relieves pain and inflammation, and also helps to slow the destruction of the joint. But the effect of acetylsalicylic acid is not strong, so it helps only in the initial stages of the disease.
- "Indomethacin" is one of the most common pain relievers for arthrosis. After all, this drug quickly relieves pain, it is also effective in eliminating inflammation and swelling. It can be sold under the names “Metindol”, “Indotard”, “Indobene”, “Revmatin”.
- "Diclofenac" and drugs based on it are often prescribed for arthrosis. Its action is well balanced, drugs quickly relieve pain and inflammation. There are many funds based on diclofenac: “Ortofen”, “Diclofen”, “Diclobene”, “Rapten”, “Naklofen”, “Baraten” and others.
- Ibuprofen is the safest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is allowed to take it even during pregnancy and lactation. But the drug may not be able to cope with severe pain with arthrosis. Ibuprofen is contained in such medicines: “Nurofen”, “Brufen”, “Motrin”, “Reumafen”.
- "Ketorolac" is able to relieve even severe pain. It can be bought under the names "Ketorol", "Ketalgin", "Dolak".
- Movalis is a new generation drug. It is better tolerated by patients. And with proper use it quickly relieves pain and inflammation. It is advisable to use it if long-term therapy is needed.
- Phenylbutazone is a pretty strong painkiller. With arthrosis of the hip joint, it is usually used, since the pain is very strong. But due to the large number of side effects, it is prescribed for a short time, only to relieve the attack.
Hormonal drugs
Corticosteroid hormones with arthrosis are less commonly used. Only if it is impossible to relieve severe pain by other means. They are mainly used for short-term therapy, as they lead to even more severe destruction of cartilage. Such a treatment should be chosen only by a doctor, since hormonal drugs have many contraindications. The most commonly used drugs are:
- "Dexamethasone."
- Kenalog.
- "Hydrocortisone."
The most modern drugs
Recently, new pain medications have been used for arthrosis. They appeared recently, but have already established themselves as effective means. What drugs can be used for arthrosis:
- "Ambene" is a complex preparation containing b vitamins besides painkillers.
- Droxaril can be used for a limited time due to side effects.
- "Nifluril" - a drug based on niflumic acid, can cause damage to the digestive tract mucosa.
- "Mervan" can be used for a long time.
- "Harlef" is well tolerated by patients and quickly relieves pain.
Anesthetics for arthrosis
This disease, especially in the later stages, can be accompanied by severe pain. With an attack of arthrosis of the knee or hip joint, injections often become a common treatment method. Moreover, intraarticular blockades are the most effective.
One of the most common drugs for this is Novocain. It is novocaine blockade that is used in hospitals for patients with an acute attack of arthrosis. A 1% solution of 20 ml is injected into the joint itself or periarticular tissue. Injection is done every 4 days several times.
Intramuscularly or intravenously often administered drugs based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this case, they act faster, relieving pain within a few minutes. For example, with a single administration of Tenoxicam, the analgesic effect lasts up to 3 days. Its feature is that it acts on the central nervous system, suppressing pain, and also penetrates the affected tissue, relieving inflammation and pain.
If other drugs are ineffective, hormone injections are used , for example, Diprospana or Dexamethasone. They need to be done only as prescribed by the doctor. It is permissible to carry out no more than 5 injections, and between them there should be a break of 5 days.
Outdoor facilities
In some cases, the use of painkillers for arthrosis, as well as injections, may not be possible due to contraindications. Sometimes this is impractical due to the weak intensity of pain. In this case, external painkillers are used. Most often these are compresses with Dimexidum. They relieve swelling well, reduce inflammation and pain. Such a solution has a good analgesic effect: mix water, Dimexide and Ketonal for injection in equal amounts.
External anesthetics for arthrosis such as Bishofit, medical bile, iodine, turpentine, vinegar, extracts from plants can also be used. Traditional medicine has gained considerable experience in using decoctions of herbs and other substances to relieve pain.
Anesthetic ointments for arthrosis
Preparations in the form of an ointment or cream for joint pain are most applicable. They are convenient to use, they have few side effects and effectively relieve pain. Now there are a large number of different drugs that can be divided into several groups:
- NSAID-based ointments are most often used for arthrosis. These are Nise, Indomethacin, Ketonal, Finalgel, Butadion, Dolgit and others.
- Preparations containing capsaicin, which causes an acceleration of metabolic processes and blood flow to the tissues. These are Nikoflex, Kapsikam, Finalgon, Espol and others.
- Ointments containing salicylic acid in their composition have not only analgesic, but also anti-inflammatory effects. This is Viprosal, Ben-Gay, Efkamon.
- Preparations containing bee venom, essential oils and extracts of ruthenium. Apizartron, Gevkamen, Sabelnik, Dikul ointment and many other products that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription.
Aids
A mandatory treatment for arthrosis is the use of chondroprotectors. These remedies alone do not relieve pain. Their action is aimed at restoring cartilage. Therefore, they can also have an analgesic effect, but much slower. All chondroprotectors are used as part of complex therapy for a long time.
The most effective are those that contain several substances. It can be chondroitin, glucosamine. The most common drugs are:
- Teraflex.
- "Arthra."
- "Don."
- "Movex".
- Alflutop.
It is worth remembering that only painkillers for arthrosis of the joints will not lead to a cure. This is just one of the methods of complex therapy. After the pain subsides, treatment must be continued, otherwise the symptoms will return again.