In this article, we consider osteoarthrosis of peripheral joints. What is this disease?
In medical practice, more than a hundred varieties of articular pathologies are distinguished, but osteoarthritis is the most common among them. Pathology is characterized by changes in the joints of a degenerative-dystrophic type, followed by a violation of the cartilage, muscle and bone tissue.
People often ask: what are peripheral joints? Let's figure it out.
Not so long ago, osteoarthritis was attributed to diseases characteristic of the elderly, but the pathology became younger, and cases of the disease in middle-aged patients in the range of 30-40 years are increasingly recorded. Consider this pathology in more detail.
Description and forms of osteoarthrosis
At the initial stage of development of the pathology of peripheral joints, minimal changes in hyaline cartilage occur . In the future, adjacent tissues are also affected. The disease becomes chronic over time and is accompanied by damage to the synovial joints. The basis of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is a violation of the metabolic process in the tissues of the cartilage. In this case, we are talking about the predominance of the catabolic process over the metabolic. Pathology becomes more pronounced when there is a violation in the production of enzymes.
Two main forms of osteoarthritis are distinguished:
- Localized.
- Generalized.
Sometimes specialists also subdivide osteoarthrosis into other forms, depending on the extent of damage to the body, calling, for example, coxarthrosis and other types.
Causes
Osteoarthritis can be caused by the natural aging process of the body, the inferior and unbalanced nutrition of cartilage, as well as various pathological processes that provoke premature wear of the cartilage tissue. When the disease begins to progress, salts accumulate in the articular tissues, which leads to systematic deformation.
A generalized type of osteoarthrosis is localized in various areas of the body and occurs in approximately 15% of the total population. Most often women are affected by pathology. With age, the likelihood of osteoarthritis increases.
Large peripheral joints are affected. Which ones? And these are those that bear the main burden.
These include the pelvic joints or knees. Most often, the following categories of patients suffer from pathology:
- Athletes.
- People whose professional activities are associated with hard physical labor.
- Overweight people.
Osteochondrosis and spondylosis often become associated diseases. Small joints may also be involved in the pathological process. The exact causes of the occurrence of osteoarthritis have not been elucidated, however, a connection with a genetic predisposition has been established. The acquired form of the disease is not excluded.
Clinical manifestations
The pathological process in the form of osteoarthritis cannot occur without a reason. Its appearance is accompanied by prerequisites in the form of non-intense pain in the joints during physical exertion.
Typical manifestations of the pathology of peripheral joints are:
- Joint pain, motor limitation in the morning. The pain appears both in motion and in a state of calm.
- At the initial stage, pain manifests itself during movement, but passes with increasing activity, which facilitates the diagnosis process.
- Against the background of synovitis, puffiness appears. The affected joint increases in size, which provokes a violation of the integrity of the ligaments.
- With the progression of pathology, joint jamming often occurs. Soreness appears even with a little physical exertion.
- At the last stages of the development of osteoarthrosis, a pronounced limitation of mobility occurs, as well as joint deformation.
When contacting a doctor, a specialist should take into account the symptoms that appear in order to make the correct diagnosis and select the correct therapeutic regimen.
Treatment
Based on the examination and a thorough examination, only a qualified specialist can prescribe treatment for osteoarthritis of the peripheral joints and spine. The basic rules of therapy include:
- Compliance with the regime and proper nutrition. In the presence of excess body weight, it will be necessary to direct all efforts to eliminate this problem. Therapy in this case will be aimed at reducing physical activity on the affected joint. This eliminates relapse and overload. Patients are advised to choose hard mattresses, as well as chairs and armchairs. Soft upholstery should be ruled out. Additional materials are also used, such as corsets, knee pads, walking sticks, etc.
- Taking medications for pathologies of peripheral joints. The list of these drugs, as a rule, includes highly effective, high-quality drugs. In some cases, the doctor may decide to use local funds. This is done to maximize the elimination of adverse reactions.
- Treatment of joint deformity consists of taking glucocorticosteroids, that is, various hormonal drugs.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures - acupuncture, electrophoresis, magnetotherapy.
Specialists can also prescribe oxygen injections. Also, in some cases, laser treatment is performed. This helps relieve inflammation, repair tissue and eliminate pain.
Spondylitis with lesions of the peripheral joints is a chronic disease of a systemic nature, which leads to inflammatory and degenerative changes in the spine. Subsequently, ankyloses are formed - areas of complete immobility arising from the fusion of vertebral bones with each other. A certain rigidity of the spinal column forms - that is, it acts as a single conglomerate resembling one solid bone.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
This treatment method is indicated after the joint inflammation has been removed medically and the pain syndrome has been eliminated. To consolidate the effect of the therapy, therapeutic massage is recommended.
Sometimes patients are prescribed self-massage, which is carried out after physiotherapy exercises, in order to improve blood circulation and increase muscle tone. Gymnastic exercises should be as safe and painless as possible. Acupressure is well established among patients and specialists.
Therapeutic exercises are performed in a sitting or lying position. It is important not to overload the affected peripheral joints, all exercises are performed smoothly and measuredly. Physical therapy provides a rush of blood to the affected areas of the body, improves cartilage nutrition and strengthens muscles.
Another effective procedure is paraffin compresses. They allow you to quickly remove inflammation. Barotherapy, which helps stimulate blood circulation, is also considered effective. Mud baths are equally effective.
Non-standard methods of therapy
Apitherapy is a treatment using bee venom that contains apitoxin. This component is saturated with many useful substances. It has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. With the help of bee venom, joint mobility is restored and pain is eliminated. Apitoxin treatment is contraindicated in case of an allergic reaction.
Hirudotherapy
Hirudotherapy is also well established in the treatment of osteoarthrosis. Leeches produce a substance that relieves swelling and has an analgesic effect. Restrictions on the use of leeches are pregnancy, anemia, bleeding disorders, as well as an individual reaction to hirudin.
Folk remedy
Among the most popular folk remedies for the treatment of osteoarthritis stands olive oil. It is heated and applied to the site of inflammation. A mixture of honey, milk and valerian drops is also made to treat the affected joint.
To prevent the development of osteoarthritis of the peripheral joints and spine, it is necessary to observe several rules:
- Balanced diet.
- Moderate physical activity.
- Normalization of body weight.
conclusions
Thus, osteoarthritis is in most cases the result of neglect of one's own health. A person needs to observe the regime of work and rest and protect himself from excessive physical exertion, as well as from unhealthy diet, which can lead to weight gain.