Osteoarthritis - among the diseases of the joints, arthrosis is known and widespread. What is it and how to treat it? What are the symptoms of the disease and what are its main causes?
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disease that has a devastating effect on the joints, causing the cartilage inside them to deteriorate.
A long period of the course of the disease leads to changes in bone endings, and inflammatory processes destroy nearby tissues.
The list of arthrosis-related joint diseases is not small, and represents a group of diseases that have a similar destructive effect, but have different causes and course of the process.
According to the obtained statistics, up to 80% of the population suffers from various types of arthrosis, which makes it the most common joint disease. The disease is so common that it is ranked third after oncology and cardiovascular disease.
Due to non-adherence to a healthy lifestyle, the risk of disease increases significantly over time.
Osteoarthritis is not such a disease and can affect both men and women, acting more loyally only on the interphalangeal joints. People who have reached the age of 30 are susceptible to the disease, and over time their number increases unhindered.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The reason for the appearance of such arthrosis and treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joint. This leads to loss of strength and elasticity of cartilage.
The reason for this is a significant reduction or complete disappearance of proteoglycans from them due to large cracks in the cartilage.
Other reasons may contribute to this, for example, the disruption of normal proteoglycan production by the cells themselves.
Additional causes that have a devastating effect on the joints:
- violation of metabolic processes throughout the body;
- worsening hormonal background;
- slowing of blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary causes;
- old age;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is not respecting the normal loads on the joints in everyday life.
Due to its unpreparedness, unwillingness of a person to perform physical exercises in a timely manner, warming up to strengthen the joints - cartilage is not able to fully perform its functions.
Extensive list of causes that can cause osteoarthritis:
- previously acquired injuries, such as sprains, fractures, bruises, torn ligaments and others;
- violation of metabolic processes that support sustainability;
- overweight, which leads to excessive stress on the joints;
- acute purulent arthritis leading to joint inflammation;
- age;
- malnutrition;
- prolonged excessive decrease in body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- body poisoning;
- frequent colds;
- special diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick-borne encephalitis;
- thyroid disease;
- hemophilia;
- Peters' disease.
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers can be inherited, as evidenced by scientists who have studied Bouchard's and Heberden's nodules;
- in the case of dysplasia, which developed as a result of violation of the formation of joints in the prenatal period, there may be excessive wear of the joints and the development of osteoarthritis;
- Mutations in type 2 collagen can lead to disorders of the internal structure of the fibrillar connective tissue protein and cartilage degradation.
If you are a bricklayer, miner, fisherman, loader or your activity is to some extent associated with excessive physical effort, then without preventive measures there is a chance that you will get osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
To fully understand what osteoarthritis is and how it is treated, we will deal with external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are: manifestation of pain when straining the joint, which can calm down at rest; deterioration of motor functions of the joint; cracking; a feeling of muscle tension around the affected joint.
The main thing is not to allow long-term tumors, because they can lead to early joint deformity.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Manifestations of pain. They are considered to be the first message of arthrosis of the joints. Although the culprits for pain can be various reasons, but in the case of arthrosis, the pain has certain characteristics. The main thing is the presence of sharp pains that appear during movement at the site of the damaged joint. The pain disappears after minimizing functional activity. At night, the pain is practically not manifested in any way, only with blows from one side to the other, slight discomfort can occur. In the state of immobility, pain can manifest itself only in advanced forms. At this point, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms reappear early in the morning. As the disease progresses, the person needs more and more time to rest and recover. Even later, even at rest, the pain does not stop, turning life into constant torment. There is almost complete wear of the cartilage, due to which the bone is exposed, the osteophytes are erased.
- The appearance of crunch. A symptom that should not be ignored. Crunching occurs due to the friction of the bones against each other, because the softness between them decreases - as a result, a distinct "dry" sound appears. However, it can also occur with other ailments, and sometimes when the joints are healthy. In severe forms of the disease, the sound may become more pronounced and the pain may increase.
- Reduced joint mobility. This is an additional symptom that does not accompany arthrosis in the initial stages, but in a neglected state it encourages excessive growth of interosseous formations, which leads to cramps, and the gap between the joints is almost completely healed. And that is the main reason for the loss of mobility.
- Joint deformity. This symptom implies degrading changes on the joint surface due to osteophyte growth and synovial fluid flow. This is one of the latest symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Due to alternating periods of remission and exacerbation, self-diagnosis of osteoarthritis is much more difficult. Therefore, relying only on personal feelings is not enough - you need the help of a specialist doctor.
Diagnosis - arthrosis
To detect possible signs that indicate the presence of the disease and the degree of its complexity, a study using radiography is used:
- In the first phase, osteophytes are not yet present, and the gap between the joints is minimally narrowed.
- The second stage is characterized by a reduction in joint space, with a mild appearance of osteophytes.
- In the third phase, the reduction of the joint space is clearly visible, a large number of osteophytes are formed, and deformation processes begin to occur.
- In the last fourth phase, the gap between the joints almost completely disappears, the largest possible number of osteophytes appears, and the deformation processes are in full swing.
Negative consequences of arthrosis
Neglecting timely treatment of osteoarthritis implies not only complete irreversible damage to the joint, but also provokes damage to the spine.
Herniated discs can form in the intervertebral discs. Osteoarthritis can spread to other, still healthy joints.
Treatment methodology
As with any other dangerous disease, it is best not to start treatment, but to carry it out at an early stage.
Treatment methods should be comprehensive and aimed at removing the links that contribute to the progression of the disease, as well as strengthening those factors that help in healing.
What is so special about treating osteoarthritis? An integrated approach to therapy consists of the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
However, physiotherapy courses are mandatory. In the case of choosing the treatment by the sanitary-resort method, the climatic conditions should be chosen in such a way that the effect on the joints is as favorable as possible.
The program should include procedures in mineral waters and mud baths.
The essence of osteoarthritis treatment is as follows:
- Sick joints should be as little as possible, which is especially important to consider in the treatment process;
- You can’t ignore the orthopedic regimen;
- Mandatory physical exercises to improve health;
- Performing physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electro-procedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium recovery - prescribed by a doctor and recommended for passage in special resorts once a year;
- Conducting oxygen therapy - introducing oxygen into the joint;
- Treatment;
- Intraosseous blockade;
- Switch to a healthy diet.
Types of drug treatment
- Means that eliminate inflammatory processes. By performing a complex treatment, there is a chance that you will significantly slow down the course of the disease, which will save you from pain in the future. The medical method of treatment involves relieving pain and removing inflammatory processes in the joints. For these purposes, drugs of non-steroidal origin are selected. They are often given intravenously or intramuscularly, because their oral use can irritate the stomach walls. Various ointments are used as an additional medicine, but due to poor absorption in the body they are a little effective, so they are used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease worsens. They are inserted into the wrist. Ointment, plaster or tincture with hot pepper is applied to the damaged joint from the outside.
- Use of chondroprotectors. They will help regenerate cartilage, in addition, will improve the properties of synovial fluid. Medications such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are prescribed.
The duration of use of these drugs can be long and does not stop until the patient becomes noticeably better.
If the drugs do not give the expected positive effect, their use is canceled.
Along with chondroprotectors, you should take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps to create cell membranes in the articular cartilage.
In very rare cases, when no other drug has a positive effect, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed.
Healthy diet for patients with osteoarthritis
Nutrition is perhaps the most important issue to be addressed as soon as possible when the condition worsens with osteoarthritis. Whatever medication the patient is treated with, along with improper diet, all these efforts can be in vain.
First of all, eat in moderation. For those who are overweight, it is necessary to lose weight urgently, but you should not force yourself to starve, because the body must constantly receive all the trace elements in sufficient quantities.
You need to limit the use of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods, as well as flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing varieties with low fat content, and the fish should not be cooked fried.
In arthrosis, the use of jelly is recommended. Because it contains a huge amount of trace elements, it will be useful for diseased joints.
The collagen contained in it is of natural origin, which means that it is easily absorbed by the body and will serve as a base for connective tissue. With prolonged use of jelly, the joints will become more mobile, and the nearby tissues will become elastic and durable.
An important factor in treatment is the timely use of sufficient amounts of vitamins, especially group B. They ensure the normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine, contained in beans and peas, will improve the metabolic process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Pyridoxine is needed for hemoglobin to be produced in the blood. Potatoes, bananas, cabbage and nuts are rich in this substance. Riboflavin is rich in eggs, liver, dairy products and mushrooms.
Legumes and greens will provide the body with folic acid. The industry offers a wide range of vitamin preparations and dietary supplements.
However, vitamins and microelements obtained from food are better absorbed in the body, which is an important factor in the process of regenerating cartilage tissue.
In the treatment of osteoarthritis it is necessary to adhere to certain dietary rules
- It should be eaten often and in small portions;
- You can’t eat before bed, you should refuse foods that are heavy on the stomach;
- To ease the strain on painful joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after meals during remission is useful in preventing worsening joint disease;
- Choosing or adjusting your diet together with your doctor will ensure a proper balanced diet.
This makes it possible to beat osteoarthritis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the doctor's advice.