Pathologies of the musculoskeletal system never pass without consequences for the general condition of the body. The progression of the disease is fraught with the development of serious complications. Osteoarthritis is a dangerous disease of the musculoskeletal system. Symptoms and treatment of the disease will be discussed further.
What is pathology?
When osteoarthritis develops, joints undergo degenerative changes. Initially, the pathology begins against the background of destructive changes in the cartilaginous tissue, and then the pathological processes affect the bone tissue and other constituent components of the joint.
Most often, patients with this diagnosis come to the doctor in the age group from 40 to 60 years.
The treatment of osteoarthritis will depend on the causes of the pathology. Usually, the disease is provoked simultaneously by several factors, which can be divided into three groups:
- Dysplasia. Congenital disorders in the joints leading to the development of the disease.
- Injuries.
- Inflammatory processes.
To the reasons that cause osteoarthritis of the joints(we will consider the treatment of the disease later) can be attributed to:
- Age-related changes in cartilage and bone tissue.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Congenital pathologies of the connective tissue, dislocations of the hip joint.
- Joint injury.
- Intensified physical activity.
- Infectious diseases.
- Disorders of metabolic processes.
- Rheumatic diseases.
- Frequent hypothermia.
There are some risk factors that also play an important role in the development of osteoarthritis:
- Obesity.
- Surgical interventions on the joints.
- Pathologies in the endocrine system.
- Professional sports.
- Hormonal changes, for example, treatment of osteoarthritis of the hands or other joints due to menopause may be required.
- Flat feet.
- Curvature of the spine.
The combination of several groups of factors or causes increases the likelihood of developing pathology.
Varieties of forms of the disease
Treatment for osteoarthritis is tailored to the type of disease. Highlight:
- Primary osteoarthritis or it is also called idiopathic.
- Secondary, developing under the influence of some factors: arthritis, dysplasia, trauma.
In addition to the forms of the disease, the following types of lesions are also noted:
- Coxarthrosis. This is osteoarthritis of the hip joint, the treatment is quite complicated, and in its absence, there is a high probability of disability. The patient loses the ability toindependent movement.
- Gonarthrosis. There is damage to the knee joint. Often a provocateur of the development of pathology is a serious injury. The patient hardly gets out of bed in the morning, but gradually, as the muscles and ligaments warm up, the pain disappears.
- Pathology of the ankle joint. The disease often develops after an injury, such as a dislocation. Gradually, deformation of the lower leg is observed.
- Osteoarthritis of the elbow joint. Causes loss of mobility in that joint in any direction.
- Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint will prevent loss of mobility in this department. Patients with the development of the disease complain of the inability to raise their hand without pain.
Therapy may have its own nuances for each type of pathology, but a competent specialist should deal with it.
Degrees of development of osteoarthritis
Treatment of the disease will depend on the degree of pathology. They determine the scale of the spread of the pathological process. There are several of them:
- First degree. At this stage of the development of the disease, the patient feels a little soreness. The danger of this degree lies in the fact that diagnostic methods are unable to recognize it. It is possible to suspect pathological changes only by indirect manifestations. Only synovial fluid testing can confirm suspicions.
- 2nd degree osteoarthritis is treatable, but it is important to visit a specialist if suspicious symptoms appear. The disease makes itself felt by a crunch in the joints, a violation of muscle function.
- Third degreeThe disease is accompanied by impaired motor function. The patient cannot raise his arm or leg. At this stage of the development of the disease, the cartilage tissue in the joints is practically destroyed, so the affected limb takes the whole blow.
Symptoms of disease
The danger of osteoarthritis lies in the fact that many patients are diagnosed with pathology on x-rays, but they do not feel any symptoms. Symptoms develop gradually, and the following symptoms can be considered a reason to see a doctor:
- Joint pain is mild but gets worse with any physical activity.
- Stiffness in joints after waking up. She disappears in just half an hour.
Trying to touch the joint feels sore
At the stage of primary manifestations, pathology does not stop its development. Slow progress continues, which increases the impairment of motor functions. Joints are damaged more and more, and mobility is lost. There is an increase in the joint as a result of the growth of bone, cartilage and other tissues.
Cartilage tissue gradually coarsens, and specific sounds appear during movements. Experts note that osteoarthritis of the knee joint, the treatment will have its own characteristics, differs from the formation of pathology in the hip. In the first case, stability is lost, and in the second pathology, functionality and motor skills deteriorate.
As the disease progresses, the followingdeviations:
- The pathological process affects the nerve endings.
- Patient feels numb.
- Sensitivity is disturbed in different parts of the body.
- When squeezing blood vessels, vision suffers.
- Patient complains of nausea and vomiting.
With the development of pathology, the symptoms are becoming more pronounced, it is simply impossible not to notice the disease.
Symptomatics and treatment of osteoarthritis may vary depending on the localization of the pathological process.
If destructive changes are observed in the hip joint, then patients complain about:
- Pain in the joint leading to lameness.
- Osteoarthritis of the 1st degree (the treatment of the disease will be discussed later) makes itself felt with pain in the groin and even the knee.
- Thigh spasm.
- Mobility becomes impaired as the disease progresses.
Manifestations of knee osteoarthritis, treatment will have its own nuances, slightly different:
- Soreness appears in one or both knees at once.
- Pain increases during exercise.
- Difficulty climbing stairs.
The disease can even ease the symptoms for a while, but then they will return with renewed vigor.
With the development of osteoarthritis, most often the lesion covers symmetrical joints. Degenerative changes first of all develop in articular formations that are subjected to increased loads: knee, hip.
Diagnosis of disease
Treatment of osteoarthritis of the jointspossible only after a definitive diagnosis has been made. To do this, when unpleasant symptoms appear, you need to visit a doctor. He will perform the following diagnostic procedures:
- Conversation and examination of the patient. The doctor finds out when the pains appeared, what kind they are, what factors exacerbate the pain syndrome.
- Examination of diseased joints allows you to determine the degree of mobility impairment.
- An x-ray is mandatory. It will show the affected area and will allow you to determine how affected the joint.
- Blood test for biochemistry.
- Ultrasound examination of the joints.
- Examination of fluid from the joint capsule.
After confirming the diagnosis, treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee joint or any other is prescribed.
Pathology Therapy
Treatment of joint damage should adhere to the following principles:
- Ensure the supply of the required volume of blood with nutrients to the area of the diseased joint.
- Reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process.
- Relieve the patient from pain.
- Improve mobility.
- Stop disease progression.
Treatment of deforming osteoarthritis should be carried out only in a complex manner, combining several approaches in therapy:
- Drug treatment.
- Physiotherapy.
- Prompt.
Drug Therapy
The selection of medicines is carried out taking into accounttypes of pathology, the degree of its development and the general he alth of the patient. The following medications are usually indicated:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process: Diclofenac, Movalis, Ketoprofen. In the first days of treatment, it is better to inject drugs, and then you can switch to taking pills.
- With severe pain and inflammation, glucocorticosteroids are indicated: Hydrocortisone, Celeston.
- Chondroprotectors that can improve the structure of cartilage and stop further destruction of the joint: Dona, Structum, Chondrolon. It is important to consider that drugs from this group must be taken for a long time. Best in courses of 2-3 months twice a year.
- Treatment of shoulder osteoarthritis may require the introduction of drugs into the joint: "Synvisk", "Ostenil".
- External ointments and gels can be used as adjuvants: Voltaren, Fastum Gel, Menovazin.
Acceptance of any medications during the treatment of osteoarthritis of the joints should be carried out only on the recommendation of a doctor. Self-medication in such situations is fraught at best with no effect, and at worst with even greater complications.
Physiotherapy treatment
After stopping the acute period, it is recommended to supplement drug therapy with physiotherapeutic procedures. So you can speed up the treatmentknee osteoarthritis and restoration of mobility.
Among all the procedures for this pathology, the following can be called the most effective:
- Magnetotherapy.
- Electrophoresis with the introduction of Dimexide.
- Laser therapy.
- Mid-wave ultraviolet irradiation.
- Hydrogen sulfide baths.
- Massage.
- Warming up.
- Acupuncture.
All procedures contribute to the activation of blood circulation in the area of pathological changes, the elimination of puffiness, the reduction of the inflammatory process, the restoration of tissues and the increase in cellular immunity.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis
If degenerative disorders in the joints have gone too far and the patient is practically unable to move or drug therapy has not brought the desired results, then they resort to surgical intervention.
Arthroplasty is the most common treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, but the following methods can also be used:
- Arthroscopic joint debridement. The intervention procedure involves cleaning the joint with a special arthroscope. Punctures are made through which the affected areas of cartilage are removed. Surgery of this type gives the best results in the early stages of development. After surgery, patients experience reduced pain, increased mobility in the joint. But we must keep in mind that only for a few years the disease recedes a little, and then the symptoms will return. Will have to do the operation again oruse other techniques.
- Perarticular osteotomy. The surgical operation consists of several stages. During the intervention, the task of the surgeon is to cut the bone tissue near the affected joint and fix them at a different angle. As a result, the load distribution inside the diseased joint changes, the patient's condition improves significantly. The effect of the operation lasts for about five years.
Any therapy, even surgery, is more effective the sooner it is started.
Diet for Osteoarthritis
Many pathologies in the human body require a revision of their diet. Balanced nutrition will help reduce the manifestations of the disease, ensure the supply of important and necessary vitamins and minerals.
Destructive processes in arthrosis lead to the appearance of free radicals that affect he althy cells. The menu should include foods containing antioxidants, which will slow down the development of the disease.
On nutrition, the following recommendations can be given:
- Eat only fresh food.
- Stay away from fast food and convenience foods.
- Favor home cooking.
- Reduce portion sizes to control weight.
- Include more fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Keep hydrated, make sure you get the right amount of water.
- Add foods containing collagen to the diet, it has a good effect on joint he alth. Aspic, jelly, aspic should appearon your table as often as possible.
Foods with flavor enhancers, artificial dyes and preservatives should be excluded from the diet. These substances are harmful for a he althy person, and with arthrosis they will only aggravate the situation. To maintain a he althy spine, give up:
- Fatty meals.
- Butter.
- Confectionery.
- Strong tea and coffee.
- Carbonated drinks.
Also reduce your intake of marinades, smoked foods. Proper nutrition will be an excellent addition to the treatment of arthrosis.
Complications of osteoarthritis
If the therapy of the disease is not carried out or medicines and procedures are not chosen more effectively, then the likelihood of complications is high. Among the severe consequences of arthrosis, the following can be noted:
- Deformation of the joint, which will lead to almost loss of mobility.
- Development of osteoarthritis.
- Violation of the functionality of the joints.
- Destruction of joints.
- Osteoporosis.
- Fractures.
Only careful attention to your he alth will allow you to detect pathology at an early stage and take the necessary measures for treatment.
Prevention of osteoarthritis
Any pathology can be prevented if preventive measures are followed. Treatment for osteoarthritis of the hand or other joints may not be needed if:
- If you have a hereditary predisposition to overweight, monitor your diet and maintain weight inwithin normal limits.
- Avoid increased physical stress on the joints and spine.
- Do not lift weights.
- Females don't wear high heels all the time. These shoes can be worn for a maximum of a couple of hours a day, and then choose shoes with a heel of an average height of 4-5 centimeters.
- If you already have an injury to your knee or hip joint, then you should walk with a cane until it is completely healed so as not to provoke dislocation and damage.
- To prevent osteoarthritis on the toes, shoes should be loose, no pressure is allowed.
- Use orthopedic insoles.
- Be active.
- Perform adequate physical exercise daily.
- Regularly treat any infectious and inflammatory diseases. Even a sore throat or caries in the teeth can provoke the onset of degenerative changes in the joints.
- Constantly strengthen the immune system, especially in the autumn-winter period. In the summer, you need to eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible, in autumn and winter, take multivitamin complexes.
- Avoid hypothermia. Always dress for the weather.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to static positions that impair blood circulation. Do not squat or work in a crouched position for long periods of time in your garden.
- Alternate exercise and rest properly.
When unpleasant symptoms and any soreness appearduring movements, it is important not to ignore them, but to consult a doctor. Making a diagnosis at an early stage of the disease will allow not only to completely get rid of the problem, but also to prevent the progression and development of complications. Without appropriate treatment, osteoarthritis leads to disability.
