Arthrosis is a very common disease that affects the joints. Previously, it was believed that this pathology occurs only in old age, since it is characterized by degenerative-dystrophic processes in the cartilaginous layer of the joints. Most often this happens due to the natural slowdown of 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 treated on time, the process of destruction of the cartilage 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 arthritis. Such drugs only eliminate the symptoms, but do not treat the disease itself. But despite this, they are the main part of complex therapy.
Why do we need painkillers
Arthrosis develops slowly. At first, a person may not evenunderstand that something is wrong with his joints. There are slight aching pains during exertion, then a crunch and clicking may occur during movement. Unlike the consequences of injuries and inflammatory phenomena, pain in arthrosis most often develops at the beginning of movement after prolonged immobility. And in the morning there is stiffness in the joint.
Over time, the pain becomes strong, prolonged. Therefore, painkillers for arthrosis are very necessary. This is the first mandatory stage of treatment. It is desirable that the drugs are chosen by a doctor who will take into account the individual characteristics and the degree of destruction of cartilage tissue. Most of these drugs are available by prescription only.
It is possible to relieve pain in arthrosis only when degenerative processes stop. You can't do without analgesics alone, because the disease will still progress.
How to relieve arthrosis pain
In the initial stages of the disease, pain is usually mild. They can occur in the morning or after rest and go away on their own after a while. But in the process of destruction of the cartilaginous layer of the joint, deformation of the articular surfaces occurs, the destruction of the heads of the bones. Nerve roots or blood vessels may be pinched. All this causes severe pain, which does not disappear by itself.
Painkillers are especially often used for arthrosis of the knee, hip and spondylarthrosis. After all, these joints are subjected to the greatest load, and often the pain isstrong that do not allow a person to move.
There are many ways to relieve pain. For arthrosis, the following are most often used:
- intramuscular administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics;
- novocaine blockades;
- intra-articular injections of hormonal agents;
- applying anesthetic ointments;
- compresses;
- taking painkillers by mouth.
Analgesics and antispasmodics
"Analgin" refers to non-narcotic painkillers. This is the most famous and widespread drug. But due to the large number of side effects, it has recently become less and less used. Moreover, with arthrosis, it can only relieve mild and moderate pain.
Sometimes pain in arthrosis occurs due to muscle spasm due to inflammation or irritation of the destroyed articular surfaces. In this case, antispasmodics will help, which relieve pain by relaxing the muscles. These are Baclofen, Mydocalm, Sirdalud. They are generally well tolerated and have few contraindications.
NSAIDs: application features
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are most often 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 made on the basis of organic acids. Therefore, they can damage the surface of the digestive tract. In addition, these tools affectthe composition of the blood, reducing its coagulability, disrupt the functioning of the kidneys. Therefore, they are taken only as prescribed by a 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 tissues. And "Paracetamol" affects the central nervous system, suppressing pain impulses. Therefore, a combination of two drugs or complex agents is often used.
The best NSAIDs
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 slow down 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 painkillers for arthrosis. After all, this drug quickly relieves pain, it is also effective for eliminating inflammation and swelling. It can be sold under the names Metindol, Indotard, Indobene, Rheumatin.
- "Diclofenac" and preparations based on it are often prescribed for arthrosis. Its action is well balanced, drugs quickly relieve pain and inflammation. There are many products based on diclofenac: Ortofen, Diclofen,Diklobene, Rapten, Naklofen, Baraten and others.
- "Ibuprofen" is the safest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is allowed to be taken even during pregnancy and lactation. But with severe pain in arthrosis, the drug may not be able to cope. Ibuprofen is found in such drugs: 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 when used correctly, it quickly relieves pain and inflammation. It is advisable to use it if long-term therapy is needed.
- "Phenylbutazone" is a pretty strong pain reliever. In case of arthrosis of the hip joint, it is usually used precisely because the pain is very strong. But due to the large number of side effects, it is prescribed for a short time, only to relieve an attack.
Hormonal drugs
Corticosteroid hormones for arthrosis are used less frequently. 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 tissue. Only a doctor should choose such treatment, since hormonal drugs have many contraindications. The most commonly used drugs are:
- "Dexamethasone".
- Kenalog.
- "Hydrocortisone".
The most modern drugs
Recently, new painkillers for arthrosis have been used. They appeared recently, but have already proven themselves as effective means. What drugs can be used for arthrosis:
- "Ambene" - a complex drug containing, in addition to painkillers, B vitamins.
- Droxaril can be used for a limited time due to side effects.
- "Nifluril" - a drug based on niflumic acid, can cause damage to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
- Mervan can be used for a long time.
- Harlef is well tolerated by patients and quickly relieves pain.
Painkillers 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 are often a common method of treatment. Moreover, intra-articular blockades are the most effective.
One of the most common drugs for this is Novocaine. It is novocaine blockade that is used in hospitals when patients with an acute attack of arthrosis are admitted. A 1% solution is injected in an amount of 20 ml into the joint itself or periarticular tissues. The injection is given every 4 days several times.
Intramuscularly or intravenously, drugs based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often administered. In this case, they act faster,relieving pain within minutes. For example, with a one-time administration of Tenoxicam, the analgesic effect lasts up to 3 days. Its peculiarity is that it acts on the central nervous system, suppressing pain, and also penetrates into the affected tissues, relieving inflammation and pain.
If other means are ineffective, injections of hormonal drugs, such as Diprospan or Dexamethasone, are used. They should be done only as directed by a doctor. No more than 5 injections are allowed, and there should be a break of 5 days between them.
External remedies
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 anesthetics are used. Most often these are compresses with Dimexide. They relieve swelling well, reduce inflammation and pain. This solution has a good analgesic effect: mix equal amounts of water, "Dimexide" and "Ketonal" for injection.
Such external painkillers for arthrosis as "Bishofite", medical bile, iodine, turpentine, vinegar, extracts from plants can also be used. Traditional medicine has accumulated considerable experience in the use of herbal decoctions and other substances to relieve pain.
Painkillers ointments for arthrosis
Drugs in the form of an ointment or cream for joint pain are most applicable. Imiconvenient 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 accelerates metabolic processes and blood flow to tissues. These are Nikoflex, Kapsikam, Finalgon, Espol and others.
- Ointments containing salicylic acid have not only analgesic, but also anti-inflammatory effects. These are Viprosal, Ben-Gay, Efkamon.
- Preparations containing bee venom, essential oils and rathenia extracts. "Apizartron", "Gevkamen", "Sabelnik", Dikul's ointment and many other products that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription.
Auxiliaries
Mandatory treatment of arthrosis is the use of chondroprotectors. These drugs alone do not relieve pain. Their action is aimed at restoring cartilage tissue. Therefore, they can also have an analgesic effect, but much more slowly. All chondroprotectors are used as part of complex therapy for a long time.
The most effective are those products that contain several substances. It can bechondroitin, glucosamine. The most common drugs are:
- Teraflex.
- Artra.
- Dona.
- "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 has subsided, treatment must be continued, otherwise the symptoms will return again.
