Pain in joints and ligaments is a global problem for people living in the 21st century. Due to the wrong lifestyle, low mobility, wearing beautiful and at the same time uncomfortable shoes, diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis appear. At the same time, statistics and facts state that these diseases “get younger” year after year.
How to deal with them? What are the most effective and safest joint pills to take? You will find answers to these questions by reading this material.
Arthritis and arthrosis
Before you go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about which joint pills are best to buy, it would be useful to talk a little about the diseases themselves that cause joint pain - namely, arthritis and arthrosis.
Arthritis is the collective name for a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the joints and cartilage. At the same time, this is most often called those diseases during which the organism as a whole is involved. Arthritis may indicate serious disorders in human he alth, a metabolic failure, problems with the endocrine system, and so on. Further. Arthrosis is a problem that involves only inflammation of the joints. That is why in the article we will primarily talk about how to deal with arthrosis, which pills to take from arthrosis of the joints.
Symptoms
Symptoms of arthrosis include:
- Pain. The most obvious, he is the first sign of arthrosis of the joints. Osteoarthritis pain differs from pain due to injury in that it occurs only with movement and is limited to one joint (usually).
- Cracking joints. Strictly speaking, the joints tend to crackle just like that and for no particular reason. However, the crunch of the joints due to arthrosis sounds more "dry", in addition, it is accompanied by pain.
- Deterioration of joint mobility. Muscle spasms caused by the growth of neoplasms in the bone impair the mobility of a particular joint. This symptom is observed only at 3-4 stages of arthrosis. Starting with this symptom, joint pills are of little help.
- Articular deformity. This includes severe swelling, a change in the appearance of the joint. Joint deformity is usually accompanied by the last, 4th stage of arthrosis.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, even at an early stage, there's a good chance you'll need joint pain pills or other treatment soon.
Risk factors
Risk factors and reasons for a high likelihood of arthrosis include:
- Wrong diet.
- Various injuries.
- Obesity,which leads to increased stress on the joints.
- Hypercooling.
- Age over 60.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Poisoning.
- Thyroid disease.
- Common colds.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Low blood clotting.
In addition, arthrosis is called an occupational disease of dancers - because of the high loads that members of this profession constantly subject their joints to. Also included are women who wear shoes with heels, as a result of which, after a certain period of time, they have to take pills for pain in the joints of the legs.
Arthrosis also affects pianists and programmers, that is, representatives of professions in which a large load is also created, only on the joints of the fingers and hands.
Ointments and gels
Before drinking pills for joints, try topical preparations - various gels and ointments rubbed into the skin in the area of the joint affected by arthrosis. Local preparations such as Fastum-gel, Diclofenac and Voltaren have proven themselves well in relieving pain. Their effect is obvious, they reduce inflammation quite effectively.
However, due to the low level of their availability for the joint (only about 5% of the external preparation reaches the joint itself), they do not always completely solve the problem, in some cases onlyrelieving pain but not eliminating inflammation. That is why, in case of insufficiency of local therapy, injections directly into the diseased joint can be recommended.
Injections
More effective than traditional joint medicine (pills) may be an injection of an anti-inflammatory drug. In this case, the agent is injected directly into the synovial fluid, which provides a direct effect on the cartilage tissue and the joint itself, and therefore, gives a strong and fast effect.
Corticosteroids are usually given by injection. You can also recommend the introduction of hyaluronic acid. This relatively new treatment has proven to be the best, but is still quite expensive and currently not affordable for everyone.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
It is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are most often referred to as "pills for the joints." Indeed, NSAIDs are one of the most popular drugs in the treatment of arthrosis. However, it would be useful to note the fact that they do not treat the cause, but only eliminate inflammation and reduce pain, that is, they have a symptomatic effect. These pills for joint pain will not eliminate the root causes. The most famous NSAIDs include the well-known Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Naproxen.
Besides the fact that NSAIDs "muffle" the symptoms of arthrosis and can play a cruel jokewith the patient, suggesting that everything is in order and after the pain has been eliminated, further treatment is not required, they can also cause some side effects. The most common of them are irritation of the gastric mucosa, water retention in the body and the subsequent increase in pressure, the development of heart failure.
Chondo protectors
Chondoprotectors are preparations of a completely different level of influence. These are not just pills for joint pain, these are drugs that protect cartilage and help restore it. In other words, chondoprotectors do not just eliminate pain and inflammation, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do, but eliminate the cause of arthrosis.
It is worth remembering, however, that for joints and ligaments, tablets of this type will not give a quick effect - they have a very long time of action. You can see the first effect only after 3-4 months of regular use of chondoprotectors, and on average, the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor will last from six months to a year. It should also be emphasized that it makes sense to take chondoprotectors only in the early stages of arthrosis. In the later stages, they will no longer help, since there is practically nothing to restore and nourish there. However, in the early stages, when arthrosis is not so advanced, they perform very well.
The most effective chondoprotectors are "Artra", "Don", "Teraflex", "Struktum", "Chondrolon". Most of them are available in the form of capsules fororal administration, as well as ampoules for intramuscular injection directly into the diseased joint.
Medication warning
Before taking any drugs for the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis for a long time, be sure to consult a doctor, as their uncontrolled use can lead to serious negative effects on the body, and instead of treating one disease, you risk getting a second one.
Other methods
Other treatments include:
- Therapeutic exercise.
- Physiotherapy.
- Spa treatment.
- Oxygen therapy.
Also, speaking of alternative methods of treatment, one cannot fail to mention the need to follow a diet. Proper nutrition will help not only prevent impending arthrosis, but also significantly help in the treatment of already earned ones. It is worth emphasizing the consumption of foods rich in B-group vitamins - they are responsible for the proper metabolism, violations of which are so often the causes of arthrosis.
Don't forget about the consumption of foods rich in collagen - an ideal example of such a product is jelly, the national Russian dish. Its abundant natural collagen will help restore elasticity and strength to damaged cartilage and joints.
And, of course, do not overeat and gain excess body weight. Excess fat in the body automatically means an increase in the load on the already weak joints - at the same time, about anythe treatment of arthrosis is out of the question.
Remember, any medicine for joints - pills, ointments or injections - will not give the proper stable result, as long as your lifestyle contributes to the occurrence of arthrosis! Wear comfortable shoes, eat right, stay active. Then you will not be afraid of any arthrosis and arthritis, and you will not need any pills for the treatment of joints.
