Osteoarthritis - among the diseases of the joints, arthrosis is well known and widespread. What is it and how to take care of it? What are the symptoms of the disease and what are the main causes?
Is arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a disease that has a detrimental effect on the joints, causing cartilage degradation to occur in them.
The long course of the disease leads to changes in the ends of the bones, and the inflammatory process destroys nearby tissues.
The list of articular diseases associated with arthrosis is not small, and is a group of diseases that have a similar destructive effect, but have different causes and processes of course.
According to the statistics obtained, 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 placed in third place after oncological and cardiovascular diseases.
Due to non -adherence to a healthy lifestyle, over time, the risk of disease increases significantly.
Arthrosis is not a blockage disease and can affect both men and women, acting more faithfully only on the interphalangeal joints. People who have reached the age of 30 are susceptible to this disease, and over time their number increases without hindrance.
Causes of arthrosis
The cause of arthrosis and such treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joints. This leads to a loss of cartilage strength and elasticity.
The reason for this is a significant decrease or complete loss of proteoglycans from them due to large cracks in the cartilage.
Other reasons can also contribute to this, for example, a violation of the normal production of proteoglycans by the cells themselves.
Additional causes that have an adverse effect on the joints:
- violation of metabolic processes throughout the body;
- deterioration of hormonal background;
- slows blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary causes;
- old age;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is non -compliance with the usual load on the joints in everyday life.
Due to their unpreparedness, a person's reluctance to do physical exercises on time, warming up to strengthen the joints - cartilage can not perform its function fully.
Extensive list of causes that can cause arthrosis:
- previously received injuries, such as dislocations, fractures, bruises, torn ligaments and others;
- violation of metabolic processes that support viability;
- excessive weight, which leads to excessive pressure on the joints;
- acute purulent arthritis leading to inflammation of the joints;
- aged;
- Malnutrition;
- prolonged excessive drop in body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- body poisoning;
- frequent colds;
- typical diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, flea -borne encephalitis;
- thyroid disease;
- hemophilia;
- Peters disease.
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- arthrosis of the hands and fingers can be inherited, as evidenced by scientists who have studied Bouchard and Heberden nodules;
- in cases of dysplasia, which has developed as a result of violation of joint formation in the prenatal period, excessive wear of the joints and the development of arthrosis may occur;
- Mutations in type 2 collagen can cause disruption of the internal structure of connective tissue fibrillar proteins and cartilage degradation.
If you are a mason, miner, fisherman, loader, or your activity is to some extent related to excessive physical effort, then without taking any precautionary measures, there is a chance of getting arthrosis as well.
Symptoms of arthrosis
For a complete understanding of what arthrosis is and how it is treated, we will address its external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of arthrosis are: manifestations of pain during pressure on the joints, which can subside at rest; deterioration of joint motor function; appearance of crunches; sensation of muscle tension around the affected joint.
The main thing is not to allow long -term tumors, as it can lead to early joint deformities.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Manifestations of pain. They are considered the first message to joint arthrosis. Although the cause of pain can be a variety of reasons, but in the case of arthrosis, the pain has certain characteristics. The main thing is the presence of sharp pain that appears during movement at the site of the damaged joint. The pain disappears after minimizing functional activity. At night, the pain is practically not noticeable in any way, only with a side -to -side coup, little discomfort may appear. In the immobile state, the pain can manifest only in an advanced form. During this time, the sleep process can be difficult. Symptoms reappear in the early morning. As the disease progresses, a person needs more time to rest and recover. Even then, even in a state of rest, the pain does not stop, turning life into constant torture. There is almost complete wear of cartilage, as a result of which the bones are exposed, osteophytes are deleted.
- The emergence of crunches. A symptom that cannot be ignored. Reflections appear due to the friction of the bones with each other, as the softness between them decreases - as a result, different "dry" sounds appear. Although, it can also occur with other diseases, and sometimes even healthy joints. In severe forms of the disease, the sound may become clearer, and the pain increases.
- Decreased joint mobility. This is an additional symptom that does not accompany arthrosis in the early stages, however, in neglected conditions, it stimulates the excessive growth of interosseous formations, which leads to spasm, and the gap between the joints is almost completely overgrown. And this is the main reason for loss of mobility.
- Joint deformities. These symptoms suggest degrading changes in the joint surface due to osteophyte growth and synovial fluid flow. It is one of the latest symptoms of arthrosis.
Due to the alternating periods of remission and deterioration, self -diagnosis of arthrosis is more difficult. Therefore, relying only on personal feelings is not enough - the help of a specialist doctor is needed.
Diagnosis - arthrosis
To detect signs that may indicate the presence of the disease and its level of complexity, studies using radiography were used:
- In the first stage, osteophytes are still absent, and the gap between the joints is minimized.
- The second stage is characterized by a decrease in joint space, with a slight appearance of osteophytes.
- In the third stage, a decrease in joint space is clearly noticeable, a large number of osteophytes are formed, the process of deformation begins to occur.
- In the last fourth stage, the gap between the joints is almost completely gone, the maximum number of osteophytes that may appear, the deformation process is going smoothly.
Negative consequences of arthrosis
Ignoring the timely treatment of arthrosis requires not only completely irreversible damage to the joints, but also causes damage to the spine.
A herniated disc can form in the intervertebral disc. Arthrosis can spread to other joints that are still healthy.
Methods of treatment
Like any other dangerous disease, it is better not to start treatment, but to carry it out at an early stage.
Treatment methods should be comprehensive and aim to eliminate the links that contribute to the development of the disease, as well as strengthen the factors that help to cure.
What is special about the treatment of arthrosis? An integrated approach to therapy consists of the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
However, a course of physiotherapy is mandatory. In the case of choosing treatment with sanitary-resort methods, climatic conditions should be chosen in such a way that the effect on the joints is as good as possible.
The program should include procedures in mineral water and mud baths.
The essence of arthrosis treatment is as follows:
- Aching joints should be subjected to as little load as possible, it is very important to take this into account in the treatment process;
- You cannot ignore orthopedic regimens;
- Physical exercise that improves health is mandatory;
- Perform physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electro procedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium rehabilitation - prescribed by a doctor and recommended to pass in a special resort once a year;
- Conducting oxygen therapy - introduction of oxygen into the joints;
- Medical treatment;
- Intraosseous obstruction;
- Switch to a healthy diet.
Types of drug treatment
- Means that eliminate the inflammatory process. By carrying out complex treatments, there is an opportunity to slow down the course of the disease significantly, thus saving yourself from pain in the future. Methods of medical treatment involve pain relief and removal of inflammatory processes in the joints. For this purpose, the original non -steroidal drug was selected. Often they are given intravenously or intramuscularly, as their oral use can cause irritation of the abdominal wall. Various ointments are used as adjuncts, but due to poor absorption by the body, they are of little effectiveness, so they are used very rarely.
- Corticosteroid hormones. Such medication is prescribed when the disease becomes more severe. They are inserted into the joints. Ointment, plaster or tincture with hot pepper is applied to the damaged joints from the outside.
- Use of chondroprotectors. They will help with cartilage regrowth, in addition, they will improve the properties of synovial fluid. Drugs such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are prescribed.
The time of use of these medications can be long and does not stop until the patient gets better.
If the drug does not give the expected positive effect, its use is canceled.
In parallel with chondroprotectors, you should take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps 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 eating for arthrosis patients
Nutrition is probably the most important issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible when the condition worsens with arthrosis. Whatever medication the patient is treated for, with improper nutrition, all these efforts can be in vain.
First of all, eat in moderation. For those who are overweight, you need to lose weight immediately, but you can not force yourself to starve, because the body should always receive all the trace elements in sufficient quantities.
You need to limit yourself in the consumption of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods, as well as flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing low -fat varieties and fish can not be fried.
The use of jelly is recommended for arthrosis. Since it contains a large number 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 the basis for connective tissue. With prolonged use of jelly, the joints will become more mobile, and nearby tissues will become elastic and durable.
An important factor in treatment is the timely use of adequate amounts of vitamins, especially group B. They ensure the normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine, contained in nuts and beans, will increase the process of metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
In order for hemoglobin to be produced in the blood, pyridoxine is needed. This ingredient is rich in potatoes, bananas, cabbage and beans. Riboflavin is rich in eggs, liver, dairy products and mushrooms.
Legumes and vegetables will supply the body with folic acid. The industry offers a wide range of vitamin preparations and supplements.
However, vitamins and micro -elements derived from food are better absorbed by the body, which is an important factor in the process of cartilage tissue recovery.
It is necessary to adhere to certain dietary rules in the treatment of arthrosis
- Eating should be frequent and in small portions;
- You should not eat before bed, you should push heavy foods to the stomach;
- To relieve the burden on aching joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after meals during remission is a useful prevention for exacerbation of joint disease;
- The selection or adjustment of diet together with the doctor will ensure a proper balanced diet.
Therefore, it is possible to beat arthrosis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the advice of the attending physician.