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Arthrosis

arthrosis of the joint on the toe

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body, in which various joints are affected. Due to the similarity of these terms, many people are unaware of the difference between the two. But in reality, arthritis and osteoarthritis are not the same disease. And they have significant differences. It is important to study their main symptoms so that if they appear, visit a hospital immediately. It is also necessary to know which doctor treats osteoarthritis in order to turn to a qualified honey in time. specialist.

Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult your doctor.

Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is associated with the destruction of the cartilage tissue within the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease in the world. According to the latest statistics, about 80% of the world's population suffers from it. But most people don't have an exact idea of what osteoarthritis is. With this disease, for a long time, various changes and rearrangements occur in the articular ends of the bones, and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, the periarticular tissues degenerate.

Many people ask the same question: How is arthritis different from osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a disease that causes damage to both large and small joints. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the entire human body. The changes that occur in the body aren't just about the joints. The most common disease in arthritis is the heart and kidneys. If the correct treatment is not done, complications and even death can occur.

The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis or arthritis increases significantly by the age of 40-50. The disease affects women and men equally. The disease manifests itself in able-bodied people and has recently become much younger (people over 30 suffer from osteoarthritis). Therefore, it is very important to know what osteoarthritis is and how to properly treat this pathology.

causes

Like arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs in the body due to metabolic failure in some joints. This leads to a loss of elasticity of the cartilage tissue.

Cartilage located in the joints of the extremities can be destroyed due to disturbances in the production of hormones, decreased blood supply to the joints and injuries. Also, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause osteoarthritis.

Main reason:

  • a history of limb injuries;
  • old age;
  • severe hypothermia;
  • the presence of inflammatory processes in large and small joints (arthritis and arthrosis are two concomitant diseases);
  • weight gain. In this case, there will be a constant additional load on the joints;
  • general intoxication of the body;
  • Frequent SARS, acute respiratory infections and flu;
  • pathological processes in the thyroid gland;
  • haemophilia;
  • Perthes disease.

Arthrosis of the joints can also develop in a person due to genetic disorders - collagen mutations, dysplasia.

Symptoms

Symptoms of osteoarthritis appear almost immediately. The first sign of the development of a pathological process is severe pain when loading a certain joint. The pain will subside once the joint is at rest. In medical circles, the following groups of symptoms of osteoarthritis are distinguished:

  • ache.Sharp pain occurs only when certain movements are made. Its localization is at the site of the affected joint. At night, there is practically no discomfort, as the joint is at rest. Pain in a calm state can manifest itself only during the progression of arthrosis;
  • joint mobility decreases.This applies to both osteoarthritis and arthritis. In the initial stage of the disease, this symptom does not bother the patient much. But soon the muscles will start to contract. The space between the joints will almost completely disappear;
  • crunch.The reason for its appearance lies in the fact that due to the disease, the softness of the rotation of the bone in the joint decreases. Its sound is "dry";
  • deformation of the affected joint.This is due to the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom is the last to appear. Treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most difficult.

Stages of the disease

All these signs of osteoarthritis occur at different stages in the development of the disease. In medical practice, three degrees are distinguished:

  • 1st degree arthrosis.Symptoms of osteoarthritis are not pronounced. Most often, mild joint pain occurs during exertion or a long walk. Pathological changes begin to occur in the fluid and synovium. Treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most effective;
  • 2nd degree arthrosis.The joint is destroyed. Osteophytes are formed. Pain during exertion and movement becomes stronger, a characteristic crunch is heard in the affected joints;
  • 3rd degree arthrosis.This is the most difficult stage in the development of this disease. There is a pathological change in the sites of the diseased joints. Inflammation occurs. The patient feels stiffness during movement, as the muscles cannot fully contract and perform their functions.

Arthrosis of the joints in the third stage of its development is extremely difficult to cure. Greater chances of success will be if you find a qualified specialist. Many people ask themselves the question: which doctor treats osteoarthritis? In this case, it is necessary to seek help from a rheumatologist. This is a narrow specialist who deals with the treatment of dystrophic and inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue and joints, such as osteoarthritis and arthritis.

complications

If you do not start treating osteoarthritis in the early stages of its development, this can lead to the following consequences:

  • complete destruction of the joint;
  • it will become almost impossible to perform various movements;
  • herniated vertebral discs;
  • disability of a person;
  • complete deformation of the joint;
  • the patient's standard of living will decrease.

Treatment

The question of how to treat osteoarthritis is asked by every person who showed the first signs of the disease. The easiest way to do this is in the early stages of the development of the pathological process, until the violations become irreversible. The essence of therapeutic measures is to remove the root causes of the development of arthrosis and eliminate inflammation in the joints.

Treatment of osteoarthritis should only be comprehensive. It includes taking medications (tablets, mixtures) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Physiotherapy procedures are also needed.

Principles of osteoarthritis treatment:

  • eliminate excessive stress on the joints;
  • therapy with anti-inflammatory and painkiller pills. Also, in complex therapy, chondroprotectors are actively used for osteoarthritis;
  • Physiotherapy;
  • Spa treatment;
  • magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy;
  • intra-articular oxygen therapy;
  • intraosseous block;
  • it is important to choose the right diet for osteoarthritis.

Pharmacological treatment

How to treat osteoarthritis with drugs? This question is more common among patients. Treatment is carried out using three groups of drugs:

intra-articular injection into the joint for osteoarthritis
  • hormonal corticosteroids.Effective for acute osteoarthritis. Introduction - intra-articular. Tablets are less effective in this case;
  • anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used to reduce joint inflammation and relieve pain. Doctors do not recommend patients to take pills, as they irritate the stomach lining to some extent. Therefore, they are often injected into a vein or muscle;
  • chondroprotector for osteoarthritis.They are used to restore the structure of the cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is most often prescribed, as this drug is highly effective. The use of chondroprotector for osteoarthritis gives positive results in the early stages of the development of the pathological process.

Folk recipes

Most people these days don't want to take pills or injections. Therefore, they ask the question: how to cure osteoarthritis with the help of folk remedies? For the most part, such funds are aimed at increasing the tone of the body, improving blood circulation, relieving pain and increasing immunity. Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies is most effective in the early stages of the development of the pathological process. For the treatment of this disease, recipes based on the following plants are used:

  • Ginger;
  • Kalanchoe;
  • celery seeds;
  • castor oil seeds;
  • cinnamon;
  • Turmeric;
  • horsetail.

Bay leaf, horseradish, garlic and rye tinctures are also considered effective. Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies will be more effective when combined with drugs.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis

The diet for osteoarthritis has its own specifics. It is especially important to monitor the diet during an exacerbation of the disease. Do not overeat, as the body weight and load on the affected joint will increase. But you can't sit hungry either. Cartilage must receive the required amount of micronutrients.

The osteoarthritis diet is aimed at reducing excess weight. Therefore, carbohydrates should be removed from the diet. Sweets, flours, alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.

Fish dishes can be included in the daily diet. Preference should be given to low-fat varieties. The main role in the treatment of arthrosis is assigned to everyone's favorite dish - jellied meat. Many doctors recommend using it, as it is a real cure-all for the joints. Contains all the necessary trace elements. But the most important component of the dish is natural collagen.

jellied meat in the treatment of arthrosis

Nutrition for osteoarthritis should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in B vitamins. They are necessary for the regulation of metabolism.

If you stick to a diet for osteoarthritis, you can achieve a significant improvement in your general condition.

Basic nutritional principles:

  • the menu must be completely balanced;
  • heavy food should not be eaten at night. You can provoke an attack of arthrosis;
  • if the disease is not in an exacerbation stage, then it is better to walk a little after eating;
  • food should be fractional;
  • it is necessary to constantly monitor your weight and prevent it from increasing;
  • if pills are prescribed, it is necessary to clearly regulate food intake and consumption (take them before or after meals).

A diet for osteoarthritis helps not only to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but also to improve the condition of the joints.

Prophylaxis

Prevention of osteoarthritis begins with proper nutrition. It is necessary to try to reduce salt intake, as well as food that can disrupt the metabolism. These include legumes, fatty meats, and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

For the prevention of arthrosis, it is necessary to attend physical education, warm up. If possible, it is best to walk a few kilometers. It is also important to monitor your weight and prevent weight gain, as this will put additional stress on aching joints. It is not recommended to take pills for the purpose of losing weight, as they can disrupt the metabolism in the body.