Along with arthritis, osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint diseases, especially in the second half of life.In the absence of timely and high-quality treatment, this disease can lead to limb disability.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints based on the process of degenerative changes in the cartilage that develop as a result of a deterioration of its nutrition (trophism) or a disruption of its configuration, for example after an injury.
Osteoarthritis-arthritis is a disease characterized not only by degenerative processes occurring in the joint, but also by its inflammation.
Osteoarthritis deformans is osteoarthritis, one of the manifestations of which is the proliferation of bone tissue, leading to deformation of the ends of the bones that form the joint.
Periarthrosis is a dystrophic process in which degenerative changes are observed not only in the joint itself, but also in adjacent tissues (for example, tendons, ligaments).
Hemarthrosis is hemorrhage into the joint cavity.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The main cause of the development of osteoarthritis is a metabolic disorder occurring in the cartilage tissue.As a result, the cartilage loses its elasticity and begins to gradually deteriorate.
The causes of metabolic disorders and the development of degenerative changes in the joints are varied.These could be:
- hormonal disorders,
- female,
- loss of proteoglycans from cartilaginous tissue,
- aging of the body,
- increased stress on the joints due to practicing a certain type of activity or being overweight,
- various chronic diseases.
In women, osteoarthritis of the ankle and foot can occur due to prolonged wearing of tight, uncomfortable shoes, especially high heels.Changes in the joints of the hands are observed mainly among representatives of professions where a significant part of the load falls on the hands (while osteoarthritis is much more common in women).
In addition, osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or ankle is caused by various injuries (post-traumatic osteoarthritis).
Types and symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is classified according to the degree of joint damage:
- 1st degree - the joints retain mobility, there are practically no changes visible on an x-ray.The patient can only be bothered by a slight crunch or a slight aching pain.
- 2nd degree - a person suffering from osteoarthritis experiences a feeling of discomfort in the joint, the mobility of the limb is impaired, periodic pain becomes more pronounced and prolonged, the first signs of joint deformation are detected by x-ray or ultrasound.
- Grade 3 - movements of the joint are limited, the patient feels severe pain (even at rest), characteristic changes are observed on x-rays.
Sometimes experts also distinguish the fourth degree of osteoarthritis, characterized by severe pain and severe deformation of this area.
Rheumatoid osteoarthritis
Most often, this term refers to degenerative-destructive changes in the joint that developed as a result of another disease - rheumatoid arthritis.Rheumatoid arthritis itself changes the configuration of the joint surfaces, which leads to a violation of their congruence and an aggravation of degenerative processes in the articular and periarticular tissues.
Non-covertebral osteoarthritis
This is the appearance of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cervical spine.The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of this location:
- pronounced cracking noise when turning the head,
- pain in the neck (especially after prolonged sitting or standing),
- headache,
- dizziness,
- fluctuations in blood pressure.
X-ray examination may reveal subluxation of the cervical joints.
In addition, osteoarthritis is distinguished:
- knee (gonarthrosis),
- hip joint (coxarthrosis),
- ankle joints (crushatron),
- other areas of the spine,
- temporomandibular joint, etc.
How and with what to treat osteoarthritis?
Before deciding how to treat it at home, you should consult a doctor and determine the exact cause of this disease.To do this, the doctor usually examines the patient and prescribes a series of additional laboratory and instrumental tests, including various biochemical blood tests (for example, for acute phase reactions, the presence of rheumatoid factor, etc.), as well as x-ray, ultrasound, MRI or CT scan of the joints.If necessary, the examination is supplemented by diagnostic arthroscopy.
Then the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis and prescribes appropriate treatment for the joint.
On what principles is the treatment of osteoarthritis based?
- Elimination of the cause of the disease.In the case of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, the underlying disease is treated, thus achieving stable remission.
- Normalization of joint nutrition, metabolism and blood circulation.For this purpose, chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid preparations, drugs that improve local and systemic blood circulation, antiplatelet agents and vitamins are used.
- Symptomatic therapy.As a rule, with severe pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a good analgesic effect are prescribed.
Ointments, gels, creams with an anti-inflammatory and distracting effect are applied locally to the joint area 2-3 times a day, dimexide compresses are applied and friction is used.
Physiotherapy
To relieve pain and inflammation, ultraviolet irradiation in erythematous doses, laser therapy, UHF, microwave, electrophoresis and phonophoresis are widely used.In addition to physiotherapeutic procedures, regular therapeutic joint exercises and spa treatments are useful for osteoarthritis.
Surgical treatment
Usually this involves partial or complete replacement of the joint or its plastic surgery.It can be performed in the traditional way, as well as by endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, including arthroscopy.Surgical interventions are indicated in cases where conservative treatment does not have the desired effect, as well as in cases of severe deformation of the joint and loss of mobility.
Prevention
First of all, osteoarthritis prevention includes diet, exercise, and hypothermia prevention.
Diet
Nutrition for osteoarthritis does not require any serious restrictions.In general, this is a balanced diet, including all major food groups, drinking enough fluids, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.Many experts recommend periodically including jellied meat, rich broths and other similar dishes in the menu, unless they are contraindicated by a doctor.The only significant limitation is the caloric content of foods.It is necessary to monitor your weight, because excess weight accelerates the wear and tear on your joints.
Spicy and burning foods themselves do not have a significant effect on osteoarthritis, but it should be remembered that many people suffering from this disease are forced to use pain relievers and anti-inflammatories, most of which negatively affect the gastric mucosa.It is also advisable to limit foods that are high in cholesterol and cause an increase in blood viscosity so that the blood supply to the joint is not impaired.For these reasons, it is advisable to exclude these dishes from your daily menu if you suffer from osteoarthritis.
Exercise
Exercise and physical activity improve blood circulation and blood supply to joint tissues and also strengthen muscles.The most useful exercises for osteoarthritis are swimming, walking and skiing.For hip osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis associated with excess weight, cycling or exercising on an exercise bike worked well.
Avoiding hypothermia
Joints “love” when a person dresses according to the weather, evenly protecting all parts of his body from the cold.Any local hypothermia causes a weakening of the body's defenses, which can lead to subsequent inflammation of the joints and the development of degenerative processes.