Arthrosis

Arthrosis is a degenerative process of articular cartilage.As this age-related disease progresses, the cartilage loses its elasticity.The disease progresses if the synthesis of joint cells is impaired.

Varieties

Depending on the cause, primary and secondary arthrosis are distinguished.

Primary arthrosis.The initial stage of a chronic disease, in which gradual damage to the cartilage tissue of the joint occurs.Diagnosed at the age of 45 years.Primary arthrosis progresses and treatment cannot be neglected, as the risk of disability is high.In the early stages, arthrosis is difficult to detect, because the disease occurs in a hidden form.If the patient has a crunch in the joints, pain when flexing and straightening the limb, swelling (edema), immediately contact an orthopedic doctor.In the early stages, it is possible to avoid the destruction of cartilage tissue and prevent the further development of arthrosis.

Secondary arthrosis.It develops against the background of changes in the metabolic process, for example, when blood circulation and lymph outflow are impaired.Hormonal imbalances often provoke arthrosis of the hip joint in females.

Reasons

The disease develops at the age of 45 years, rarely in younger people.Its development is influenced by:

• physical damage to bones and ligaments.They provoke damage to large tissues, which can lead to arthrosis of the knee joint;
• congenital abnormalities in the development of joint tissues, which increase the likelihood of dislocation due to incorrect position;
• impaired metabolism.It provokes cartilage deformation;
• autoimmune diseases.The body reacts to its own cells as if it were a foreign object;
• inflammatory joint diseases.For example, arthritis;
• tuberculosis of bone tissue;
• diseases of the endocrine system.For example, diabetes;
• degenerative diseases.For example, Perthes disease;
• diseases that provoke weakening of ligaments and increased mobility of joint tissues;
• frequent hemorrhages in the joint area;
• excess body weight.Creates additional stress on the joint and provokes early wear;
• intense physical activity.For example, improper training regimen or carrying heavy objects.
• heredity;
• hormonal imbalances;
• lack of vitamins;
• improper diet;
• operations on joint tissues.

Symptoms of arthrosis

Signs of arthrosis progression:

• traffic restrictions
• aching pain
• enlarging joint tissue
• increased temperature of the affected area
• swelling of the joint tissue, the presence of compaction and swelling
• severe pain in the evening
• crunching when moving a joint, feeling of bone friction

Stages of development of arthrosis

• First.There are no pronounced symptoms, only mild pain during physical activity.Muscle tissue weakens.
• Second.The joint tissue begins to deteriorate and osteophytes progress.Intense but tolerable pain develops.When moving the joint, a crunching sound is heard.The functioning of muscle tissue is impaired.
• Third.The joint tissue becomes thinner, and several foci of destruction are diagnosed.Doctors note significant deformation of the joint.Ligaments decrease in length and joint mobility suffers.Contracture progresses.The likelihood of subluxations increases.

Complications

If arthrosis is not treated in time, the joint will completely collapse.This will affect the biomechanics of the spine and hernias may occur.Arthrosis progresses in other joint tissues.Then the following complications arise:

• deformation of joint tissue
• complete immobility, disability

Disability

The first disability group is assigned to patients with impaired motor activity.The second - with partial loss of motor function.The third group has minor restrictions on motor activity.That is, they can move independently, but slowly and with frequent stops to rest.

Which doctor should I contact?

At the first symptoms of arthrosis, contact an arthrologist.He specializes in treating joints.If your condition is severe, make an appointment with an orthopedist.

Diagnostics

First of all, the simplest method is used - x-ray examination of the joint.Next they do an ultrasound.And the most reliable and informative diagnostic methods are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).

An important diagnostic point is the collection of anamnesis and clinical examination of the patient.Symptoms will help the doctor correctly determine the diagnosis, even if it is not possible to do an MRI.

Computed tomography (CT) helps to study in detail the structure of articular tissues and detect changes, cartilaginous growths and osteophytes.The procedure takes 2-3 minutes.The result is provided in digital format or in the form of a photograph.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Thanks to radio waves and magnetic radiation, it allows you to see a clear image of the tissue.The procedure lasts 10–20 minutes.After 30 minutes, the patient can receive the examination report.

Ultrasound of the joint is prescribed for rheumatological diseases and injuries.The procedure is based on the use of ultrasonic waves.The scanner records acoustic vibrations, and the result appears on the monitor.

Treatment of arthrosis

When a diagnosis is made, a further examination and treatment plan is drawn up.Additional examination is needed to treat not the effect, but the cause.It consists of taking tests to identify the etiology of the disease.For example, with rheumatoid arthritis or gout there will be an increased amount of uric acid.

The course of treatment depends on the stage of development of the disease.First, pain and inflammation are relieved.Next, physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are used.Medicines help relieve pain, but do not prevent the destruction of joint tissue.

The doctor can also prescribe treatment in a sanatorium-resort setting and recommend a set of physical exercises.In the final stages of the development of the disease, they resort to operations.If there are no complications, this method can restore the motor activity of the joint tissue.

Drug treatment

For arthrosis, the following groups of drugs are prescribed.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Needed for emergency relief of acute pain and reduction of inflammation.
• Chondroprotectors.They improve anabolism in cartilage tissue, relieve inflammation, prevent the process of cartilage destruction and eliminate swelling.
• Vasodilators.Used to relieve spasm of small vessels and improve blood flow.
• Painkillers.
• Antispasmodics.Used when muscle spasms occur.
• Analgesics.Helps get rid of pain.
• Ointments.Designed to reduce pain, improve blood circulation and alleviate the patient's condition.

Injections into the joint

Therapeutic drug blockades are an effective method of treating pain due to arthrosis.Their advantages:

• reduction of muscle tension
• quick pain relief effect
• relieving inflammation
• long-term therapeutic effect
• restoration of joint mobility.

For drug blockades, antiseptics and antibiotics are used, and hyaluronic acid injections are given to protect cartilage tissue.They eliminate inflammation and speed up the restoration of cartilage.It is recommended to give 3-5 injections with an interval of 5-7 days.

Physiotherapy for joint arthrosis

• Shock wave therapy.This method uses high frequency current.Shock wave therapy for joint arthrosis restores the permeability of endothelial cells, eliminates inflammation and joint swelling, improves blood flow in the affected area and stimulates reparative processes.
• Kinesio taping.Elastic bands called tapes are applied to the skin.They reduce stress on muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, reducing pain.Also, kinesio taping for arthrosis of the joints facilitates blood circulation and lymph flow.
• Manual therapy for arthrosis is effective as part of complex treatment.It improves the mobility of diseased joints and prevents atrophic processes.Manual therapy relieves pain, increases joint mobility and eliminates muscle spasms.It is prescribed for the initial and middle stages of arthrosis.
• Laser therapy for arthrosis relieves pain, has an anti-edematous effect, relieves inflammation and reduces the risk of surgery in the later stages of the disease.Laser treatment of arthrosis restores muscle function, relieves muscle tension, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, increases the ability of tissues to regenerate, reduces blood viscosity, improves joint mobility and normalizes metabolism.
• Massage.Helps relieve sharp pain and fatigue after walking.Massage for arthrosis should not focus only on the damaged area: this will increase inflammation.The massage therapist performs stroking and rotational movements in the spine area, massages the lumbar and sacral areas and then moves to the surface of the knee joint, where he performs stroking and light pinching.
• Hirudotherapy.Leeches inject beneficial enzymes into the blood - the patient's blood thins, blood supply to the affected area improves, joint elasticity increases and pain goes away.Treatment with leeches for arthrosis is contraindicated for people with anemia, heart failure and hemophilia, as well as during pregnancy.

Other treatments

In addition to medications and physiotherapy, other treatment methods are often used for arthrosis.

• Exercise therapy.You can do therapeutic exercises with minimal or no pain.Physical exercises for arthrosis include static and dynamic loads, and there should be more of the former.They must be performed at a slow pace and smoothly—sharp movements are contraindicated.
• Medical bile.External use of bile relieves inflammation in the tissues of the musculoskeletal system and has a resolving and analgesic effect.Compresses with medicinal bile can be applied if there is no external damage to the skin.
• Vitamins.Take vitamins of groups A, B, C, D and E, zinc and calcium.They help restore cartilage and increase muscle tone.
• Orthopedic knee pads.Needed to fix the joint.They gradually relieve pain, reduce pressure on the joints, improve blood circulation in the damaged area and stabilize the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
• Orthoses.These are bandages - orthopedic products designed to relieve stress on the knee joint.They stop the development of pathological processes.They are used to limit unwanted joint movement.
• Acupuncture.Relieves pain, fights inflammation, improves blood circulation and restores cartilage tissue.The body is exposed to special needles by inserting them into points from 9 to 18. For gonarthrosis, the doctor works with the lower vertebrae and the popliteal fossa.
• Ozone therapy for arthrosis.Helps quickly restore knee function.Ozone molecules relieve inflammation, relieve pain and improve blood circulation.
• PRP.This is a method that uses the patient's blood.Platelets with plasma are isolated from it and injected into local problem areas.Platelets have regenerative properties and are growth factors.In everyday life it happens like this: if you cut yourself, the wound will heal.The same effect is achieved in the knee joint by injecting these drugs.
• Mesenchymal stem cells.This is a combined regeneration method that began to be used quite recently.Stem cells are removed from fat and mixed with plasma, since the cells themselves are somewhat dry and need to be diluted.After this, the injection is injected into the knee joint.One injection is enough, which gives an effect for 4-5 years.

Prevention of arthrosis

To reduce the risk of complications and prevent destruction of joint tissue, it is recommended:

• give up alcohol, smoking and drugs
• do not overcool your joints
• reduce the amount of smoked products and semi-finished products
• eat more vegetables, fruits, cereals and cartilage (jelly)
• avoid excess body weight
• avoid excessive stress
• perform preventive exercises
• do physical exercise daily
• drink enough water
• sleep at least 8 hours a day
• take a course of vitamins once every 6 months
• undergo a preventive examination once a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tests are done for arthrosis?

It is necessary to pass tests of the articular minimum.These are uric acid, rheumatoid factor, asthma and a complete blood count.If there is a suspicion of infectious symptoms, a puncture is taken from the knee or hip joint.

Is it possible to heat joints with arthrosis?

If you have arthrosis, it is better not to heat your joints before being examined by a doctor.Heat can be harmful and increase pain.

Is it possible to play sports with arthrosis?

For arthrosis, skiing and cycling are useful.The pedals should be turned smoothly so as not to injure the cartilage tissue.Aerobics and running are prohibited.You should also not lift heavy objects.

Diet for arthrosis

Proper nutrition for arthrosis of the joints helps to recover.Doctors recommend including foods high in vitamins and microelements in your diet.Recommended fruits, rye and bran bread, cereals, fish, vegetables, lean meat.It is better to avoid smoked products, fast food products, sweets, baked goods, fatty meats and processed foods.