Causes, symptoms and treatment of arthrosis

Arthrosis is a disease whose symptoms everyone should know.This dangerous and very common disease may be almost invisible in its early stages, but as it progresses, it can cause unbearable pain and even disability.In our article, we will talk about how to avoid this.

Why does arthrosis occur and when should treatment be started?

Painful sensations in the joints, "clicks" during movement and reduced mobility of the limbs often go unnoticed: most people do not attach importance to such signals from the body.Meanwhile, these symptoms may indicate a serious disease - arthrosis.

Arthrosis deformans is a disease associated with the destruction and thinning of joint cartilage tissue.In this case, the joint tissue becomes looser and larger, which ultimately leads to the appearance of bone spurs and inflammation within the joint.

In the early stages, patients experience slight discomfort during movement, which they do not necessarily pay attention to.In the second stage of the disease, severe pain occurs, which leads to limited joint mobility.The third stage is accompanied by pain and complete or almost complete destruction of the articular cartilage tissue.

With the help of therapy started in time, you can significantly slow down the development of arthrosis, help preserve the mobility of the limbs and avoid serious surgical intervention - that is why it is so important to consult a rheumatologist at the first symptoms.

Treatment of arthrosis

From the point of view of European medicine, the treatment of such a serious disease as arthrosis requires an integrated approach, taking into account the symptoms at different stages of the disease.In addition to taking medications, the complex of therapeutic measures includes weight-loss measures, kinesiotherapy, physiotherapy and, if necessary, surgical intervention.The treatment program is compiled by a rheumatologist, taking into account the localization of the disease, the characteristics of the patient's body, but necessarily includes a whole range of activities aimed at overcoming the manifestations of the disease.

Drug treatment

The first task in the treatment of arthrosis is to relieve joint pain and inflammation.For this purpose, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed, for example, ibuprofen, ketorolac, piroxicam, diclofenac and its derivatives - in the form of tablets, injections, gels, ointments or rectal suppositories.Remember that the use of this group of drugs only relieves the main symptoms of the disease.In addition, long-term use of NSAIDs can accelerate the process of cartilage destruction, so they should be used with great care and only as prescribed by a doctor.

The use of pain relievers is another way to relieve the patient from pain.Unlike NSAIDs, pain relievers relieve inflammatory processes to a lesser extent, but are more effective in combating pain.If muscle spasms occur, antispasmodics such as Mydocalm are prescribed.Both drug groups are most often used in the form of injections to relieve the symptoms of arthrosis, but they are not effective in overcoming the disease.

Chondroprotectors are one of the most important components of the medical treatment of arthrosis: they saturate the cartilage tissue with nutrients and stimulate cell growth.The group of chondroprotectors includes, for example, glucosamine, which is produced in the form of tablets or capsules.You should not expect a quick effect from the use of chondroprotectors: the improvement of the condition of the cartilage can only be noticed after long-term use of the drugs.In addition, they do not help if the disease has reached the third, most severe stage.

Vasodilators are also used to improve blood flow and relieve spasm of small blood vessels.When such drugs are combined with chondroprotectors, they enhance the effect of the latter: nutrients enter the cartilage tissue in greater quantities.

Physiotherapy

1. Shock wave therapy.The use of shock wave therapy (SWT) in arthrosis allows us to eliminate one of the main causes of pain: spiny bone processes - osteophytes.Under the influence of ultrasonic waves, the "spikes" soften and dissolve over time, improving the efficiency of blood flow and metabolic processes.Despite all its advantages, shock wave therapy is effective only in the early stages of arthrosis and has many contraindications, so it is prescribed with caution.
2. Automated electromyostimulation with vertical adjustment.The use of electrical impulses to contract muscles is primarily for bedridden patients, as well as for severe injuries when the necessary physical exercises are contraindicated.Although electromyostimulation is not the most common goal for arthrosis, its use helps to increase muscle tone and improve blood circulation, which positively affects the dynamics of healing.
3. Ultraphonophoresis.This procedure combines two types of effects - ultrasound waves and drugs.As a result, phonophoresis makes it possible to significantly increase the effect of drugs: thanks to ultrasound, their substances reach the "target" cells and are absorbed much more actively.
4. Ozone therapy.The introduction of a gas mixture into the joint capsule reduces pain and inflammation, helps restore joint mobility and improves blood circulation.Usually, ozone therapy is prescribed in a course of several injections, depending on the severity of the disease.

Methods of traditional Chinese medicine

In Chinese medicine, the restoration of joint health begins with diagnostics, during which the general condition of the body is assessed and the root cause of arthrosis is identified.The doctor then prepares a program to influence the biologically active points.The complex treatment of arthrosis includes the following TCM methods:

• acupuncture (acupuncture) - placement of the finest needles on points in a certain combination;
• phytocompressions - "squeezes" from herbs;
• moxotherapy - heating with a wormwood cigar;
• Tuina acupressure.

In this case, the main focus is on acupuncture as the most effective treatment method of traditional Chinese medicine.The results of the therapy depend to a large extent on the specialist's training.In the hands of a qualified doctor, the patient can soon notice an improvement in well-being, which is accompanied by pain relief, restoration of joint mobility, strengthening of the immune system, normalization of blood circulation and metabolism[2].

Other methods of non-surgical treatment of arthrosis:

• Therapeutic practice.Exercise therapy for arthrosis is an excellent way to improve blood circulation in the area of the affected joint, as well as to strengthen the muscles.Usually, the doctor recommends that you start with simple exercises and gradually increase the number of repetitions.
• Mechanotherapy.Physical therapy can be supplemented with mechanotherapy - exercises performed with special simulators.The devices allow you to increase the load during the exercise (due to different weights), while protecting the painful joint from injury.Like exercise therapy, mechanotherapy improves blood circulation and increases muscle tone.
• Joint traction.The essence of the procedure is mechanical "stretching" of the joint using a special device for 15-20 minutes.This makes it possible to reduce the load on the joint, slow down the development of arthrosis and significantly reduce the patient's pain.A course consisting of 10-12 sessions is conducted approximately every six months in order to improve and consolidate the result.
• Lymphatic drainage and warming massage.These procedures help warm up the diseased area, relieve spasms and pain, and improve blood circulation in the joints.In the case of a patient with limited mobility, lymphatic drainage and warming massage can also be used.
• Dietary nutrition prescription.Weight correction is one way to significantly reduce the load on the joint and slow down the development of arthrosis.Of course, following a diet alone does not contribute to recovery, but it can have a certain effect when combined with other procedures.
• Lifestyle correction.To overcome arthrosis, the patient should significantly rethink his usual lifestyle and wear only comfortable shoes, use only comfortable furniture, and women should give up high-heeled shoes.In addition, it is advisable to get rid of bad habits and eliminate excessive physical activity.In some cases, it is beneficial to wear an orthosis and to visit the pool and sauna regularly.A comprehensive list of recommendations can be obtained from the attending physician, which is compiled based on the patient's condition.

Surgical treatment

1. Puncture (minimally invasive intervention).It is also used to diagnose the disease.A needle is inserted into the joint capsule, removing part of the fluid - this allows you to obtain material for analysis, reduce the load on the capsule, and, if necessary, inject corticosteroid drugs directly into the site of inflammation.
2. Diagnostic arthroscopy.Arthroscopy involves the introduction of a special arthroscope device through microincisions in the skin.This allows a thorough examination of the joint, as well as the removal of isolated fragments of cartilage, eliminating the causes of the inflammatory process and pain.
3. Corrective osteotomy.The essence of this surgical procedure is to file the patient's bones and then fix them at a different angle.The operation makes it possible to reduce the load on the joint and eliminate pain in the long term.Such a radical effect is rarely prescribed - the load on the patient's body is too great, and the rehabilitation period is too long.
4. Endoprosthesis.In cases where other types of treatment have not helped and the disease has completely or almost completely destroyed the joints, they are replaced with plastic, metal or ceramic prostheses.Endoprosthesis replacement is a difficult and expensive operation that requires long-term rehabilitation.Many patients feel pain for several months after surgery.However, the patient's endoprosthesis is often the only alternative to immobilization.The lifetime of modern prostheses reaches twenty years, and during these years the patient can live a full life.

Symptoms and characteristics of the treatment of different types of arthrosis

Despite the common characteristics of the symptoms, arthrosis of different joints has its own signs and treatment characteristics.For example, the use of ointments in arthrosis of the hip joint is ineffective due to muscle and fatty tissue, which prevents the drug from reaching the site of inflammation.But the same ointments work well when applied to the knee or elbow joint.Let's see what symptoms are typical for arthrosis of the joints (ankles, knees, elbows, shoulders, fingers and hips) and what treatment is appropriate in each case.

• Treatment of arthrosis of the joints of the hand (fingers).In the early stages of the disease, it manifests itself only as a slight crunch and slight pain when moving the hand, but in the absence of treatment, it becomes visually noticeable: noticeable thickenings appear in the joint area.The pain intensifies and becomes constant, a burning sensation and throbbing appear in the fingers.NSAIDs and corticosteroids are used to relieve pain and inflammation;massage, chondroprotectors and finger stretching are used to slow the destruction of the cartilage.
• Treatment of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.Painful muscle spasms, reduced mobility of the arms, "lumbago" when lifting and moving to the side - all these are symptoms of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.Massage and physical therapy are prescribed in combination with intra-articular injections of antispasmodics and pain relievers.
• Treatment of arthrosis of the elbow joint.Symptoms of elbow joint disease include a loud crackling sound when bending the elbow and moving the hand, pain and muscle weakness.In order to get rid of this type of arthrosis, physiotherapy procedures, compresses and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments are used.
• Treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint.Arthrosis of the hip joint is characterized by "soft" crunching of the joints, painful or unpleasant sensations in the lower back during movement, or severe fatigue.During the treatment of the disease, pain relievers are prescribed in the form of injections, capsules or tablets, compresses with anti-inflammatory solutions.
• Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint.In the case of gonarthrosis, patients complain of creaking sounds during movement, pain in the calf area, especially during heavy loads, and an increase in the size of the joint.Complex therapy includes: shock wave therapy, joint stretching, physical therapy, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ointments), compresses.
• Treatment of arthrosis of the ankle joint.Tingling sensation, redness, crunching, clicking in the leg area, rapid fatigue while walking - these symptoms indicate the development of arthrosis of the ankle joint.Physiotherapy, massage and therapeutic baths are effective in treating this type of disease.It should also reduce the stress on the ankle.

In order to avoid the occurrence of arthrosis, especially if you are prone to it, you should follow simple rules: wear comfortable shoes, maintain physical activity, while taking precautions during exercise, avoid injuries and hypothermia.In order to prevent the disease, it is particularly important to maintain a normal body weight, because every extra kilogram increases the load on the joints.