Osteoarthritis - Among the diseases of the joints, osteoarthritis is well known and widespread. What is it and how to treat it? What are the symptoms of the disease and what are its main causes?
What is osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disease that has a devastating effect on the joints, as a result of which cartilage degradation occurs inside them.
A long period of the course of the disease leads to a change in the bone endings, and inflammatory processes destroy nearby tissues.
The list of joint diseases related to osteoarthritis is not small and is a group of ailments 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 osteoarthritis, which makes it the most common joint disease. The disease is so common that it ranks third after oncology and cardiovascular disease.
Due to non-compliance with a healthy lifestyle, the risk of disease increases significantly over time.
Osteoarthritis is not a bulkhead disease and can affect both men and women, acting more loyally only on the interphalangeal joints. People who have reached the age of 30 are susceptible to the disease, and over time their number increases unhindered.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The reason for the occurrence of such arthrosis and treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joint. This leads to a loss of strength and elasticity of the cartilage.
The reason for this is a significant decrease or complete disappearance 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 a devastating effect on the joints:
- violation of metabolic processes throughout the body;
- deterioration of the hormonal background;
- slowing of blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary causes;
- old age;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is the non-compliance with the normal loads on the joints in everyday life.
Due to their unpreparedness, a person's reluctance to perform physical exercises in a timely manner, warm-ups to strengthen the joints - cartilage is unable to fully perform its functions.
A large list of causes that can cause osteoarthritis:
- previously received injuries, such as dislocations, fractures, bruises, torn ligaments and others;
- violation of metabolic processes that support vitality;
- excessive body weight, which leads to excessive stress on the joints;
- acute purulent arthritis leading to inflammation of the joint;
- old age;
- malnutrition;
- prolonged excessive decrease in body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- poisoning of the body;
- frequent colds;
- special diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick-borne encephalitis;
- thyroid disease;
- haemophilia;
- Peter's disease.
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers can be inherited, as demonstrated by scientists who have studied Bouchard and Heberden nodules;
- in the case of dysplasia, which developed as a result of a 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 lead to disruption of the internal structure of the fibrillar protein of connective tissue and the degradation of cartilage.
If you are a bricklayer, a miner, a fisherman, a shipper or your business is somehow connected to excessive physical exertion, without taking any preventive measures, there is also the possibility of contracting osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
For a complete understanding of what osteoarthritis is and how it is treated, we will deal with the external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are: the manifestation of pain during stress on the joint, which may lessen at rest; deterioration of the motor functions of the joint; the appearance of crunches; feeling of muscle tension around the affected joint.
The main thing is not to allow long-term tumors, as they can lead to early deformity of the joint.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Manifestations of pain. They are considered the first message to arthrosis of the joints. Although the culprits of pain can be a number of reasons, but in the case of osteoarthritis, pain has certain characteristics. The main thing is the presence of severe pain that appear during movement at the site of the damaged joint. The pain subsides after minimizing functional activity. At night, the pain practically does not manifest itself in any way, only with blows from side to side, a slight discomfort may appear. In a state of stillness, pain can only manifest itself in advanced forms. At this time, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms reappear early in the morning. As the disease progresses, a person needs more and more time to rest and recover. Even after, even at rest, the pain does not stop, transforming life into a constant torment. There is an almost complete wear of the cartilage, as a result of which the bone is exposed, osteophytes are erased.
- The appearance of crunches. A symptom not to be underestimated. The crunch appears due to the friction of the bones against each other, because the softness between them decreases - as a result, a distinct "dry" sound appears. However, it can also occur with other ailments and sometimes even when the joints are healthy. In severe forms of the disease, the sound can become more pronounced and the pain intensifies.
- Decreased joint mobility. This is an additional symptom that does not accompany osteoarthritis in the initial stages, however, in a neglected state, it stimulates the overgrowth of interosseous formations, which leads to spasms, and the space between the joints is almost completely covered. And this is the main reason for the loss of mobility.
- Joint deformity. This symptom involves degrading changes in the surfaces of the joints due to the growth of osteophytes and the flow of synovial fluid. It is one of the latest symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Due to the alternation of periods of remission and exacerbation, self-diagnosis of arthrosis is much more difficult. Therefore, relying only on personal feelings is not enough - the help of a specialist doctor is needed.
Diagnosis - Osteoarthritis
To detect possible signs indicating the presence of the disease and the degree of its complexity, a study using radiography is used:
- In the first stage, osteophytes are not yet present and the space between the joints is minimally reduced.
- The second stage is characterized by a decrease in the joint space, with a slight appearance of osteophytes.
- In the third stage, the decrease in the joint space is clearly noticeable, a large number of osteophytes are formed, deformation processes begin to occur.
- In the last fourth stage, the space between the joints almost completely disappears, the maximum possible number of osteophytes appears, the deformation processes are in full swing.
Negative consequences of osteoarthritis
Ignoring the timely treatment of osteoarthritis leads not only to complete irreversible damage to the joint, but also causes damage to the spine.
Disc herniation can form in the intervertebral discs. Osteoarthritis can spread to other joints that are still healthy.
Treatment methodology
As with any other dangerous disease, it is better not to start treatment, but to carry it out at an early stage.
Methods of treatment should be comprehensive and aimed at eliminating the links that contribute to the progression of the disease, as well as strengthening those factors that help cure.
What is so special about the treatment of osteoarthritis? An integrated approach to therapy consists in the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
However, physiotherapy courses are mandatory. In the case of choosing treatment by the sanitary-resort method, the climatic conditions should be selected in such a way that the effect on the joints is as favorable as possible.
The program should include procedures in mineral waters and sludge.
The essence of the treatment of arthrosis is as follows:
- Diseased joints should be subjected to as little loads as possible, it is especially important to take this into account in the treatment process;
- You can't ignore the orthopedic regimen;
- Obligatory physical exercises for health improvement;
- Execution of physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electroprocedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium recovery - prescribed by a doctor and recommended for passage to special resorts once a year;
- Carrying out oxygen therapy: introduction of oxygen into the joint;
- Medical treatment;
- Intraosseous block;
- Switch to a healthy diet.
Types of drug treatment
- Means that eliminate inflammatory processes. By conducting complex treatment, there is a chance to significantly slow down the course of the disease, thereby saving yourself from pain in the future. The method of medicinal treatment provides for pain relief and the removal of inflammatory processes in the joints. For this purpose, drugs of non-steroidal origin are selected. They are often administered intravenously or intramuscularly, as their oral use can cause irritation to the stomach walls. Various ointments are used as an additional remedy, but due to their poor absorption by the body they are of little effectiveness, so they are used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease worsens. They are inserted into the joint. An ointment, patch or tincture with hot pepper is applied to the joint damaged from the outside.
- The use of chondroprotectors. They will help with the regeneration of cartilage, in addition, they will improve the properties of the synovial fluid. Drugs such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are prescribed.
The time of using these drugs can be long and does not stop until the patient improves noticeably.
If the drugs do not provide the expected positive effect, their use is canceled.
In parallel with chondroprotectors, you should take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps to create cell membranes in the joint cartilage.
In very rare cases, when no other drug has a positive effect, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed.
Healthy nutrition for osteoarthritis patients
Nutrition is perhaps the most important problem that needs to be resolved as soon as possible when the condition worsens with osteoarthritis. Whatever drugs the patient is treated with, 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 urgently, but you should not force yourself to starve, as the body needs to constantly receive all trace elements in sufficient quantities.
You have to limit yourself to the use of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods and flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing low-fat varieties, and the fish should not be fried.
The use of gelatin is recommended for osteoarthritis. Since it contains a huge amount 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 the 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 the treatment is the timely use of a sufficient amount of vitamins, especially of group B. They ensure the normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine, contained in beans and peas, will improve the metabolic process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
In order for hemoglobin to be produced in the blood, pyridoxine is needed. This substance is rich in potatoes, bananas, cabbage and nuts. Riboflavin is rich in eggs, liver, dairy and mushrooms.
Legumes and vegetables will provide the body with folic acid. The industry offers a wide range of vitamin preparations and dietary supplements.
However, vitamins and trace elements obtained from food are better absorbed by the body, which is an important factor in the process of restoring cartilage tissue.
It is necessary to respect some nutritional rules in the treatment of osteoarthritis
- Eating should be frequent and in small portions;
- You can not eat before bedtime, you should refuse food that is heavy on the stomach;
- To lighten the load on aching joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after eating during remission is a useful prevention of exacerbation of joint diseases;
- Selecting or adjusting your diet together with your doctor will ensure proper balanced nutrition.
Therefore, it is possible to defeat osteoarthritis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the advice of the attending physician.