First, let's define what osteoarthritis is. Osteoarthritis, or arthrosis, is an articular disease in which the cartilage tissue of the interarticular surfaces is damaged. At the same time, not only articular cartilages are involved in the pathological process, but also ligaments, synovial membranes, periarticular muscles.
Arthrosis can be of two forms: localized, in which one of the joints is affected (arthrosis of the foot, knee joint, etc. ) and generalized. The types of this disease depend on the affected joint and are:
- coxarthrosis (or hip);
- gonarthrosis (or knee);
- arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joints (Heberd's joints);
- damage to the proximal interphalangeal joints;
- polyosteoarthritis of the joints of the hands (Kelgen's disease);
- shoulder arthrosis;
- spondylarthrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- arthrosis of the ankle (arthrosis of the foot).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- "dry" crackling in joints,
- reduced mobility (due to reduced joint space and muscle spasm around the inflamed joint).
This joint may swell, the color of the skin on it may change (redness appears). In some cases, the temperature rises.
There are four degrees of the disease (according to some sources, only 3)
- In the first degree, the presence of joint problems can be determined by the presence of crackling, tingling and accompanying pain. However, body temperature does not rise, swelling does not occur. It is recommended to start the treatment at the initial stage of the disease development.
- In the second stage of the development of the disease, noticeable changes are observed. There is constant fatigue and a feeling of pressure in the affected area, which increases with physical exertion. Decreased joint mobility.
- The third degree is accompanied by symptoms of constant severe pain in the joints (even at rest). There is an increased sensitivity to weather conditions. The joints can fail completely, and the person becomes disabled.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the presence of persistent severe pain, in which powerful drugs are powerless.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of different types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint
Symptoms of the disease are characterized by pain or simply a pulling sensation in the groin, especially in the evening, after physical activity during the day. Unpleasant feelings pass quickly. However, if not treated in time, the pain becomes longer and more intense even with little effort. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the load on the inflamed organ. Movement becomes increasingly restricted. As the disease progresses, atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the diseased limb occurs.
Depending on the degree of the disease, treatment can be with or without surgical intervention (grade III-IV).
Of course, the sooner the disease is diagnosed and the appropriate treatment is started, the less likely the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
So, in the initial stages (I and II), various medicines, special gymnastics, manual therapy and a mandatory diet in such cases will help. The diet aims to reduce the patient's weight to reduce the load on the joints (if there is a problem with obesity, of course). It is also important to eat vegetables and fruits to supply the body with vitamins and minerals. Protein saturation, which is the basis of any connective tissue, is a priority, so dairy products and legumes, jelly, low-fat jelly should be included in the diet.
The patient can be prescribed a course of acupuncture and physiotherapy, which, in addition to the gymnastics mentioned above, can include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydro- and balneotherapy, electrotherapy. Orthopedic structures can be used (walking cane, wedge pillows, booster seats, orthotics).
Medicines prescribed for the patient in the treatment of this disease (grade I-II):
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These medicines are designed to relieve pain in the hip and groin, not directly to treat the joints;
- chondroprotectors. Medicines contribute to the restoration of the damaged joint cartilage structure and nourish the cartilage, d. m. th. intended for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. It should be used with caution, as the body often protects the joint from further destruction.
- ointments and creams. Intended to alleviate the patient's condition, but not for treatment.
- drugs for injection into a diseased organ. They are rarely used to eliminate pain.
Manual therapy is the application of one of two methods. During mobilization, the doctor performs a gentle stretch of the hip joint, in which the bones that articulate with each other are trained. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ is partially restored and the spasm is reduced. However, the technique is quite long (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, d. m. th. be accompanied by medications and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs the manipulation with the help of a single sharp movement, which brings immediate relief to the patient, however, this technique is effective in the initial stages of the disease in combination with other treatment methods.
Surgical intervention is performed in the last stages of the disease. Different types of operations can be used, which depend on the specifics of the disease. Thus, joint-sparing surgeries are performed with corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur and pelvis. Hip closure operations and joint replacement (or arthroplasty) operations.
Arthrosis of the feet
It is possible to define 2 types of deforming arthrosis of the legs: primary and secondary. Primary is characterized by the absence of obvious causes of the development of the disease and is considered genetic. Secondary arthrosis of the feet develops against the background of any disease (for example, flat feet) or injuries.
Osteoarthritis of the foot joints is a general definition for diseases of the ankle joint (arthrosis of the foot) and gonarthrosis. Symptoms and treatment of joint disease of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Osteoarthritis of the foot: what are the symptoms and how to treat it
Symptoms are characterized by a crackling in the ankle, aching pain when walking, which disappears at rest, limited mobility of the joints, swelling of the feet and redness of the skin in the joints, as well as atrophy of the adjacent muscles. Most often, the joints of the fingers are affected. Osteoarthritis of the foot is diagnosed by X-ray.
Treatment of arthrosis of the leg, as well as of the hip joint, can be surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical methods include (in the initial stages of the disease):
- orthopedic shoes or the use of orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heel on shoes (3-4 cm),
- physiotherapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
If the arthrosis of the foot has reached the II-III degree, analgesics can be prescribed and surgical intervention can be performed.
It is also important to follow a diet for overweight patients (to reduce the load on the joints of the legs). Shoes should be comfortable, with low heels and not restrict movement.
Medications are needed to relieve pain and help regenerate cartilage in affected joints.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, UV radiation, UHF therapy, magnetic therapy and ultrasound.
Surgical treatment methods can be:
- arthrodesis, in which there is a rigid fixation of the diseased area,
- arthroplasty, when the affected joint is surgically restored,
- endoprosthetics - completely replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
As with other types of arthrosis, the symptoms of developing knee cartilage disease are mild pain during exercise, which disappears at rest. The knee may swell. It often occurs after fractures and dislocations of the leg.
A characteristic crack appears in stage II of the disease and is accompanied by pain. There is also a limitation of joint mobility, fluid accumulation is possible.
Treatment includes medications and healing procedures:
- ozonotherapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent,
- kinesitherapy is the performance of special exercises to improve the elasticity of ligaments and blood circulation,
- taking homeopathic medicines.
Treatment of arthrosis in folk ways
Of course, folk remedies should not be taken as medicine for such a serious disease as arthrosis. But in combination with the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up recovery.
- To relieve painful symptoms, cabbage juice can be used, in which a piece of natural wool is soaked and then compresses are made every evening. It is necessary to use the cabbage juice within three days, after which it is necessary to make it fresh.
- Compresses are also made from a whole leaf of cabbage, smeared with honey. We apply the painted side to the joint, wrap it in cellophane film and wrap it warmly. We leave it all night.
- To relieve symptoms in arthrosis of the legs, crushed white chalk or eggshells and kefir are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained, which is applied to the legs at night in the form of a compress. The calcium contained in these products improves blood flow and, accordingly, relieves pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal compresses also help reduce pain in arthrosis of the joints. For a compress, it is necessary to cook a thick porridge, let it cool, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the sore spot at night. You can only use it once, then create fresh.
- To ease the pain, you can prepare a drink by mouth. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to a glass of boiling water. l. olive oil and half a teaspoon of minced garlic. It should be taken 2 times a day when pain occurs.
Once again, we note that the main thing is to treat arthrosis in a comprehensive and timely manner, to avoid serious complications and surgical intervention.