Osteoarthritis among the diseases of joints are well known and widespread arthrosis. What is it and how to treat it? What are the symptoms of a disease manifests itself and what are its main causes?
What is arthrosis
Osteoarthritis – a disease with devastating impact on the joints, because of what is inside of them the degradation of cartilage.
Long period of the disease leads to changes in bone endings, and inflammatory processes destroy nearby tissue.
The list of joint diseases related to arthrosis is not small, and is a group of diseases that have a similar devastating effect, but have different causes and processes of flow.
According to statistics obtained by different types of arthritis affects up to 80% of the population, making it the most common articular disease. The disease is so widespread that it is put on the third place after cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Due to non-compliance with a healthy lifestyle, over time the risk of disease increases significantly.
Osteoarthritis this is not a bulkhead disease and is capable of hitting for both men and women, loyal to only acting at the interphalangeal joints. The disease affects people under 30, and over time their number grows freely.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The cause of this arthritis and treatment is a violation of metabolic processes in the joint. This leads to the loss of cartilage strength and elasticity.
The reason that is a considerable reduction or complete disappearance of them proteoglycans due to the large cracks in the cartilage.
Also can contribute to other causes, such as disruption of normal production of proteoglycans by the cells.
Additional reasons that have a devastating effect on the joints:
- violation of metabolic processes in the body;
- the deterioration of hormonal background;
- slowing of blood circulation in the joints;
- hereditary reasons;
- old age;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is the failure normal stress on the joints in daily life.
Because of their unpreparedness, unwillingness of a person to timely exercise workout for strengthening of the joints – the cartilage is unable to fully perform its functions.
A wide list of reasons which can cause disease arthritis:
- previously obtained injuries such as sprains, fractures, contusions, torn ligaments, and others;
- the metabolic processes that support the viability;
- excessive body mass, which leads to excess stress on the joints;
- acute suppurative arthritis leading to inflammation of the joint;
- old age;
- improper diet;
- prolonged excessive lowering of body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- poisoning of the body;
- frequently occurring respiratory diseases;
- special diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick-borne encephalitis;
- thyroid disease;
- hemophilia;
- the disease Peters.
Additional causes related to genetics, causing the onset of osteoarthritis:
- the incidence of arthrosis of the hands and fingers, you can get by heredity, as proven by scientists who have studied nodules Bouchard and Heberden;
- in the case of dysplasia that developed as a result of violations of the formation of the joints in utero, it can cause excessive wear of the joints and development of osteoarthritis;
- mutations of the collagen of the second type can lead to disturbance of the internal structure of the fibrous protein of connective tissue and degradation of cartilage.
If you are a bricklayer, a miner, a fisherman, longshoreman, or your work in some degree connected with excessive physical exertion, that, without any preventive action, there is a chance also to osteoarthritis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis
For a full understanding of what is arthrosis and how to treated it, let's deal with the external manifestations.
The most common symptoms for osteoarthritis are: the manifestation of pain during stress on the joint, which may subside at rest; the deterioration of motor function of the joint; the appearance of crackles; the feeling of muscular re tension around the sore joint.
It is important to avoid prolonged tumors, as they can lead to the emergency of deformation of the joint.
Four symptoms of osteoarthritis
- Pain symptoms. Considered the first promise of the arthrosis. Although the culprits pain can be a variety of reasons, but in the case of osteoarthritis, pain have certain characteristics. The most important is the presence of sharp pain during movement in the damaged joint. Pain disappear after minimizing the functional activity. At night, the pain practically does not manifest itself only with the revolutions from side to side there may be some discomfort. In a state of immobility pain can occur only in advanced forms. At this time, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms remit at the onset of early morning. With the progression of the disease, the person needs more time for rest and recovery. Still later, even at rest, the pain did not stop, making life in constant torment. An almost complete wear of the cartilage, resulting the bone is exposed, osteophytes are erased.
- The appearance of crunches. Symptom which should not be neglected. Crunch appears as a result of friction of the bones against each other, because it decreases the softness between them – as a result, there is a distinct "dry" sound. Although it can occur in other illnesses and sometimes, when the joints are healthy. In severe forms of the disease, the sound can become brighter expressed and the pain to intensify.
- The deterioration of articular mobility. This is an additional symptom that is not accompanied by the osteoarthritis in the initial stages, but in poor condition stimulates excessive growth interosseous formations, which leads to spasms, and the gap between the joints is almost completely overgrown. This is a major cause of loss of mobility.
- Deformity of the joint. This symptom implies a degrading change of the surfaces of the joints because of the proliferation of osteophytes and synovial fluid flowing. Is one of the late symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Due to alternating periods of remission and exacerbation, self-diagnosis of osteoarthritis is much more difficult. Therefore, to rely only on personal feelings. it requires the help of a specialist.
Diagnosis Of Osteoarthritis
To detect possible evidence of the presence of the disease and its complexity, using the study using radiography:
- In the first stage osteophytes are not yet present, and the interval between the narrowed joints is minimal.
- The second stage is characterized by a reduction of the joint space, with slight appearance of osteophytes.
- In the third stage, reduction of the joint space is clearly visible, osteophytes is a large number, begin to occur deformation processes.
- At the last fourth stage the gap between the joints is almost completely disappears, osteophytes you receive the maximum possible amount of deformation processes are in full swing.
The negative effects of osteoarthritis
Ignoring the timely treatment of osteoarthritis entails not only a complete irreversible damage to the joint and causes damage to the spine.
In the intervertebral discs can form a hernia. Osteoarthritis is able to spread to other, more healthy joints.
The methodology of the treatment
As with any other dangerous disease, treatment is best not to start by it at an early stage.
Treatments must be comprehensive and aimed at eliminating parts that contribute to the progression of the disease, and strengthening those factors that help heal.
That such in the treatment of osteoarthritis special? A comprehensive approach to therapy consists in the use of drugs anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions.
However, be sure to conduct physical therapy programs. In the case of choice of treatment of sanitary-resort method, climatic conditions should be selected so that the impact on the joints was the most favorable.
The program needs to attend treatments in the mineral waters and mud baths.
The essence of treatment of osteoarthritis is as follows
- Painful joints may be subjected to loads as little as possible, it is especially important to consider in the treatment process;
- You can't ignore an orthopedic treatment;
- A requirement for physical exercise;
- Conducting physiotherapy procedures such as: electric procedures, shock wave treatments, laser therapy;
- Recreation – is prescribed by a doctor and recommended for passage on special resorts once a year;
- Carrying oxygen therapy – the introduction into the joint of oxygen;
- Medication;
- Intraosseous blockade;
- The transition to a proper healthy diet.
The types of medical treatment
- Products to eliminate inflammation. Conducting complex treatment, there is a chance to significantly slow the progress of disease, thereby to relieve yourself from a painful torment in the future. The medicinal method of treatment involves reducing pain and removing the inflammatory processes in the joints. For these purposes, selected drugs of non-steroidal origin. Often, they are administered intravenously or intramuscularly, as oral use may cause irritation of the gastric walls. As an additional means are used various ointments, but due to their weak absorption by the body, they have low efficiency, are therefore used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease takes an acute character. They are introduced inside the joint. As corticosteroids are hydrocortisone, or diprospan. On the damaged joint from the outer side apply ointment, patch or infusion with chilli pepper.
- The use of chondroprotectors. They will help with the regeneration of cartilage, to improve the properties of synovial fluid. Appointed by drugs such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate.
Time the use of these drugs may be lengthy and does not stop until the patient is better.
If not drugs the expected positive effect, their application is cancelled.
In parallel with chondroprotectors should take funds with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps to create cell walls in the articular cartilage.
- Use diacerein. In the treatment process, you can enable the drug to improve the recovery processes in cartilage tissue. However, a positive result should be expected only after 15-30 days.
In very rare cases, when no other drugs do not have any positive effect can be assigned to narcotic analgesics.
A healthy diet for patients with osteoarthritis
Nutrition is probably the most important question, which needs to solve as soon as possible if deterioration in osteoarthritis. Whatever drugs are not treated a patient at the wrong diet all these efforts can be in vain.
First and foremost, you need to eat moderately. For those who are overweight – need to lose weight, but don't force yourself to starve, because the body needs to constantly get all the trace elements in sufficient quantity.
You need to limit yourself to consumption of fast carbohydrates found in sweet foods, and flour products. Should give up alcohol, particularly beer.
Welcome fish dishes. Should choose low-fat varieties, and the fish should be cooked not fried.
Recommended use of jelly for osteoarthritis. As its structure holds a massive amount of minerals, it will be useful for painful joints.
Collagen contained in it, has a natural origin, and therefore it is easily absorbed by the body and will serve as the Foundation for connective tissue. Long-term use of aspic joints will become more mobile, and surrounding tissues – elastic and durable.
An important factor in treatment is early use of sufficient quantities of vitamins, especially group B. They provide the normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine contained in beans and peas, will improve the metabolic process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
To blood produced hemoglobin, necessary pyridoxine. This substance is rich in potatoes, bananas, cabbage and nuts. Riboflavin is rich in eggs, liver, dairy products and mushrooms.
Legumes and greens will provide the body with folic acid. The industry offers a wide range of vitamin preparations and dietary supplements.
However, vitamins and minerals derived from food absorbed by the body better, which is an important factor in the process of restoring cartilage.
You should adhere to certain rules of nutrition in the treatment of osteoarthritis
- To be eaten often and in small portions;
- Can't eat before sleep should refuse food heavy on the stomach;
- To ease the load on painful joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after a meal in the period of remission is a useful prevention of acute diseases of the joints;
- The selection or adjustment of the diet along with your doctor will ensure a proper balanced diet.
Thus, to overcome the osteoarthritis can be. It is important to follow methods of treatment and to listen to the advice of the attending physician.