Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint pathology that is accompanied by degeneration processes of cartilage tissue.As the disease progresses, the joint capsule, ligaments, synovial membrane and surrounding bone structures also become involved in the destructive process.
Prevalence of osteoarthritis
Among people with osteoarthritis, most people are elderly.The disease after the age of 65 is not only the most frequently diagnosed joint disease, but also the main cause of loss of ability to work and subsequent disability.In addition, it is mainly the fairer sex who become ill in old age, although the majority of young people are affected by men.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies greatly from country to country.The reasons for the wide spread in the statistical data have not yet been clarified.
Causes and risk factors
Osteoarthritis is a disease that can be primary or secondary.If there are no objective reasons for the development of a pathology, it is called the primary type.If it is possible to identify the causes of osteoarthritis, it is called a secondary type.
Secondary arthrosis can be caused by the following negative factors:
- Traumatization of joints of various kinds (frequent falls, sprains, bruises);
- chronic congenital tissue dysplasia;
- pathological changes in metabolic processes;
- various autoimmune diseases;
- inflammatory processes of a non-specific nature in the joint area;
- some pathologies of the endocrine system;
- processes of the degenerative-dystrophic type that occur chronically;
- various diseases associated with excessive joint mobility associated with weak ligaments;
- presence of hemophilia;
- inflammatory processes of a certain type.
In addition to the direct causes that lead to the development of osteoarthritis, there are also predisposing factors that do not cause the disease themselves, but can increase the risk of its development.
This includes:
- age over 55 years;
- the presence of excess weight, as a result of which the load on the joints increases;
- Excessive stress on a joint or group due to improper sports training or specific work requiring a long stay in one position;
- history of surgical interventions on joints;
- heredity;
- hormonal changes in the female body during postmenopause;
- constant hypothermia;
- Spinal pathologies that are not treated;
- insufficient intake of useful micro- and macroelements from food.
Development mechanism
The mechanism by which osteoarthritis develops is quite well known.The cartilage, which ensures normal contact between two bones, is naturally smooth, without bumps or roughness, which helps maintain normal movement in the joints.When the disease occurs, the structure of the cartilage changes, it becomes rough and defects appear that reduce the effectiveness of natural sliding.
Due to the acquired unevenness, the cartilage is gradually damaged; in some places it begins to calcify and in others it begins to ossify.In this case, it is possible to separate small particles that can enter the synovial fluid and injure surrounding tissue.
As the pathology worsens, the joint may enter a state of chronic subluxation, significantly impairing its motor function.
Degrees
Doctors divide osteoarthritis into three main degrees:
- I'm getting a degree.Characterized by the absence of a clear clinical picture.In rare cases, the patient may complain of pain in the affected joint, but usually does not seek medical attention.In this case, changes in the ligamentous-muscular apparatus and synovial fluid are observed, but there are no visible deformations yet.
- II degree.Osteoarthritis symptoms worsen.The pain is described as tolerable, but occurs regularly.The patient consults a doctor because he notices a deterioration in the quality of life.A characteristic crunching sound can be heard in the affected joint.Changes are observed in neighboring muscle structures because nerve conduction is disrupted.
- III.Degree.Characterized by pronounced symptoms.The articular cartilage is very thin and may contain cysts, calcification or ossification.The ligaments become shorter, which leads to increased mobility in the affected area, which is accompanied by limitation due to a pronounced inflammatory process.The metabolism of the surrounding tissue suffers, which can lead to muscular dystrophy.
In any case, the patient needs the diagnosis to be clarified by the treating doctor.This is due to the peculiarities of the course of the disease, which is characterized by alternating stages of remission and exacerbation replacing each other.
Pain due to illness
Osteoarthritis-related pain is the most common complaint that patients see a doctor with.Their characteristic feature is their association with the time of day, the weather and physical activity.
In most patients, the pain worsens with walking, running, or other physical activities that target the affected joint.As soon as the strain stops, the pain gradually decreases.Their development is explained by the fact that the cartilage can no longer fulfill its shock-absorbing functions.
Discomfort occurs most often at night as a result of blood congestion in the veins.Another reason is the increase in intraosseous pressure during this period.
One of the most important diagnostic criteria is the presence of so-called starting pain, which bothers the patient just when he has just started active movement.The initial pain usually subsides as physical activity continues.Their occurrence is explained by the presence of joint deposits (detritus) that irritate the nerve endings.Once these deposits are removed from the nerves, the pain disappears.
Symptoms
In addition to pain, doctors identify other signs of arthrosis that may indicate the presence of pathology.
This includes:
- The appearance of an aching and grinding sound.Pain occurs primarily when a person has suffered from hypothermia.Initially, the grinding sound is barely noticeable to your hearing, but as the disease progresses without treatment, it becomes audible to those around you.
- Reduced ability to move.In the early stage of development of the pathology, there is no impairment of mobility.However, the longer the disease remains untreated, the greater the restriction of movement in the joint becomes.This is explained by a narrowing of the joint space and spasms of neighboring muscle structures.
- joint deformity.It is characteristic of the late stage of osteoarthritis, but also an important indicator of the progression of the disease.During this period, treating the disease is already very difficult.
Which doctor treats osteoarthritis?
Who treats osteoarthritis?In most cases, therapy is carried out by several specialists at the same time.First, an arthrologist is consulted - a specialist in joints.In addition, the patient also needs to see an orthopedist.If the disease is the result of an inflammatory process, a visit to a rheumatologist is also recommended.
If necessary, additional specialists can be called in during the treatment period.Most often you have to resort to the services of traumatologists, physiotherapists, massage therapists and surgeons.
diagnosis
Treatment of joint arthrosis begins only after the diagnosis has been confirmed and the degree of pathology has been established.First, the doctor questions the patient in detail and carries out an examination.The presence of characteristic complaints and deformities indicates the presence of the disease.
A mandatory method of confirming the diagnosis is an X-ray of the affected joint.If the disease has affected the knee, a photograph of the knee is taken;If the pathology is detected on the hand, a targeted search is made there for X-ray signs of the disease.
Diagnosis using X-rays does not always provide sufficient results to diagnose the patient.In this case, he can be sent for an MRI (this makes it possible to assess the condition of the soft tissues and their involvement in the pathological process) or CT (this makes it possible to draw conclusions about the state of the bone and cartilaginous structures, as well as the participation of neighboring anatomical formations in the pathological process).
Treatment
How to treat arthrosis of the joints?The choice of the appropriate therapeutic technique depends on the severity of the symptoms and the stage of the disease.
The doctor selects the treatment regimen after assessing the general condition of the patient and the course of the disease.Both conservative and surgical treatment methods are used.
Medication
How to treat the disease if it is preferable not to undergo surgery but to use medication?
Conservative therapy is suitable only for patients at an early stage of pathology formation and involves the use of three main groups of drugs:
- Glucocorticosteroids– Hormonal drugs are injected into the joint cavity, which effectively relieve the inflammatory process during an exacerbation.
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,which are mainly used as injections and are injected into muscles near the joint or directly into a vein.But doctors can also recommend tablets, although this option of taking NSAIDs is undesirable due to the negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- Chondroprotectors– Drugs in this group can reduce the destructive processes of cartilage tissue and promote regeneration;They are particularly effective in the early stages of disease development.
Surgical
How can you cure osteoarthritis if the disease is already at an advanced stage?In this case, conservative therapy is ineffective and doctors can only recommend surgical intervention to the patient.
Nowadays, endoprosthetics is performed in most cases.During the operation, the real joint is replaced by a prosthesis that takes over all the functions of a healthy joint.
In some cases, palliative treatment options are offered, the main aim of which is to reduce the load on the articular surfaces.
Exercise
In the early stages of the disease, it is treated not only with medication, but also with physiotherapy.Physical activity is an important therapeutic step that helps maintain joint functionality and reduces the likelihood of further progression of the disease.
Depending on the severity of the pathology and the individual characteristics of the patient, the exercise set is selected individually.The doctor must take into account the location of the arthrosis, which allows the most effective treatment of the affected tissue.
Self-study without medical supervision is not recommended, especially in the initial phase.The exercises must be chosen so that they are as gentle as possible, without sudden movements.
Exercise therapy courses are effective only if the patient devotes a little time every day to performing the recommended complex.
Traditional methods
Many people suffering from osteoarthritis refuse to take medication or undergo surgery until the very end.In this case, alternative medicines are used as drug replacements.
The plants most commonly used in therapy are:
- Kalanchoe;
- Ginger;
- Horseradish;
- bay leaf;
- Garlic;
- Cinnamon;
- horsetail and others.
They are applied to the affected area in the form of tinctures, decoctions and poultices.It is important to remember that complete treatment of the disease is impossible using only home recipes.It is best when traditional therapy is combined with traditional medicine.
Prevention
What can you do to reduce the likelihood of osteoarthritis as you age?Simple prevention measures are available to everyone.
Recommended:
- daily moderate physical activity: walking, cycling, simple exercises as physical activity, etc.;
- Compliance with the basic principles of a healthy diet: eat often, but gradually, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty foods, eat a lot of spices;
- Weight control: Weight gain leads to increased stress on the joints, which can lead to the development of osteoarthritis;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders;
- the use of vitamin-mineral complexes when the amount of nutrients supplied through food is considered insufficient.
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
Many people confuse arthritis and osteoarthritis because of the similarity in sound.However, these are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not called dystrophy and degeneration of joint tissue, but any inflammatory reaction that can develop in the joint cavity, regardless of its cause.Inflammation most often affects not only the joint, but also the muscles and bone and ligament structures closest to it.Arthritis pain is not associated with physical activity;It can also disturb the patient at rest and there is no crunching in the joints at all.
In most cases, it is impossible to independently distinguish arthritis from arthrosis, since the main symptom is pain and patients rarely have an idea of the characteristics of each pathology.
It is better to entrust the establishment of an accurate diagnosis to the attending physician so as not to make a mistake in further treatment and prevention of the disease.
Osteoarthritis is a serious disease that can lead to disability if the patient does not seek medical attention in a timely manner.At the first signs of illness, it is recommended to contact a specialist so that he can confirm the diagnosis and select the optimal treatment.
If you manage to detect the disease at an early stage of development, you can probably do it without surgical intervention and limit yourself only to conservative treatment.