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 destructive effect on the joints, due to which cartilage decomposition occurs inside them.
The long period of the disease leads to a change in the bone endings, and inflammatory processes destroy nearby tissues.
The list of joint diseases associated with osteoarthritis is not small and is a group of diseases that have a similar destructive effect, but have different causes and course.
According to statistics, 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 the non-observance of a healthy lifestyle, the risk of disease increases significantly over time.
Osteoarthritis is not such a severe disease and can affect both men and women, acting more loyally only on the interphalangeal joints. People over the age of 30 are susceptible to the disease, and their number is growing unhindered over time.
Causes of osteoarthritis
The reason for the appearance 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 reduction or complete disappearance of their proteoglycans due to large cracks in the cartilage.
Other causes may also contribute to this, such as disruption of the normal production of proteoglycans by the cells themselves.
Additional causes that have a detrimental 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;
- adulthood;
- various injuries;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- psoriasis.
But the main reason is the non-observance of the normal loads on the joints in everyday life.
Due to their unpreparedness, the reluctance of a person to exercise on time, warming up to strengthen the joints - cartilage is not able to fully perform its functions.
Wide list of causes that can cause osteoarthritis:
- previous injuries such as sprains, fractures, bruises, torn ligaments and others;
- disruption of metabolic processes that maintain viability;
- excessive body weight, which leads to excessive strain on the joints;
- acute purulent arthritis, leading to inflammation of the joint;
- old age;
- malnutrition;
- prolonged excessive lowering of body temperature;
- autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis;
- body poisoning;
- frequent colds;
- special diseases: syphilis, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, tick-borne encephalitis;
- thyroid disease;
- hemophilia;
- Peters' disease.
Additional genetic causes of osteoarthritis include:
- osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers can be inherited, as evidenced by scientists who studied the nodes of Bouchard and Heberden;
- in the case of dysplasia, which has developed as a result of impaired joint formation in the prenatal period, excessive wear and tear of the joints and the development of osteoarthritis may occur;
- Mutations in type 2 collagen can disrupt the internal structure of connective tissue fibrillar protein and degrade cartilage.
If you are a bricklayer, miner, fisherman, loader or your activity is to some extent associated with excessive physical activity, then without taking any preventive measures, there is a chance of getting osteoarthritis.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
To fully understand what osteoarthritis is and how it is treated, we will deal with the external manifestations.
The most common symptoms of osteoarthritis are: manifestation of pain during stress on the joint, which may subside at rest; deterioration of motor functions of the joint; the appearance of crunch; sensation 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
- Painful manifestations. They are considered to be the first message to osteoarthritis of the joints. Although the culprits for pain can be different causes, but in the case of osteoarthritis, the pain has certain characteristics. The main thing is the presence of sharp pain that occurs during movement at the site of the damaged joint. The pain disappears after minimizing functional activity. During the night the pain practically does not manifest itself in any way, only with side blows a slight discomfort can appear. In a state of immobility, the pain can manifest itself only in advanced forms. At this time, the process of falling asleep can be difficult. Symptoms reappear early in the morning. As the disease progresses, one needs more and more time to rest and recover. Even later, even at rest, the pain does not stop, turning life into constant torment. There is almost complete wear of the cartilage, as a result of which the bone is exposed, osteophytes are erased.
- The appearance of crunch. A symptom that should not be ignored. Crunching occurs due to the friction of the bones against each other, as the softness between them decreases - resulting in a distinct "dry" sound. However, it can occur in other diseases, and sometimes even when the joints are healthy. In severe forms of the disease, the sound may become more pronounced and the pain intensifies.
- Reduced joint mobility. This is an additional symptom that does not accompany osteoarthritis in the initial stages, but in a neglected state stimulates excessive growth of interosseous formations, leading to spasms, and the gap between the joints is almost completely overgrown. And this is the main reason for the loss of mobility.
- Deformation of the joints. This symptom suggests degrading changes in the surfaces of the joints due to the growth of osteophytes and the flow of synovial fluid. This is one of the newest symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Due to the alternation of periods of remission and exacerbation, self-diagnosis of osteoarthritis is much more difficult. That is why it is not enough to rely only on personal feelings - you need the help of a specialist.
Diagnosis - osteoarthritis
To detect possible signs indicating the presence of the disease and the degree of its complexity, an X-ray examination is used:
- In the first stage, osteophytes are not yet present, and the gap between the joints is minimally narrowed.
- The second stage is characterized by a reduction in joint space, with a slight appearance of osteophytes.
- In the third stage, the reduction of the joint space is clearly noticeable, a large number of osteophytes are formed, deformation processes begin to appear.
- In the last fourth stage, the difference between the joints almost completely disappears, the maximum possible number of osteophytes appears, the deformation processes are in full swing.
Negative effects of osteoarthritis
Neglecting the timely treatment of osteoarthritis leads not only to complete irreversible damage to the joint, but also provokes damage to the spine.
Disc herniation can form in the intervertebral discs. Osteoarthritis can spread to other, still healthy joints.
Treatment methodology
As with any dangerous disease, it is best 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 treating osteoarthritis? The integrated approach to therapy consists in the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.
However, physiotherapy courses are mandatory. In the case of the choice of treatment by the spa method, the climatic conditions must be chosen in such a way that the effect on the joints is as favorable as possible.
The program should include procedures in mineral waters and mud baths.
The essence of the treatment of osteoarthritis is as follows:
- Sick joints should be subjected to as little stress as possible, it is especially important to take this into account in the treatment process;
- You can't ignore the orthopedic regimen;
- Mandatory healing physical exercises;
- Conducting physiotherapeutic procedures, such as: electrical procedures, shock wave procedures, laser therapy;
- Sanatorium rehabilitation - prescribed by a doctor and recommended for moving to special resorts once a year;
- Conducting oxygen therapy - the introduction of oxygen into the joint;
- Medical treatment;
- Intraosseous blockade;
- Switch to a healthy diet.
Types of drug treatment
- Means that eliminate inflammatory processes. By conducting a comprehensive treatment there is a chance to significantly slow down the course of the disease, thus saving yourself from pain in the future. The medical method of treatment includes relieving pain and eliminating inflammatory processes in the joints. For these purposes, drugs of non-steroidal origin are selected. They are often given intravenously or intramuscularly, as oral use can irritate the stomach wall. Various ointments are used as an additional tool, but due to their poor absorption by the body, they are less effective, which is why they are used very rarely.
- Hormonal corticosteroids. Such drugs are prescribed when the disease worsens. They are inserted into the joint. Ointment, plaster or tincture with hot pepper is applied on the outside of the damaged joint.
- The use of chondroprotectors. They will help regenerate cartilage and also improve the properties of synovial fluid. Medicines such as glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are prescribed.
The duration of use of these drugs can be long and does not stop until the patient becomes noticeably better.
If the drugs do not give the expected positive effect, their use is canceled.
Along with chondroprotectors, you should take products with the addition of hyaluronic acid, which helps to create cell membranes in the articular cartilage.
In very rare cases, when other drugs do not have a positive effect, narcotic analgesics may be prescribed.
Healthy eating for patients with osteoarthritis
Nutrition is perhaps the most important issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible when the condition worsens with osteoarthritis. Whatever medication the patient is treated with, all these efforts can be in vain if they do not eat properly.
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 must constantly receive all the micronutrients in sufficient quantities.
You need to limit the use of fast carbohydrates contained in sweet foods, as well as flour products. Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Fish dishes are welcome. It is worth choosing low-fat varieties and fish should not be cooked fried.
In osteoarthritis, the use of jelly is recommended. As it contains a huge amount of trace elements, it will be useful in 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 a basis for connective tissue. With prolonged use of jelly, the joints will become more flexible, and nearby tissues will become elastic and durable.
An important factor in treatment is the timely use of sufficient amounts of vitamins, especially group B. They provide normalization of metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine contained in beans and peas will improve the metabolic process of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.
Pyridoxine is needed to produce hemoglobin in the blood. 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 nutritional supplements.
However, vitamins and micronutrients derived from food are better absorbed by the body, which is an important factor in the process of cartilage tissue repair.
In the treatment of osteoarthritis it is necessary to follow certain dietary rules
- Feeding should be frequent and in small portions;
- You can not eat at bedtime, you must refuse food that is heavy on the stomach;
- To alleviate the strain on inflamed joints, it is necessary to control weight and prevent obesity;
- Walking after meals during remission is a useful prevention of exacerbation of joint disease;
- Choosing or adjusting your diet with your doctor will ensure a properly balanced diet.
In this way it is possible to beat osteoarthritis. It is important to adhere to the treatment methodology and listen to the doctor's advice.