arthrosis

The bone surface that forms the joint is covered with a special hyaline cartilage - smooth, providing the least frictional force during articular surface motor skills. If arthrosis is diagnosed, this means the cartilage is in the process of destruction.

Advanced, the destructive process spreads to the bone, and then to the joint capsule.

The disease has a universal code for microbes 10 - M15 -M19, classifying them as a class of musculoskeletal and connective tissue pathologies.

According to medical statistics, 12% of the world's population suffers from osteoarthritis, mostly the elderly, from 65 years, people. However, every year there is a worrying trend towards an increasing number of cases among young people.

The diagnosis was not fatal, but the arthrosis was dangerous with recurrence and the threat of complete disability.

The original mechanism

The disease develops gradually, we can distinguish four stages conditionally:

1. Initially, areas of cartilage that are poorly supplied with blood, or damaged, appear at the site of the cartilage. Gradually, in the presence of traumatic factors, the area is not restored, but, on the contrary, expands.
2. The body, trying to restore crumbling cartilage, replaces the damaged area with mineral tissue that has no obvious structure. Such tissues, in general, are inferior substitutes for smooth, sliding and elastic hyaline cartilage.
3. Gradually, the cartilage surface becomes covered with scars and bone growth - osteophytes.
4. Healthy areas from the load increase several times wear quickly, and as a result, the entire cartilage tissue turns into one large scar.

If the pathological process is not stopped, the joint will undergo the following adverse changes:

• bones are involved in the process of destruction;
• synovial membrane becomes inflamed;
• the joint capsule becomes denser, losing its elasticity;
• the lumen of the joint space decreases rapidly;
• bones, unable to withstand friction, deformed, such as joints as a whole;
• joint tissue is regenerated, thus there is a complete loss of the possibility of movement.

Types of arthrosis

The disease affects absolutely any articular surface! At the same time, despite the similar pathological mechanisms, they are classified into several types.

So, depending on which joint is sore, they differentiate:

• knee joint arthrosis, or patellofemoral arthrosis (abbreviated as gonarthrosis);
• arthrosis of the hip joint (abbreviated as coxarthrosis);
• arthrosis of the shoulder joint;
• interphalangeal arthrosis;
• arthrosis of the ankle joint;
• hand arthrosis;
• cervical arthrosis;
• jaw arthrosis;
• arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal joint;
• arthrosis of the ilium;
• clavicular-acromial arthrosis;
• temporal arthrosis;
• arthrosis of the heel;
• arcuate arthrosis that affects the arcuate process of the vertebrae (abbreviated as spondyloarthrosis);
• arthrosis of the articulatory facets of the spinal joints;
• uncovertebral arthrosis;
• costovertebral arthrosis;
• talonavicular arthrosis.

According to the specifics of the course of pathological processes in cartilage tissue, there are:

• deformed arthrosis is the name of a disease that has progressed to a terminal (final) stage;
• arthrosis, - the presence of classical inflammatory processes is characteristic;
• chronic;
• acute arthrosis.

According to the pathological cause, there are:

• dystrophic arthrosis of the joints associated with critical metabolic disorders;
• fractured arthrosis, caused by a corresponding injury;
• arthrosis after trauma.

Important to know! There is no arthrosis of internal organs, for example, arthrosis of the heart is not a disease, but a consequence: a violation of cardiac activity due to the destruction of cartilage of the chest area.

There are other classifications, according to whether the disease is independent or caused by provoking factors:

• primary - occurs in completely healthy cartilage, another name - idiopathic arthrosis, or appears with age -related senile changes;
• secondary - due to many reasons.

Symptoms of arthrosis

There are fairly typical signs of arthrosis of all localizations, which, depending on the stage of pathological development, differ in their severity:

• pain, pain syndrome, exacerbated by high humidity and hypothermia;
• decreased joint mobility;
• crackling, creaking and scraping sounds during movement of the articular surface;
• external changes in the outline of the joint;
• swelling and puffiness;
• redness of the skin.

sick

The earliest signs of the disorder make themselves felt by mild or moderate, short-term pain, which almost never occurs at night, but usually appears only with a load on the articular surface.

When the inflammatory process has passed to their final stages, patients begin to feel unbearable, "biting" pain due to blood stasis and increased pressure in the joint bags. Pain is characterized by a long period, at any time throughout the day, and does not matter whether the affected area is at rest or moving.

joint stiffness

These symptoms are typical for relatively advanced diseases. At the same time, in the early stages, the patient still feels in the morning, after waking up, discomfort when moving in the form of a feeling of stiffness.

With the development of a destructive reaction, the patient realizes:

• normal movement amplitude limit;
• inability to change the position of the limb at rest, even when trying to bend the joint manually;
• strong fixation (contract) in a certain position of the joint, which for a long time was in a state of lack of motor activity.

Eventually, in the fourth stage of pathology, ankylosis forms in the form of replacement of articular tissue with scarring, with complete loss of function.

Noise in the joints

Fractures can be accompanied by any dysfunction of the bones and cartilage, not only due to arthrosis.

However, it is characteristic of this disease that it sounds:

• occurs only in aching joints;
• accompanied by difficulty in movement;
• tends to intensify with pathological development, and enters during the formation of ankylosis.

Changing the appearance of joints

Significant changes appear at a later stage. So, the axis of the affected limb is bent, and the articular area itself is deformed - it grows in size, its shape turns ugly.

All this proves the irreversible destruction of the joint, in which new tissue, having no particular structure, has formed.

If the causative process of such a disease occurs in the knee, then the load on the ankle and metatarsophalangeal joint will increase, which will damage it over time.

If the externally deformed part of the body is also swollen or inflamed, this means inflammation of the synovial membrane, which causes synovial fluid to accumulate in large quantities in the joint bag, causing severe pain.

Causes of arthrosis

Pathology can occur in one joint, and spread to several. The disease is most rare at a young age - there is still enough vitality for the body’s self -healing.

However, for all age groups, the causes of occurrence in the direction of their exposure were:

• internal - some diseases, bad habits, unbalanced diet, etc. ;
• external, - injuries, professional factors.

Internal causes are factors that trigger negative changes in the joints in the form of joint inflammation. There is inflammation of various origins:

• infectious (E. coli and Koch bacillus, viruses, chlamydia, staphylococci, Treponema pallidum, etc. );
• joint pain;
• purulent arthritis;
• autoimmune properties;
• gout;
• psoriasis.

In addition, causes of internal exposure include congenital or acquired disorders of cartilage structure and nutrient deficiencies, which may be associated with:

• genetic failures and mutations;
• intrauterine developmental anomalies, including perinatal trauma;
• old age;
• osteoporosis, i. e. "washing" the constituent elements from bone tissue;
• hormonal disorders and overload, including menopause;
• violation of normal metabolism;
• nutritional deficiencies of vitamins and minerals;
• diseases that cause muscle weakness;
• prolonged internal intoxication.

The severity of many musculoskeletal skeletal diseases also leads to cartilage degeneration.

External causes of disease progression are factors that damage the joints, such as:

• frequent hypothermia;
• dislocated;
• strong blows;
• broken bones;
• meniscus injury;
• vigorous physical activity (weight lifting, for example);
• professional sports;
• joint surgery.

Stages of arthrosis

According to the clinical manifestations and the process of disease progression, four stages of arthrosis are distinguished:

1. stage 1 arthrosis, this is the early stage of arthrosis, which is characterized by hidden symptoms in the form of negative changes in the composition of synovial fluid and weakness of muscle fibers, if pain appears, it is only during physical exercise;
2. stage 2 arthrosis - this is already a pain due to collapsed bone articulation and the formation of osteophytes, impaired neurotropic regulation of reflexes and audible rumblings appear;
3. stage 3 arthrosis is characterized by marked degenerative changes in the joint, visible deformation with axial curvature of the limb, shortened ligaments, and the joint becoming pathologically mobile;
4. stage 4 arthrosis is complete ankylosis, complete contracture and severe pain even at rest.

All four stages run unevenly: during the pathological period, sharp deterioration and moments of remission are possible.

Treatment of arthrosis

It has been clinically proven that treatment and prevention in the form of eliminating the factors that provoke damage to hyaline cartilage, although they do not relieve the disease at an early stage, stop its progression and restore joint function.

Basically, diseases of small and medium severity are treated by conservative methods. In cases of severe destruction of the cartilage surface, leading to bone destruction, surgical arthroplasty is indicated.

In this case, the main principles in treatment are:

• an integrated approach that involves the use of several therapeutic methods;
• goal -oriented, i. e. the concentration of efforts to eliminate the factors and consequences that trigger disease.

Treatment with folk remedies

Treated thoroughly, but at home, you can also use the healing recipes of traditional medicine practitioners, offering effective treatments for health problems through herbs and bee products.

From plant uses:

• bay leaves in the form of a decoction, vodka tincture and specially prepared oils, applied externally, directly on the area of inflammation;
• treatment of arthrosis with honey has proven itself as a reliable local remedy that relieves inflammation in the form of rubbing and nourishing the skin, muscles and cartilage;
• cabbage leaves, - better than white cabbage, - knead a little, and wrap around the sore spot, warm with a woolen cloth over it, and keep all night;
• aloe juice in the form of compresses and rubbed into the skin;

Treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with burdock also helps: the leaves are wrapped around the sore spot, which is insulated overnight.

Important to know! Using phytotherapy, it is necessary, to increase the effect, to forget about bad habits and maintain proper nutrition.

Drugs for arthrosis

Drug treatment associated with classical methods of therapy is divided, depending on the dosage form used, into drugs:

• external use, in the form of ointments for arthrosis, rubs, lotions;
• injection;
• pills for arthrosis;
• capsule.

Ointment

The pharmaceutical industry produces medical ointments based on highly active natural ingredients:

• heparin ointment.

Medicines containing 1% diclofenac help well: the gel is applied to the skin.

Injections

Injections have proven themselves well in treatment, not only intravenously and intramuscularly, but also directly into the affected area, for example, with non -steroidal drugs.

So, an intra-articular injection is injected into the damaged articular tissue:

• glucocorticoids, which improve the nutrition of cartilage tissue, relieve inflammation and increase elasticity;
• chondroprotectors and intra-articular fluid analogs;
• hyaluronic acid as a lubricant and painkiller.

Preparations in the form of tablets and capsules

A special group in drug therapy are so-called chondroprotectors for arthrosis, which contain structural elements of hyaline cartilage, and thus restore it.

These medications are available in the form of tablets and capsules intended to be taken orally through the gastrointestinal tract (oral).

In addition, patients are prescribed NSAIDs - anti -inflammatory drugs for arthrosis of the non -steroidal group, stopping acute pain and relieving its severity.

Painkillers are also used in the form of novocaine blockers.

In addition, vitamin complexes are prescribed for arthrosis.

From natural preparations of local action, medicinal bile is recommended, applied in the form of compresses on the skin.

Exercise for arthrosis

Special exercises and rehabilitative gymnastics (LFK) have proven themselves with excellent, complexes that provide physical activity on unhealthy body parts in a gentle and dosage way.

Dr. Bubnovsky and Evdokimenko developed their own set of therapeutic exercises.

Important to know! Physical exercises are very effective in helping to restore health, but only if you use them at the beginning of the progression of the disease!

Massage for arthrosis

Very beneficial effect on medical treatment and massage, which improves microcirculation and nutrition of deep tissues.

Diet for arthritis

In this situation, it is important to adhere to a proper and rational diet to slightly improve the patient’s condition. It is recommended to refrain from overeating, excluding animal fats and fried foods.

Important to know! In addition, in the fight for healthy cartilage, it is necessary to use physiotherapy in the form of magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, paraffin and therapeutic mud bandages.

Which doctor treats arthritis

First of all, with complaints of pain in the bone joints, you should go to a therapist. It is he who, having summarized the history of the patient, and having inquired of him in detail, will provide the necessary referral to the narrow specialist.

It can, depending on the cause of the disease and its type, profile doctors such as:

• orthopedic specialist;
• traumatologist;
• surgeons;
• rheumatologist.