What is arthrosis?

Degenerative arthrosis of the joints, which progresses to cartilage destruction, is often diagnosed at a young age in men and women. The characteristic symptoms of the initial disease are severe pain, which occurs even at rest when the limbs are not loaded. Complex treatment is prescribed to alleviate the unpleasant inconveniences and prevent the destruction of cartilage structures.

joint pain with arthrosis

What is this disease?

Osteoarthritis is a terrible, common chronic disease that affects a large portion of the entire population.

The pathology is characterized by inflammatory lesions of the cartilage tissue of the small and large joints. Due to degenerative changes in cartilage, the periarticular capsule, synovial membrane, muscle and ligament structures, and bone tissue are affected. The cause of such a pathology can be considered as a disturbed metabolism. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, it is only possible to bring the patient into remission, so arthrosis, which gradually destroys the joint system, is dangerous. Joint diseases are often diagnosed in old age, but they also occur in young people who are already 20 years old. It is important to diagnose the initial stage of development. This prevents new complications and helps the body cope with the problem.

Reasons for development

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Violation of metabolic processes in the joint joints provokes the onset of the disease. The pathology is characteristic of one or more joints at a time. Other common causes of arthrosis:

  • hormonal changes in women during menopause;
  • violation of the blood supply to the joints;
  • persistent hypothermia;
  • chronic damage;
  • advanced age;
  • overweight;
  • increased stress on the joints;
  • autoimmune pathologies;
  • diseased thyroid gland;
  • hemorrhage;
  • herpes;
  • hepatitis;
  • allergies in which bone and joint structures are involved;
  • varicose veins;
  • strict diet or unbalanced diet;
  • excessive physical activity;
  • heredity;
  • unfavorable environment.

Joint changes are observed in people who have to work in difficult physical conditions. These are special features:

  • miners;
  • masons;
  • metallurgists;
  • blacksmiths;
  • anglers.

Stages and characteristic symptoms

stages of arthrosis of the joint on X-ray

Signs of arthrosis gradually develop and intensify as the pathology progresses. Arthrosis has 3 stages:

  • In the first stage, there is no morphological change, only the synovial composition of the fluid is disturbed, as a result of which the cartilage tissues receive less nutrients and quickly lose their elasticity and stamina. There is inflammation in the joint cavity, the pain starts to bother you.
  • A II. In this stage, the degenerative process develops more actively. The cartilage in the joints is gradually destroyed, uric acid is not completely excreted from the body, and as a result, the first bone growths appear in the joint. This restricts the movement of the joint, so the inflammation progresses, lasting pain in the limb muscles is disturbed.
  • A III. Grade manifests as complete thinning of the cartilage tissue of the joint, and deformation of the joint itself can be observed. There are signs of axial changes in the limb. In addition, degenerative disorders of the tape device begin, as a result of which the limb is no longer able to move normally, hypermobility is observed in combination with violation of the natural range of motion. In stage 3 arthrosis, the pain is constant, one cannot lie, sleep, relax. Complete malnutrition of the joint threatens to disrupt the functioning of the affected limb.

Other symptoms

doctors perform an x-ray for arthrosis of the joints

The disease causes characteristic symptoms in a person, which are traditionally divided into 4 groups:

  • Pain. Severe joint pain that does not go away for a long time is the first symptom that characterizes the progression of the pathology. The pain is caused by any movement or physical activity, but at rest the person gets better, the discomfort recedes.
  • Crunch. This symptom is expressed in the stage of exacerbation of arthrosis. Due to the fact that the cartilage tissues of the joints deform for a long time, the bone structures begin to contact and rub against each other. As the crackle increases, the pain syndrome also progresses.
  • Impaired joint mobility. Progressive bone arthrosis leads to an increased increase in bone formation. As a result, the muscle tissue cramps and the joint gap is gradually reduced. The pressure in the joint increases, which also causes the limb to become immobile.
  • Joint deformity. The rapid growth of osteophytes can trigger compound modification, but this symptom develops at later stages.

Variations in arthrosis of the joints

A distinction should be made between idiopathic or primary osteoarthritis and secondary. The first type is an independent disease that occurs as a result of physiological, age-related changes. But the secondary form occurs in the background of chronic injuries and can manifest itself at any age - 20 or 30 years old. Depending on which joint is affected, arthrosis can be distinguished:

  • shoulder or elbow joint;
  • hip or knee joint;
  • spine.

In addition, the disease occurs:

  • sophisticated;
  • not specified.

Why is it dangerous?

damage to arthritic fingers

Acute arthrosis is terrible because as the pathology progresses, the spine participates in degenerative processes that result in the appearance of hernias. Therefore, it is important to effectively treat arthrosis in the early stages of development when conservative methods can be used. If the drug is given late, or if the patient tries to recover on its own, the following disorders begin to appear:

  • deformation and destruction of joint elements;
  • limiting the mobility of the limbs;
  • disability;
  • violation of the biomechanics of the spine due to disc decay.

Diagnostics

It is important to know the exact diagnosis before prescribing effective treatment for arthrosis or removing the affected areas. Therefore, after the first study, the patient is transferred:

  • general clinical analysis of blood and urine;
  • puncture of synovial fluid if synovitis of the knee joint is suspected;
  • sample for histological examination of a biopath.

Instrumental diagnostics are performed - radiography. If a patient has gonarthrosis (especially expressed as varicose veins), X-rays of the knee joint should be taken. Dysplasia and arthrosis of the hip joint examine this area of the musculoskeletal system. Ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan is recommended to determine the types of damage to cartilage structures.

How to treat?

Medical and surgical

Early osteoarthritis is treated with conservative therapy. Drugs are selected by the physician according to a strictly individual schedule. If a person has a gastric ulcer or other pathology of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, oral administration is contraindicated. In this case, the injections give the right effect. Proper prescribing of drugs helps to increase the activity of metabolic processes in the affected areas. Effective groups of drugs that prolong remission:

  • Anti-inflammatory;
  • Hormonal corticosteroids;
  • Chondroprotectors.

If conservative methods have failed, surgical treatment is prescribed. Palliative operations are indicated to relieve the joint. When a joint is completely destroyed, surgical therapy is performed to replace it, this is called arthroplasty. As new technologies have made progress in the field of prosthesis, people with wrists can live different but full lives.

Practice therapy, physiotherapy, massage

massage as a method of treating arthrosis

Physiotherapy is the name of a type of therapy developed by a recognized physician. This is a series of physical exercises that must be performed on special simulators. Regular exercise helps to normalize the condition of the joint and improve its functionality. This means that the exercises are recommended to be performed in hospitals specializing in musculoskeletal disorders.

The massage treatments performed by the chiropractor will help to normalize the blood supply and nutrition in the diseased areas, which will result in a gradual improvement in the condition of the joints. If the causes of arthrosis are clearly elucidated and there are no contraindications, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed, such as:

  • electrophoresis;
  • magnetotherapy;
  • laser treatment;
  • mud therapy;
  • medical applications based on natural resins.

The need for diet

If arthrosis is provoked by obesity, it is recommended that the patient follow a diet that promotes normalization of body weight, which significantly relieves the load on the joints and improves their function. To help cartilage tissue recover faster, doctors recommend that their patients eat bones and broths cooked to the bones more often. Thanks to the collagen in these vessels, connective tissues regenerate and recover faster. It is also important to monitor the balance and completeness of the diet. The food should be varied and rich in vitamins, micro and macro elements.

Prophylaxis

To avoid the progression of such a dangerous and serious disease, it is important to administer the load on the joints, especially the joints of the lower extremities. It is also worth avoiding injuries and fractures, after which the risk of arthritis increases tenfold. It is important to lead an active lifestyle, exercise regularly in the morning, eat well and monitor your weight. Thanks to these rules, it will be possible to protect yourself from the occurrence of destructive pathology or relapse.