Treatment of arthrosis involves an integrated approach and a combination of several methods. Most treatment tactics consist of the correct prescription of drugs. They can be supplemented with the methods of traditional medicine.
The main trends in the modern treatment of arthrosis
After a comprehensive examination, which includes the establishment of the main and accompanying diagnoses, the proper treatment of arthrosis begins.
It includes the following methods:
- lifestyle modification;
- drug correction;
- physiotherapy;
- surgery.
The choice of method depends on the stage of the disease and the degree of destruction of joint structures. First of all, you need to learn the following rules that will make the treatment more effective:
- Body weight correction;
- Exercise therapy - exercises that eliminate static load on the joint;
- Increasing the level of knowledge about the pathology of patients;
- Use of additional accessories (joint bandages, insoles, cane or orthosis);
- Physiotherapy.
The diagnosis is made by an orthopedic traumatologist. However, other consultants may also be involved in this process:
- neurologist: consultation is required in case of damage to the intervertebral structures, radicular syndrome, severe back pain due to the disease;
- infectious diseases specialist: ruling out the infectious nature of joint diseases;
- oncologist: exclusion of malignant tumors of bone and joint tissue or metastases in these areas;
- Osteophthia doctor: rule out the tuberculous nature of bone lesions.
During the course of the disease, they prevent the complications and progression of the pathology. This requires the use of an orthosis and fixing bandage, monitoring of body weight and nutrition, and regular visits to the doctor. Consultation with the treating specialist is required at least 2 times a year.
The effectiveness of the treatment meets the following criteria:
- Stopping the progression of the disease;
- The new joints are not involved in the pathological process;
- Pain decreases or disappears;
- There are no signs of an inflammatory process;
- The quality of life, motor activity and work ability improve.
On the contrary, the course of the disease has features that require hospitalization and correction of recovery tactics:
- persistent and intense pain syndrome;
- severe inflammation of the joints and periarticular structures (the skin of the affected area is warm to the touch, redness, increase in size, pain and limited movement).
Medicines
The selection of the drug complex depends on the stage of the process:
- Stage I - non-pharmacological correction methods, non-steroid drugs and cartilage-strengthening drugs;
- II. section - intra-articular administration of non-pharmacological correction methods, non-steroid drugs and cartilage tissue strengthening drugs, maintenance therapy;
- III. section - non-pharmacological correction methods, non-steroid drugs and cartilage strengthening drugs, intra-articular administration of maintenance therapy, antidepressants;
- ARC. stage - radical surgical intervention, which involves excision of the affected tissue and installation of an artificial joint.
In addition, in case of severe pain, painkillers are used, and various ointments can be used to eliminate severe inflammation of the soft tissues.
Treatment of arthrosis is carried out according to established courses, the duration of which cannot be violated independently. Even if the condition seems to be improving, you should continue taking the medicine because it tends to accumulate in the body. In the same way, you cannot independently adjust the dose of the medicine either to decrease or to increase it.
Medicines should be taken at the same time every day. Features of the reception - according to the instructions. If the patient is treated with another pathology, the doctor must analyze the combined effect of all drugs and exclude dangerous combinations.
Drug
Let's look at the main groups of drugs and examples.
Examples are given; the attending physician may also prescribe other representatives of these drug groups.
- Pain relievers.They are used for pain relief, which allows you to restore the range of motion and improve the quality of life.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They reduce joint pain, eliminate swelling and redness of soft tissues, normalize the temperature of the skin above the joint and restore range of motion.
- Chondroprotectors.They contain elements of animal cartilaginous tissue, which makes it possible to restore the structure of the joint, periarticular surfaces, ligaments and synovium. Slow down the progression of the process and strengthen healthy joints.
- Narcotic pain reliever.It is used to provide emergency aid in case of severe pain. Duration of enrollment: once if necessary.
- Derivatives of hyaluronic acid.The viscous implant containing hyaluronic acid is inserted intra-articularly. Improves the condition of ligaments, synovium and soft tissues. It allows water retention, improves the condition of collagen fibers, which makes the tissue flexible, resistant to damage and destruction.
- Glucocorticosteroids.It is used in case of severe inflammation. They make it possible to effectively influence the pathology and act quickly.
Use of ointments
Treatment of arthrosis involves the use of ointments. In some cases, the patient's condition is alleviated with pain relief. However, this makes sense only in the first stage of pathology. The fact is that any medicine that the patient takes orally is absorbed into the bloodstream in the digestive system and through it affects the joint tissue. In the case of intravascular administration, the effect is achieved faster and the effect on the mucous membrane is also eliminated.
Using the medicine in the form of an ointment or gel means that the medicine only affects the skin and a small layer of soft tissue underneath. The patient must understand that this does not affect the joint, but only has a symptomatic effect.
The following ointments are used for this:
- contains non-steroidal drugs;
- contains salicylic acid;
- contains capsaicin.
It can also be an herbal ointment or gel that improves the condition of soft tissues and reduces sensitivity. It can be menthol, camphor, eucalyptus or peppermint ointment.
Traditional methods of treating arthrosis
Folk remedies include alleviation of pathological syndromes. With these techniques, it is not possible to achieve a complete recovery from a disease, they are used in parallel with therapy and physical procedures. If you only take self-made medicines, the disease may progress, and the patient will only waste time.
The following drugs are symptomatic:
- poultice of grated horseradish. Used daily, in 7-9 days. Foil and warm cloth are placed on top of the root pulp. The duration of compression is 30 minutes;
- Oatmeal poultices are used according to a similar principle. For this, we make a creamy fluff paste. After the mixture has cooled, apply it to the bandage;
- The honey poultice can be left overnight. It is better to use field honey;
- A cabbage leaf with a layer of honey is applied to the affected joint. Fix and leave overnight;
- mix the chalk powder with the thick yogurt. Apply it to the joint, wrap it in foil, and top it with a warm, natural cloth. Leave the poultice overnight.
Diagnostics
Effective treatment of arthrosis is possible with a correct diagnosis. The following methods are used for this:
- clinical diagnosis, which includes the results of examination and questioning of the patient;
- X-ray diagnostics, for which the healthy and affected joints are examined and their condition is compared;
- laboratory methods that make it possible to exclude other causes of pathology;
- synovial fluid analysis;
- ultrasound examination for soft tissue inflammation;
- tomography for a more detailed examination of soft tissues and periarticular structures.