First, let's define what osteoarthritis is. Osteoarthritis or arthrosis is a joint disease in which the cartilage tissue of the interarticular surfaces is damaged. At the same time, not only articular cartilage is involved in the pathological process, but also ligaments, synovial membrane and periarticular muscles.
Osteoarthritis can have two forms: localized, affecting one of the joints (osteoarthritis of the foot, knee joint, etc. ), and generalized. The types of this disease depend on the affected joint and are:
- coxarthrosis (or hip);
- osteoarthritis of the knee (or knee);
- arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joints (Heberd nodes);
- damage to the proximal interphalangeal joints;
- Polyosteoarthritis of the wrists (Kelgen's disease);
- shoulder osteoarthritis;
- spondylarthrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- Osteoarthritis of the ankle (osteoarthritis of the foot).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformities
- "dry" crunching in the joint,
- Limited mobility (due to reduced joint space and muscle spasms around the inflamed joint).
The joint may swell, the color of the skin over it changes (redness appears). In some cases, the temperature rises.
There are four degrees of the disease (according to some sources only 3)
- At the first degree, the presence of problems in the joint can be determined by the presence of crunching, tingling and accompanying pain. However, the body temperature does not rise, swelling does not appear. It is advisable to start treatment at the initial stages of the development of the disease.
- In the second degree of development of the disease, visible changes appear. There is constant fatigue and a feeling of pressure on the affected area, which increases with physical exertion. Decreased mobility of the joints.
- The third degree is accompanied by symptoms of constant severe pain in the joints (even at rest). There is an increased sensitivity to weather conditions. The joints can fail completely and the person becomes incapacitated.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the presence of constant severe pain, in which effective drugs are powerless.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of different types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint
The symptoms of the disease are characterized by pain or just a pulling sensation in the groin, especially in the evening, after physical activity during the day. Unpleasant sensations quickly pass. However, if it is not treated in time, the pain will become longer and more intense, even with little exertion. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the load on the inflamed organ. Movement is becoming more and more restricted. As the disease progresses, there is atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the diseased limb.
Depending on the degree of the disease, treatment can be carried out with or without surgery (grade III-IV).
Of course, the sooner the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment initiated, the less likely it is that the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
Therefore, at the initial stage (I and II stage), various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and a mandatory diet in such cases will help. The diet is aimed at reducing the patient's weight in order to reduce the load on the joints (of course, with excess weight). It is also important to eat vegetables and fruits to provide the body with vitamins and minerals. Saturation with protein, which is the basis of any connective tissue, is a priority, so dairy and legume products, jelly and low-fat jelly should be included in the diet.
The patient can be prescribed a course of acupuncture and physiotherapy, which, in addition to the already mentioned gymnastics, can include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydro- and balneotherapy, electrotherapy. Orthopedic structures can be used (use of walking sticks, wedge cushions, lifting seats, orthoses).
Drugs prescribed to the patient in the treatment of this disease (grade I-II):
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. These medicines are intended to relieve groin and hip pain, not directly to treat joints;
- chondroprotectors. The drugs contribute to the restoration of the structure of the damaged articular cartilage and nourish the cartilage, i. H. intended for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. It should be used with caution as the body so often protects the joint from greater destruction.
- ointments and creams. To alleviate the patient's condition, but not for treatment.
- Drugs for injection into a diseased organ. They are rarely used to eliminate pain.
Manual therapy is the use of one of two methods. During mobilization, the doctor performs a gentle stretching of the hip joint, during which the bones that articulate with each other are cultivated. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ will be partially restored, and the spasm will decrease. However, the technique is quite lengthy (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, i. H. accompanied by medication and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs the manipulation with the help of a single sharp movement, which brings instant relief to the patient. However, this technique is effective in the initial stages of the disease in combination with other methods of treatment.
Surgical intervention is performed in the last stages of the disease. Different types of operations can be used, depending on the specifics of the disease. Joint-preserving operations with corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur and the pelvis are performed. Hip joint closure surgeries and joint replacement (or arthroplasty) surgeries.
osteoarthritis of the legs
It is possible to designate 2 types of deforming arthrosis of the legs: primary and secondary. Primary is characterized by the absence of visible causes of the development of the disease and is considered genetic. Secondary arthrosis of the legs develops against the background of diseases (eg, flat feet) or injuries.
Osteoarthritis of the leg joints is a general definition for diseases of the ankle (foot osteoarthritis) and gonarthrosis. Symptoms and treatment of joint disorders of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Osteoarthritis of the foot: what are the symptoms and how to treat them?
Symptoms are characterized by a crunching in the ankle, aching pain when walking that goes away with rest, reduced mobility of the joints, swelling of the feet and redness of the skin in the joints, and atrophy of the adjacent muscles. The joints of the toes are most commonly affected. Osteoarthritis of the foot is diagnosed by X-ray.
Osteoarthritis of the foot and hip joint can be treated surgically and non-surgically. Non-surgical methods include (in the initial stages of the disease):
- orthopedic shoes or the use of orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heel in shoes (3-4 cm),
- Physical therapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
If the arthrosis of the foot has reached the II-III degree, analgesics can be prescribed and surgical intervention can be performed.
It is also important to follow a diet for overweight patients (to reduce the load on the leg joints). Shoes should be comfortable, have low heels and not restrict movement.
Medications are needed to relieve pain and regenerate the cartilage in the affected joints.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, medicinal baths, infrared laser therapy, UV radiation, UHF therapy, magnetic and ultrasonic therapy.
Surgical treatment methods can be:
- arthrodesis, in which rigid fixation of the diseased area occurs,
- Endoprosthetics, when the affected joint is surgically restored,
- Arthroplasty - Completely replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
As with other types of osteoarthritis, the symptoms of an emerging knee cartilage disease are mild pain on exertion that disappears with rest. The knee may swell. Often occurs after broken legs and dislocations.
A characteristic crunch occurs at stage II of the disease and is accompanied by pain. In addition, there is a restriction in joint mobility, fluid accumulation is possible.
Treatment includes drugs and healing methods:
- ozone therapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic,
- Kinesitherapy is the implementation of special exercises to improve the elasticity of the ligaments and blood circulation,
- taking homeopathic medicines.
Treatment of arthrosis in a folk way
Of course, folk remedies should not be taken as a panacea for such a serious disease as arthrosis. But in combination with the treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up recovery.
- To relieve painful symptoms, it is possible to use cabbage juice, in which a piece of natural wool is soaked, and then compresses are made every evening. Cabbage juice must be used within three days, after which it must be freshly prepared.
- Compresses are also made from a whole cabbage leaf smeared with honey. We apply the smeared side to the joint, wrap it with cellophane wrap and wrap it warm. We leave it all night.
- To relieve the symptoms of arthrosis of the legs, crushed white chalk or eggshell and kefir are mixed until a homogeneous mass is obtained, which is applied to the foot at night in the form of a compress. The calcium contained in these products improves blood circulation and accordingly reduces pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal compresses also help relieve pain from osteoarthritis of the joints. For a compress, it is necessary to boil a thick porridge, cool it, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the sore spot overnight. You can only use it once and then brew fresh.
- To relieve pain, you can prepare an oral drink. To do this, pour 1 tbsp in a glass of boiling water. l. olive oil and half a teaspoon of grated garlic. It should be taken 2 times a day when pain occurs.
Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that the main thing is to treat arthrosis comprehensively and in a timely manner in order to avoid serious complications and surgical intervention.