Arthrosis is a degenerative joint pathology, accompanied by cartilage tissue degeneration processes.As the disease progresses, the joint capsule, ligament apparatus, synovial membrane and nearby bony structures are also involved in the destructive process.
Prevalence of arthrosis
Among people with osteoarthritis, the majority are elderly.The disease after the age of 65 is not only the most frequently diagnosed joint pathology, but also the main cause of loss of working ability with subsequent disability.Moreover, in old age, it is mostly women who get sick, but among young people, the majority of patients are men.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies greatly from country to country.It was still not possible to determine the reasons for the large dispersion of statistical data.
Causes and risk factors
Arthrosis is a disease that can be primary or secondary.If there are no objective reasons for the development of pathology, they speak of the primary type.If it is possible to identify the causes of arthrosis, they speak of the secondary type.
Secondary arthrosis can be caused by the following negative factors:
- traumatization of joints of a different nature (frequent falls, sprains, bruises);
- chronic congenital tissue dysplasia;
- pathological changes in metabolic processes;
- various autoimmune pathologies;
- inflammatory processes of a non-specific nature in the joint area;
- some pathologies of the endocrine system;
- processes of the degenerative-dystrophic type that occur chronically;
- various diseases accompanied by excessive joint mobility in combination with a weak ligament apparatus;
- presence of hemophilia;
- inflammatory processes of a certain type.
In addition to the direct causes that lead to the development of arthrosis, there are also predisposing factors that do not cause the disease themselves, but can increase the risk of its development.
This includes:
- age over 55 years;
- the presence of excess weight, due to which the load on the joints increases;
- excessive load on any joint or group due to improper sports training, specific work that requires a long stay in one position;
- history of surgical interventions on the joints;
- heredity;
- hormonal changes in the female body during postmenopause;
- constant hypothermia;
- spinal pathologies that are not treated;
- insufficient intake of useful micro- and macroelements from food.
Development mechanism
The mechanism of arthrosis development is quite well known.The cartilage that ensures normal contact between the two bones is smooth in nature, without any ridges or roughness, which helps to maintain normal movement in the joints.When the disease appears, the cartilage structure changes, it becomes rough, and defects appear on it, reducing the efficiency of natural gliding.
Due to the acquired unevenness, the cartilage is gradually injured, in some places it begins to calcify, and in others it ossifies.In this case, it is possible to separate small particles that end up in the joint fluid and can injure the surrounding tissues.
As the pathology worsens, the joint may go into a state of chronic subluxation, which will significantly impair its motor function.
Degrees
Doctors divide arthrosis into three main stages:
- I degree.It is characterized by the absence of a clear clinical picture.The patient may have rare complaints of pain in the affected joint, but generally does not consult a doctor.In this case, changes are observed in the ligamento-muscular apparatus and joint fluid, but there are still no visible deformations.
- II degree.The symptoms of arthrosis are becoming more pronounced.The pain is characterized as tolerable, but occurs regularly.The patient turns to the doctor because he notices a decrease in the quality of life.A characteristic creaking sound can be heard in the affected joint.Changes are observed in nearby muscle structures, because nerve conduction is disturbed.
- III degree.It is characterized by pronounced symptoms.Articular cartilage is very thin, and cysts, foci of calcification or ossification can be found in it.The ligament apparatus becomes shorter, which leads to increased mobility in the affected area, which is accompanied by limitation due to the pronounced inflammatory process.The metabolism of surrounding tissues suffers, which can lead to muscular dystrophy.
In any case, the patient will need clarification of the diagnosis from the doctor.This is due to the specificity of the course of the disease, which is characterized by phases of remission and exacerbation, which alternate.
Pain due to illness
Pain due to arthrosis is the most common complaint for which patients consult a doctor.Their characteristic feature is the connection with time of day, weather and physical activity.
In most patients, the pain worsens when walking, running, or other types of physical activity directed at the affected joint.As soon as the load is stopped, the pain gradually decreases.Their development is explained by the fact that the cartilage is no longer able to perform its cushioning functions.
At night, discomfort most often occurs as a result of stagnation of blood in the veins.Another reason is the increase in intraosseous pressure during this period.
One of the main diagnostic criteria is the presence of the so-calledinitial pain, which torments the patient at the moment when he has just started active movement.The initial pain usually disappears if physical activity is continued.Their appearance is explained by the presence of joint deposits (detritus), which irritate nerve endings.When these deposits are moved away from the nerves, the pain disappears.
Symptoms
In addition to pain, doctors also identify other signs of arthrosis, which may indicate the presence of pathology.
This includes:
- The appearance of the sound of pain and grinding.Pain usually occurs if a person has suffered from hypothermia.At first, the squeaking will be barely perceptible to the ear, but as the disease progresses without treatment, it will become audible to the people around you.
- Decreased ability to move.In the early stage of the development of the pathology, there is no reduction in mobility.However, the longer the disease is left untreated, the more severe the limitation of joint movement becomes.This is explained by the narrowing of the joint space and the spasm of nearby muscle structures.
- Joint deformity.It is characteristic of the late stage of arthrosis, but it is also an important indicator of the course of the disease.In this period, it is already very difficult to treat the disease.
Which doctor treats arthrosis?
Who treats osteoarthritis?In most cases, therapy is carried out by several specialists at once.First of all, an arthrologist - a joint specialist - is involved.In addition, the patient will have to visit an orthopedist.If the disease is the result of an inflammatory process, a visit to a rheumatologist is also recommended.
If necessary, other specialists may be involved during the treatment period.Most often, you have to resort to the services of traumatologists, physiotherapists, massage therapists and surgeons.
Diagnostics
Treatment of arthrosis of the joints begins only after confirmation of the diagnosis and determination of the degree of pathology.First of all, the doctor interviews the patient in detail and performs an examination.The presence of characteristic complaints and deformities indicates the existence of a disease.
An obligatory way to confirm the diagnosis is radiography of the affected joint.If the disease has affected the knee, then a picture of the knee is taken;if pathology is found in the hand, then X-ray signs of the disease are especially sought there.
Diagnosis using radiography does not always provide sufficient results to diagnose the patient.In that case, it can be sent for MRI (this will allow assessment of the state of soft tissues and their involvement in the pathological process) or CT (this will allow drawing conclusions about the state of bone and cartilage structures, involvement of nearby anatomical formations in the pathological process).
Treatment
How to treat arthrosis of the joints?The choice of the appropriate therapeutic technique depends on the severity of the symptoms and the stage of the disease.
The doctor selects the treatment regimen after assessing the general condition of the patient and the course of the disease.Both conservative and surgical methods of treatment can be used.
Medicines
How to treat the disease if it is preferable not to undergo surgery, but to use drugs?
Conservative therapy is suitable for patients only in the early stages of pathology formation, and will include the use of three main groups of drugs:
- glucocorticosteroids- hormonal drugs that effectively alleviate the inflammatory process during an exacerbation are injected into the joint cavity;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,which are mainly used as injections and are injected into the muscles near the joint or directly into a vein.But doctors can also recommend tablets, although this option for taking NSAIDs is undesirable due to the negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- chondroprotectors- drugs of this group can reduce the processes of cartilage tissue destruction and improve regeneration;they are especially effective in the initial stages of the disease.
Surgical
How to cure arthrosis if the disease has already gone quite far?In that case, conservative therapy will not be effective, and doctors can only recommend surgical intervention to the patient.
Today, in most cases, endoprosthetics are performed.During the operation, the real joint is replaced with a prosthesis that has all the functions of a healthy joint.
In some cases, there are options for palliative treatment, the main goal of which is to reduce the load on the joint surfaces.
Practice
In the early stage of the disease, it is treated not only with drugs, but also with physical therapy.Physical activity is an important phase of therapy, which helps maintain the functionality of the joint and reduces the likelihood of further progression of the disease.
Depending on the severity of the pathology and the individual characteristics of the patient, the set of exercises is selected individually.The doctor must take into account the localization of arthrosis, which allows for the most effective treatment of the affected tissue.
Self-study without medical supervision is not recommended, especially in the initial phase.Exercises must be chosen so that they are as smooth as possible, without sudden movements.
Physical therapy classes are effective only if the patient devotes some time to the daily performance of the recommended complex.
Traditional methods
Many people suffering from arthrosis refuse to use drugs or undergo surgery until the very end.In this case, alternative medicines are used as a substitute for medicines.
The most commonly used plants in therapy are:
- Kalanchoe;
- ginger;
- horseradish;
- bay leaf;
- garlic;
- cinnamon;
- horsetail and others.
They are used in the form of tinctures, decoctions and poultices on the affected area.It is important to remember that the complete treatment of the disease only with the help of home recipes is impossible.It is best if traditional therapy is combined with traditional medicine.
Prevention
What can be done to reduce the likelihood of developing arthrosis in old age?Simple preventive measures are available to everyone.
Recommended:
- daily moderate physical activity: walking, cycling, performing simple sets of exercises as exercise and so on;
- adherence to the basic principles of a healthy diet: eat often, but little by little, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty food, eat a lot of spices;
- weight control: gaining weight leads to increased stress on the joints, which can lead to the development of arthrosis;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases that lead to metabolic disorders;
- the use of vitamin-mineral complexes if the amount of nutrients taken in with food is considered insufficient.
The difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Many people, due to the similarity in sound, confuse arthritis and arthrosis.However, these are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not called dystrophy and degeneration of joint tissue, but any inflammatory reaction that can develop in the joint cavity, regardless of the cause.Inflammation most often affects not only the joint, but also the muscles closest to it, bone and ligament structures.Arthritis pain is not related to physical activity;it can bother the patient even at rest, and there is no creaking in the joints at all.
In most cases, it is impossible to independently distinguish arthritis from arthrosis, because the main symptom is pain, and patients rarely have an idea about its characteristics in each of the pathologies.
It is better to entrust the correct diagnosis to the attending physician, so as not to make a mistake with the subsequent treatment and prevention of the disease.
Arthrosis is a serious pathology that can lead to disability if the patient does not consult a doctor in time.At the first signs of the disease, it is recommended to consult a specialist so that he can confirm the diagnosis and choose the most optimal treatment.
If you manage to catch the disease at an early stage of development, you will probably be able to do it without surgical intervention, limiting yourself only to conservative treatment.