First, let's define what osteoarthritis is. Osteoarthritis or arthrosis is an articular disease in which the cartilage tissue of the inter-articular surfaces is damaged. At the same time, not only articular cartilages, but also ligaments, synovial membrane, and periarticular muscles are involved in the pathological process.
Arthrosis can be of two forms: localized, in which one of the joints is affected (foot arthrosis, knee joint, etc. ) and generalized. The types of this disease depend on the affected joint and are:
- coxarthrosis (or hip);
- gonarthrosis (or knee);
- arthrosis of the distal interphalangeal joints (Heberd's nodes);
- damage to the proximal interphalangeal joints;
- polyosteoarthritis of the joints of the hands (Kelgen's disease);
- arthrosis of the shoulder;
- spondylarthrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- arthrosis of the ankle (arthrosis of the foot).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- "dry" creaking in the joint,
- decreased mobility (due to reduced joint space and muscle spasm around the inflamed joint).
The joint may swell, the color of the skin on it changes (redness appears). In some cases, the temperature rises.
There are four degrees of the disease (according to some sources, only 3)
- In the first degree, the presence of problems in the joint can be determined by the presence of crunching, tingling and accompanying pain. However, body temperature does not rise, swelling does not occur. It is advisable to start treatment from the initial stage of the disease.
- There are visible changes in the second stage of the development of the disease. There is a constant feeling of fatigue and pressure in the affected area, which increases with physical exertion. Decreased joint mobility.
- 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. Joints can completely fail and a person becomes disabled.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the presence of constant severe pain in which strong drugs are ineffective.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of different types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and treatment of arthrosis of the hip joint
The symptoms of the disease are characterized by pain in the groin or just a pulling sensation after physical activity during the day, especially in the evening. Unpleasant feelings pass quickly. But if it is not treated in time, even with a small force, the pain becomes longer and stronger. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the burden of the inflamed organ. Movement is increasingly restricted. As the disease progresses, atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the diseased limb occur.
Depending on the degree of the disease, treatment can be with or without surgical intervention (grade III-IV).
Of course, the sooner the disease is detected and the appropriate treatment is started, the less likely the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
Thus, the initial (stages I and II) various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and in such cases a mandatory diet will help. The diet is aimed at reducing the patient's weight in order to reduce the load on the joints (of course, if there is an overweight problem). 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 milk and leguminous products, jelly, low-fat jelly should be included in the diet.
In addition to the above-mentioned gymnastics, the patient may be prescribed an acupuncture and physiotherapy course, which may include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydro- and balneotherapy, electrotherapy. Orthopedic structures (walking stick, wedge pillows, booster seats, orthoses) can be used.
Medicines prescribed to the patient in the treatment of this disease (grade I-II):
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These drugs are not intended to treat joints directly, but to relieve pain in the groin and thigh area;
- chondroprotectors. Medicines help restore the damaged cartilage structure of the joint and nourish the cartilage, i. e. designed for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. It should be used with caution, as often the body protects the joint from further destruction.
- ointments and creams. It is intended to alleviate the patient's condition, but not to cure it.
- drugs for injection into a diseased body. They are rarely used to relieve pain.
Manual therapy is the application of one of two methods. During mobilization, the doctor performs a gentle extension of the hip joint, where the bones are brought together. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ is partially restored and the spasm decreases. However, the technique is quite long (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, i. e. should be accompanied by medication and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs manipulation with the help of a sharp single movement, which brings immediate relief to the patient, but this technique is effective in the early stages of the disease, along with other treatment methods.
In the final stages of the disease, surgical intervention is performed. Depending on the characteristics of the disease, different types of operations can be used. Thus, joint-saving operations are performed with corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur and pelvis. Hip closure surgeries and joint replacement surgeries (or arthroplasty).
Arthrosis of the feet
It is possible to determine 2 types of deforming arthrosis of the legs: primary and secondary. Primary, it is characterized by the absence of visible reasons for the development of the disease and is considered genetic. Secondary arthrosis of the legs develops against the background of any disease (for example, flat feet) or injuries.
Arthrosis of the joints of the feet is a common definition for ankle (foot arthrosis) and gonarthrosis diseases. Symptoms and treatment of articular disease of the legs (feet and knee) are discussed below.
Osteoarthritis of the foot: what are the symptoms and how is it treated?
Symptoms are characterized by creaking in the ankle, aching pain when walking, which disappears during rest, limited mobility of the joints, swelling of the feet and redness of the skin in the joints, as well as atrophy of the adjacent muscles. Often the joints of the toes are affected. Arthrosis of the foot is determined by X-ray examination.
Treatment of foot and hip joint arthrosis can be surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical methods (in the early stages of the disease) include:
- the use of orthopedic shoes or orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heel in shoes (3-4 cm),
- physiotherapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
When foot arthrosis reaches II-III degree, analgesics can be prescribed and surgical intervention can be performed.
For overweight patients, it is also important to follow a diet (to reduce the load on the joints of the legs). Shoes should be comfortable, low-heeled and should not restrict movement.
Medicines are needed to relieve pain and help cartilage repair in the affected joints.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, UV rays, UHF therapy, magnetic and ultrasound therapy.
Surgical treatment methods can be:
- arthrodesis, a rigid fixation of the diseased area,
- arthroplasty, when a damaged joint is repaired by surgery,
- endoprosthetics - completely replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
As with other types of arthrosis, the symptoms of emerging knee cartilage disease are mild pain during exertion that disappears at rest. The knee may swell. It often occurs after leg fractures and dislocations.
A characteristic crisis occurs in the II stage of the disease and is accompanied by pain. There is also limitation of joint mobility, fluid accumulation is possible.
Treatment includes medications and treatment procedures:
- ozone therapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent,
- kinesitherapy is the performance of special exercises to improve the flexibility of ligaments and blood circulation;
- taking homeopathic medicines.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk methods
Of course, folk remedies should not be considered as a panacea for such a serious disease as arthrosis. However, along with the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up recovery.
- To relieve painful symptoms, you can use cabbage juice, in which a piece of natural wool is soaked and then compresses are made every evening. Cabbage juice should be used within three days, after which it should be made fresh.
- Compresses are also made from whole cabbage leaves smeared with honey. We apply the smeared side to the joint, wrap it with cellophane film and wrap it warmly. We leave 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, and applied to the leg in the form of a compress at night. The calcium contained in these products improves blood flow and, accordingly, relieves pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal compress also helps reduce pain in arthrosis of the joints. For a compress, you need to cook thick porridge, cool it, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the sore spot overnight. You can only use it once, then brew it fresh.
- You can prepare an oral drink to relieve pain. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to 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.
We note once again that to prevent serious complications and surgical intervention, the main thing is to treat arthrosis thoroughly and on time.