Arthrosis is a joint degenerative pathology accompanied by the processes of cartilage dystrophy. As the disease progresses, the joint sac, the ligament device, the joint membrane, and the nearest bone structures are also involved in the destructive process.
Incidence of arthrosis
Most people with arthrosis are elderly. Disease occurring after the age of 65 is not only the most commonly diagnosed joint pathology, but also the main cause of disability and subsequent disability. Moreover, in old age, mostly women are sick, but among young people, the majority of patients are male.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies greatly from country to country. The reasons for the widespread use of statistics have not yet been identified.
Causes and risk factors
Osteoarthritis is a primary or secondary disease. If there is no objective cause for the development of the pathology, the primary type is discussed. If the causes of arthrosis have been identified, they are talking about a secondary type.
Secondary osteoarthritis can be caused by the following negative factors:
- Traumatization of various types of joint joints (frequent falls, sprains, bruises);
- chronic congenital tissue dysplasia;
- abnormal changes in metabolic processes;
- various autoimmune pathologies;
- non-specific inflammatory processes in the joint area;
- certain diseases of the organs of the endocrine system; degenerative-dystrophic type
- processes that occur chronically;
- various diseases, accompanied by excessive joint mobility, coupled with a weak tape device; presence of hemophilia;
- specific type of inflammatory processes.
In addition to the immediate causes that lead to the development of arthrosis, there are also predisposing factors that do not cause the disease per se, but may increase the risk of its development.
These are:
- is over 55 years old;
- overweight, which increases the load on the joints;
- Excessive strain on a joint or group due to improper sports training, special work that requires a long stay in a situation;
- History of joint surgery;
- inheritance;
- hormonal changes in the female body in postmenopause;
- persistent hypothermia; pathologies of the spine
- that are not treated;
- Insufficient intake of useful micro- and macro-nutrients with food.
Development Mechanism
The mechanism of arthrosis is well known. The cartilage, which ensures normal contact between the two bones, is naturally smooth, without irregularities and roughness, which helps maintain normal movement of the joints. In case of disease, the structure of the cartilage changes, it becomes rough, it shows defects that reduce the effectiveness of natural sliding.
Due to the acquired irregularities, the cartilage is gradually damaged, in some places it starts to calcify, in some places it becomes ossified. In this case, it is possible to separate the tiny particles that get into the joint fluid and can damage the surrounding tissues.
As the pathology worsens, the joint may enter a chronic subluxation state, which significantly impairs motor function.
Degrees
Doctors divide osteoarthritis into three main stages:
- Grade I. It is characterized by a lack of a clear clinical picture. The patient may rarely complain of pain in the affected joint, but usually does not seek medical attention. However, changes are seen in ligament-muscular devices and synovial fluid, but there are no visible deformities yet.
- Grade II.The symptoms of arthrosis are becoming more pronounced. Pain is characterized as tolerable but occurs regularly. The patient seeks medical attention as he or she finds a decrease in quality of life. A characteristic crackling is heard in the affected joint. Changes can be observed in nearby muscle structures due to disturbed nerve conduction.
- Grade III.Characterized by explicit signs. The articular cartilage becomes very thinner and contains cysts, foci of calcification or ossification. The ligament device becomes shorter, which leads to an increase in the mobility of the affected area, which is accompanied by a restriction due to the pronounced inflammatory process. The surrounding tissues suffer from metabolism, which can lead to muscular dystrophy.
The patient should always clarify the diagnosis with the treating physician. This is due to the specificity of the course of the disease, which is characterized by the stages of remission and exacerbation, which alternately replace each other.
Pain associated with illness
Pain in arthrosis is the most common complaint patients make to see a doctor. Their characteristic is their connection with the time of day, the weather and their physical activity.
In most patients, the pain is exacerbated by walking, running, or other types of physical activity to the affected joint. As soon as the load stops, the pain gradually subsides. Their development is explained by the fact that cartilage is no longer able to perform its shock-absorbing functions.
At night, discomfort is the result of stagnation of blood in the veins. Another reason for the increase in intraosseous pressure during this period.
One of the main diagnostic criteria is the presence of so-called initial pains that disturb the patient at the moment he or she has just begun active movement. The onset of pain usually subsides as physical activity continues. Their occurrence is explained by the presence of joint deposits (detrituses) that irritate the nerve endings. As these deposits move away from the nerves, the pain disappears.
Symptoms
In addition to pain, doctors identify other signs of arthrosis that suggest a pathology.
These are:
- Pain and crisp sound.Lomota mainly appears when a person has had hypothermia. The crackling will be barely audible at first, but as the disease progresses without therapy, it becomes audible to the people around it.
- Decreased mobility. In the early stages of pathology development, mobility does not decrease. However, the longer the disease remains untreated, the stronger the restriction of joint movement becomes. This is explained by the narrowing of the joint space and the spasm of the nearest muscle structures.
- Joint deformity.Characteristic of the late stage of arthrosis, but also an important indicator of the course of the disease. During this period, it is already very difficult to treat the disease.
Which doctor treats arthrosis?
Who treats arthrosis? In most cases, several professionals are involved in the therapy. First of all, they use an arthrologist, a general practitioner. In addition, the patient should visit an orthopedist. If the disease is the result of an inflammatory process, it is recommended that you also consult a rheumatologist.
If necessary, other professionals may be involved during treatment. Most often you have to turn to the services of traumatologists, physiotherapists, masseurs, surgeons.
Diagnostics
Treatment of arthrosis of the joints begins only after confirmation of the diagnosis and determination of the extent of the pathology. Above all, the doctor listens in detail to the patient and performs an examination. The presence of characteristic complaints and deformities suggests the presence of disease.
X-rays of the affected joint are a mandatory method to confirm the diagnosis. If the disease affects the knee, an image of the knee is taken, if the pathology is found in the hand, radiological signs of the disease are specifically sought there.
Radiographic diagnostics do not always provide sufficient results to diagnose a patient. In this case, it can be sent to MRI (this allows the condition of soft tissues and their involvement in the pathological process to be assessed) or CT (this allows conclusions to be drawn about the condition of bone and cartilage structures, the involvement of the nearest anatomical structures in the pathological process).
Management
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 physician selects the therapeutic regimen after assessing the patient's general condition and the course of the disease. Both conservative and surgical treatment methods can be used.
Medication
How should the disease be treated if it is preferable to use medications rather than surgery?
Conservative therapy is only suitable for patients in the early stages of pathology and involves the use of three main classes of drugs:
- glucocorticosteroids- hormonal drugs that are effective in relieving the inflammatory process during an exacerbation, injected into the joint cavity;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,which are mainly injected into muscles close to the joints or directly into a vein. But doctors may also recommend tablets, although this option of taking NSAIDs is undesirable because of its negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- Chondroprotectors- Drugs in this group can reduce cartilage tissue destruction and enhance regeneration, and are especially effective in the early stages of the disease.
Surgical
How can arthrosis be cured if the disease has gone far enough? In this case, conservative therapy will be ineffective and doctors can only recommend surgery to the patient.
In most cases, joint replacement is performed today. During surgery, the real joint is replaced with a prosthesis that has all the functions of a healthy joint.
In some cases, palliative therapeutic options are provided, the main function of which is to reduce the load on the joint surfaces.
Practice
In the early stages of the disease, they are treated not only with medication but also with physiotherapy practices. Exercise is an important stage of therapy that helps maintain joint function and reduces the likelihood of further disease progression.
Depending on the severity of the pathology and the individual characteristics of the patient, the set of exercises is selected individually. The physician should consider the localization of the arthrosis that allows for the most effective effect on the affected tissues.
Self-examination without medical supervision is not recommended, especially in the initial phase. The exercises should be chosen to be as smooth as possible without any sudden movements.
Movement therapy sessions are only effective if the patient devotes little time to the recommended complex each day.
Traditional methods
Many people with osteoarthritis refuse to use medication or surgery until the last minute. In this case, alternative drugs are used to replace the drugs.
The most commonly used plants in therapy:
- Kalanchoe;
- ginger;
- hell;
- bay leaf;
- garlic;
- cinnamon;
- horseshoe and others.
Used in the form of tinctures, decoctions, compresses on the affected area. It is important to keep in mind that complete treatment of the disease is only possible using homemade recipes. It is best to combine traditional therapies with traditional medicine.
Prevention
What should be done to reduce the likelihood of developing arthrosis in old age? Simple preventive measures are available to everyone.
Recommended for:
- moderate daily physical activity: walking, cycling, performing simple exercises as a charge and so on;
- adherence to the principles of healthy eating: eat often, but little by little, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty foods, eating a lot of spices;
- weight control: weight gain results in increased stress in the joints, which can lead to arthrosis;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders;
- Use of vitamin and mineral complexes in case the amount of nutrients in the food is considered insufficient.
Difference Between Arthritis And Arthrosis
Many people confuse arthritis and arthrosis because of the similarity of sound. However, these are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not dystrophy and degeneration of joint tissue, but any inflammatory reaction that can develop in the joint cavity, regardless of its cause. Inflammation most often affects not only the joint, but also the muscles, bone, and ligament structures closest to it. The pain in arthritis is not accompanied by physical activity, can disturb the patient even at rest, and there is no cracking in the joints at all.
In most cases, it is impossible to distinguish arthritis from arthrosis on its own, as the main symptom is pain and patients rarely have an idea of the characteristics of each pathology.
It is better to leave the exact diagnosis to the treating physician so that we do not make mistakes in the subsequent treatment and prevention of the disease.
Arthrosis is a serious pathology that can lead to disability if the patient does not see a doctor in time. At the first signs of the disease, it is recommended that you consult a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and select the most optimal treatment.
If the disease can be caught in the early stages of development, it can certainly be done without surgery, limited to conservative treatment.