Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint pathology, accompanied by processes of degeneration of cartilaginous tissue.As the disease progresses, the joint capsule, ligamentous apparatus, synovial membrane and neighboring bony structures are also involved in the destructive process.
Prevalence of osteoarthritis
Among people suffering from osteoarthritis, the majority are elderly.Illness after the age of 65 is not only the most frequently diagnosed joint pathology, but also the main cause of loss of ability to work with subsequent disability.Moreover, in old age, mainly women of the fair sex get sick, but among young people the majority of those who get sick are men.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies considerably between countries.It has not yet been possible to establish the reasons for the great dispersion of statistical data.
Causes and risk factors
Osteoarthritis is a disease that can be primary or secondary.If there are no objective reasons for the development of pathology, we speak of the primary type.If it is possible to identify the causes of osteoarthritis, we speak of a secondary type.
Secondary osteoarthritis can be provoked by the following negative factors:
- joint trauma of various nature (frequent falls, sprains, bruises);
- chronic congenital tissue dysplasia;
- pathological changes in metabolic processes;
- various autoimmune pathologies;
- inflammatory processes of a nonspecific nature in the joint area;
- certain pathologies of the endocrine system;
- degenerative-dystrophic type processes that occur chronically;
- various diseases accompanied by excessive joint mobility coupled with a weak ligamentous apparatus;
- presence of hemophilia;
- inflammatory processes of a specific type.
In addition to the direct causes that lead to the development of osteoarthritis, there are also predisposing factors that do not themselves cause the disease, but can increase the risk of its development.
These include:
- age over 55;
- the presence of excess weight, due to which the load on the joints increases;
- excessive load on a joint or group due to improper sports training, specific work requiring a long stay in one position;
- history of joint surgical procedures;
- heredity;
- hormonal changes in the female body during postmenopause;
- constant hypothermia;
- untreated spinal pathologies;
- insufficient intake of beneficial micro- and macroelements from food.
Development mechanism
The mechanism of development of osteoarthritis is well known.The cartilage that provides normal contact between two bones is smooth in nature, without bumps or roughness, which helps maintain normal joint movement.When the disease occurs, the structure of the cartilage changes, it becomes rough and defects appear, reducing the effectiveness of natural gliding.
Due to the acquired irregularities, the cartilage is gradually injured, in some places it begins to calcify, and in others it begins to ossify.In this case, it is possible to separate small particles which end up in the joint fluid and can injure the surrounding tissues.
As the pathology worsens, the joint can enter a state of chronic subluxation, which will significantly impair its motor function.
Degrees
Doctors divide osteoarthritis into three main degrees:
- I graduated.Characterized by the absence of a clear clinical picture.The patient may have rare complaints of pain in the affected joint, but usually does not seek medical attention.In this case, changes are observed in the ligamentous-muscular apparatus and joint fluid, but there are no visible deformations yet.
- IInd degree.The symptoms of osteoarthritis become more pronounced.The pain is described as tolerable, but occurring regularly.The patient consults a doctor because he notices a decrease in his quality of life.A characteristic cracking sound may be heard in the affected joint.Changes are observed in neighboring muscular structures, as nerve conduction is disrupted.
- III degree.Characterized by pronounced symptoms.The articular cartilage is very thin and cysts, sites of calcification or ossification can be found there.The ligamentous apparatus becomes shorter, which leads to increased mobility in the affected area, which is accompanied by limitation due to a 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 attending physician.This is due to the specifics of the course of the disease, which is characterized by stages of remission and exacerbation, alternately replacing each other.
Pain due to illness
Pain due to osteoarthritis is the most common complaint for which patients seek medical attention.Their characteristic feature is their connection with the time of day, weather and physical activity.
In most patients, the pain worsens when walking, running, or any other type of physical activity aimed at the affected joint.As soon as the load stops, the pain gradually subsides.Their development is explained by the fact that the cartilage is no longer able to carry out 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 so-called starting pains, which bother the patient at the moment when he has just started active movement.The initial pain usually goes away if physical activity continues.Their appearance is explained by the presence of joint deposits (detritus), which irritate the nerve endings.Once these deposits move away from the nerves, the pain disappears.
Symptoms
In addition to pain, doctors identify other signs of osteoarthritis, which may indicate the presence of pathology.
These include:
- The appearance of a painful, crunching sound.Pain mainly appears if a person has suffered from hypothermia.At first, the cracking will be barely perceptible to the ear, but as the disease progresses without treatment, it will become audible to those around you.
- Decreased ability to move.At the early stage of the development of pathology, there is no decrease in mobility.However, the longer the condition remains untreated, the more severe the limitation of joint movement becomes.This is due to a narrowing of the joint space and spasm of neighboring muscular structures.
- Joint deformation.This is characteristic of the advanced stage of osteoarthritis, but it is also an important indicator of the progression of the disease.During this period, it is already very difficult to treat the disease.
Which doctor treats osteoarthritis?
Who treats osteoarthritis?In most cases, treatment is carried out by several specialists at once.First of all, an arthrologist is involved - a joint specialist.Additionally, the patient will also need to consult an orthopedist.If the disease is a consequence of an inflammatory process, it is also recommended to consult a rheumatologist.
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.
Diagnosis
Treatment of joint osteoarthritis begins only after the diagnosis has been confirmed and the degree of pathology has been established.First of all, the doctor questions the patient in detail and conducts an examination.The presence of characteristic complaints and deformities indicates that the disease exists.
A mandatory way to confirm the diagnosis is x-ray of the affected joint.If the disease has affected the knee, a photo of the knee is taken;if the pathology is detected in the hand, radiological signs of the disease are specifically sought there.
Diagnosis by radiography does not always provide sufficient results to diagnose the patient.In this case, it may be sent for an MRI (this will allow you to assess the condition of soft tissues and their involvement in the pathological process) or CT (this will allow you to draw conclusions about the state of bone and cartilaginous structures, the involvement of neighboring anatomical formations in the pathological process).
Treatment
How to treat osteoarthritis 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 chooses the treatment regimen after assessing the patient's general condition and the progress of the disease.Conservative and surgical treatment methods can be used.
Medicine
How to treat the disease if it is better not to undergo surgery, but to use medications?
Conservative treatment is suitable for patients only at an early stage of the formation of pathology and will include the use of three main groups of drugs:
- glucocorticosteroids– hormonal drugs that effectively relieve the inflammatory process during an exacerbation are injected into the joint cavity;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories,which are mainly used as injections and are injected into the muscles near the joint or directly into a vein.But doctors may also recommend tablets, although this option of taking NSAIDs is undesirable due to its negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- chondroprotectors– drugs of this group can reduce the processes of destruction of cartilage tissue and improve regeneration;they are especially effective in the early stages of disease formation.
Surgical
How to cure osteoarthritis if the disease has already gone far enough?In this case, conservative treatment will be ineffective and doctors can only recommend surgical intervention to the patient.
Today, in most cases, endoprostheses are made.During the operation, the real joint is replaced by a prosthesis which has all the functions of a healthy joint.
In some cases, palliative treatment options are offered, the main goal of which is to reduce the load on the joint surfaces.
Exercise
In the early stages of the disease, it is treated not only with medication, but also with physical therapy.Physical exercise is an important stage of therapy, which helps maintain joint functionality and reduces the risk 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 location of the osteoarthritis, which allows the most effective treatment of the affected tissue.
Self-study without medical supervision is not recommended, especially at the initial stage.Exercises should be chosen so that they are as smooth as possible, without sudden movements.
Exercise therapy classes are effective only if the patient devotes a little time every day to performing the recommended complex.
Traditional methods
Many people suffering from osteoarthritis refuse to take medication or have surgery until the end.In this case, alternative medicines are used as a substitute for medications.
The plants most commonly used 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 keep in mind that comprehensive treatment of the disease using only home recipes is impossible.It is best if traditional therapy is combined with traditional medicine.
Prevention
What can be done to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis in old age?Simple preventive measures are available to everyone.
Recommended :
- moderate daily physical activity: walking, cycling, performing simple exercises as exercise, etc.
- compliance with the basic principles of healthy eating: eat often, but little by little, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty foods, eat a lot of spices;
- weight control: weight gain leads to increased stress on the joints, which can lead to the development of osteoarthritis;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders;
- the use of vitamin-mineral complexes if the quantity of nutrients provided by food is considered insufficient.
The difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis
Many people, due to the similarity of sounds, confuse arthritis with osteoarthritis.However, they are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not called dystrophy and degeneration of joint tissues, 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 nearest muscles, bone and ligament structures.Arthritic pain is not associated with physical activity;this may bother the patient even at rest, and there is no cracking in the joints.
In most cases, it is impossible to independently distinguish arthritis from osteoarthritis, since the main symptom is pain and patients rarely have an idea of its characteristics in each of the pathologies.
It is better to entrust the establishment of an accurate diagnosis to the attending physician, so as not to make mistakes in the further treatment and prevention of the disease.
Osteoarthritis is a serious pathology that can lead to disability if the patient does not consult a doctor in time.At the first signs of illness, it is recommended to contact a specialist so that he can confirm the diagnosis and select 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 even without surgery, limiting yourself only to conservative treatment.