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 cartilages are involved in the pathological process, but also ligaments, synovial membrane, periarticular muscles.
Osteoarthritis can be of two forms: localized, in which one of the joints is affected (arthrosis of the foot, 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 hand joints (Kelgen's disease);
- shoulder arthrosis;
- spondylarthrosis of the lumbosacral region;
- ankle arthrosis (arthrosis of the foot).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- "dry" crispness in the joint,
- reduced mobility (due to reduced joint space and muscle spasm 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)
- In the first degree, the presence of joint problems can be determined by the presence of chewing, tingling and associated pain. However, the body temperature does not rise, swelling does not occur. It is advisable to start treatment at an early stage in the development of the disease.
- In the second stage of development of the disease, there are visible changes. There is constant fatigue and a feeling of pressure in the affected area, which increases with physical exertion. Decreased joint mobility.
- The third degree is accompanied by symptoms of constant joint pain (even at rest). There is a greater sensitivity to weather conditions. Joints can fail completely and the person is incapacitated.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the presence of constant severe pain, in which potent drugs are impotent.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of various 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 at night, after physical activity during the day. Unpleasant feelings pass quickly. However, if not treated in time, the pain becomes longer and more intense even with small efforts. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the load on the inflamed organ. Movement becomes increasingly limited. With the progression of the disease, atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the diseased limb occurs.
Depending on the degree of the disease, treatment can be with or without surgical intervention (grade III-IV).
Of course, the earlier the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is started, the less likely it is that the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
So, in the initial stages (I and II), various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and a mandatory diet in these cases will help. The diet is aimed at reducing the patient's weight to reduce the load on the joints (if there is an overweight problem, of course). It is also important to eat vegetables and fruits to supply 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, jam, low-fat jam should be included in the diet.
The patient can be prescribed a course of acupuncture and physiotherapy, which, in addition to the gymnastics already mentioned above, can include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydro and balneotherapy, electrotherapy. Orthopedic structures can be used (use of a cane when walking, wedge-shaped pillows, booster seats, orthotics).
Medications prescribed to the patient in the treatment of this disease (grades I-II):
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These medications are designed to relieve groin and hip pain, not directly to treat joints;
- chondroprotectors. The drugs contribute to the restoration of the damaged cartilage structure of the joint and nourish the cartilage, that is, intended for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. It should be used with caution as the body often protects the joint from further destruction.
- ointments and creams. It is intended 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 application of one of two methods. During mobilization, the doctor performs a gentle extension of the hip joint, in which the bones that articulate are created. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ is partially restored and the spasm subsides. However, the technique is quite time-consuming (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, that is, accompanied by medication and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs the manipulation with the help of a single sudden movement, which brings immediate relief to the patient, however, this technique is effective in the early stages of the disease in combination with other treatment methods.
Surgical intervention is performed in the later stages of the disease. Various types of operations can be used, which depend on the specifics of the disease. Thus, joint salvage operations are performed with corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur and pelvis. Hip joint closure operations and joint replacement operations (or arthroplasty).
Osteoarthritis of the legs
It is possible to designate 2 types of deforming arthrosis of the legs: primary and secondary. The 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 any disease (eg, flat feet) or injuries.
Arthrosis of the leg joints is a general definition for diseases of the ankle (arthrosis of the foot) and gonarthrosis. Symptoms and treatment of joint disease of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Osteoarthritis of the foot: what are the symptoms and how to treat it
Symptoms are characterized by tightness in the ankle, pain when walking that disappears at rest, limited joint mobility, swelling of the feet and redness of the skin in the joints, as well as atrophy of adjacent muscles. Most of the time, the joints of the toes are affected. Osteoarthritis of the foot is diagnosed by X-rays.
The treatment of osteoarthritis of the foot, as well as the hip joint, can be surgical and non-surgical. Nonsurgical methods include (in the early stages of the disease):
- orthopedic shoes or the use of orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heels in shoes (3-4 cm),
- physiotherapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
If the arthrosis of the foot has reached grade II-III, analgesics may be prescribed and surgical intervention may 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, with a low heel and not restrict movement.
Medications are needed to relieve pain and help the cartilage in the affected joints to regenerate.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, UV radiation, UHF therapy, magnetic therapy and ultrasound.
Surgical treatment methods can be:
- arthrodesis, in which there is rigid fixation of the diseased area,
- arthroplasty, when the affected joint is restored with surgery,
- endoprostheses - completely replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.
Symptoms and treatment of knee osteoarthritis
As with other types of osteoarthritis, the symptoms of emerging knee cartilage disease are mild pain on exertion that goes away at rest. The knee may swell. It often occurs after fractures and dislocations of the leg.
A characteristic crisis occurs in stage II of the disease and is accompanied by pain. There is also a limitation of joint mobility, fluid accumulation is possible.
Treatment includes medications and healing procedures:
- ozone therapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent,
- Kinesiotherapy is the performance of special exercises to improve the elasticity of the ligaments and blood circulation,
- taking homeopathic medicines.
Treatment of osteoarthritis in popular ways
Obviously, folk remedies should not be taken as a panacea for a disease as serious as osteoarthritis. But in combination 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 night. It is necessary to use cabbage juice within three days, after which it is necessary to make fresh.
- Compresses are also made from a whole cabbage leaf, smeared with honey. We apply the stained side to the joint, wrap it with cellophane and wrap it warmly. We left it all night.
- To relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the legs, 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 flow and consequently relieves pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal compress also helps to reduce joint pain in osteoarthritis. For a compress, it is necessary to cook a thick porridge, cool it, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the painful place overnight. You can only use it once and then prepare it fresh.
- To relieve the pain, you can prepare an oral drink. To do this, add 1 tbsp to a cup of boiling water. I. olive oil and half a teaspoon of grated garlic. It should be taken 2 times a day when pain occurs.
Once again, we note that the main thing is to treat arthrosis comprehensively and in a timely manner, in order to avoid serious complications and surgical intervention.