There are more than 180 joints in the human body and almost all of them hurt. Diagnoses sound different, different treatment is recommended, but the pain does not disappear, it only intensifies with age, the relief is temporary.
There is still no consensus in the medical community about this disease, including treatment methods.
What is arthrosis of the joints
This is a whole group of diseases of a polyetiological nature, in which all parts of the joint are destroyed.
Causes of osteoarthritis
There are many of them and they are not fully understood.
- Osteoarthritis develops after injury. For example, if the knee joint is damaged, osteoarthritis of the knee or gonarthrosis occurs.
- Delayed arthritis. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint. It can be a complication even after ARVI or a consequence of a specific infection: gonorrhea, tuberculosis, brucellosis, viral hepatitis, adenovirus infection, rubella, HIV infection.
- High physical activity is a professional problem for athletes. For an ordinary person, any load can become stressful and "start" the process.
- Autoimmune diseases: osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, drug-induced arthropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. For example, dysplasia may be one of the causes of osteoarthritis of the hip joint.
- Excess weight.
- Harmful working conditions.
- Alcohol and bad habits.
The list is incomplete, but already quite impressive.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are numerous, but the main one is pain.
Pain in arthrosis occurs first during physical exertion, it decreases at rest. They occur due to microfractures, spasms of the periarticular muscles, irritation of the surrounding tissues with osteophytes. When synovitis develops, the joint swells, the pain appears at the first movements, and then it disappears and reappears at a longer effort.
Necrotic osteophyte (torn piece of articular cartilage) "wedges" the joint and causes severe pain, cracking and the appearance of external changes, making normal movements difficult.
Classification First phase: movements in the joint are moderately limited, pain is only with exertion, X-rays show slight bone growths, narrowing of the joint space is small. Second phase: the mobility of certain joints is significantly limited, cracking occurs. Pain occurs with the simplest movements. With arthrosis of the ankles, lameness occurs due to shortening of the extremities, there is a distortion of the pelvic zone, pain in the legs and lower back. The pictures show that the joint space has decreased three times, the bone growths are rough, the joint surfaces are damaged. Third phase: the joint is destroyed, with bilateral arthrosis - movement is possible only on crutches.
Classification
- The first phase: movements in the joint are moderately limited, pain is only with exertion, slight bone growths are visible on the X-ray, narrowing of the joint space is small.
- Second phase: the mobility of certain joints is significantly limited, cracking occurs. Pain occurs with the simplest movements. With arthrosis of the ankles, lameness occurs due to shortening of the extremities, there is a distortion of the pelvic zone, pain in the legs and lower back.
- Third phase: the joint is destroyed, with bilateral arthrosis - movement is possible only on crutches.
Diagnosis
Osteoarthritis of the knee and osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis) are the most common diagnoses.
Instrumental examination for osteoarthritis:
- Radiography - to assess the condition of bone tissue.
- Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography - determines the degree of destruction of the joint and its parts.
- Arthroscopy.
Treatment of osteoarthritis
Conservative treatment (only in the early stages):
- NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory and heating ointments, orthoses for joints.
- Physiotherapy - to relieve pain and improve blood circulation.
- Chondroprotectors - one could say biologically active additives with a placebo effect.
- Chondroprotectors with NVPS - relief is felt immediately (anti-inflammatory effect), treatment is longer.
- Hormonal drugs
- Hyaluronic acid preparations are a full-fledged "prosthesis" of synovial fluid.
- Plasma treatment - PRP therapy, orthokin therapy.
Surgical treatment
- Endoprosthetics - replacement of joint surfaces.
- Arthroplasty is a method for small and unloaded wrist joints.
- Arthroscopy.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of arthrosis, as well as many complex diseases, is timely treatment of any infections and careful treatment of your health.