Arthrosis is a degenerative articular pathology, accompanied by processes of degeneration of cartilaginous tissue.As the disease progresses, the joint capsule, ligamentous apparatus, synovial membrane and nearby bone structures are also involved in the destructive process.
Prevalence of arthrosis
Among people with arthrosis, the majority are elderly.The disease after the age of 65 years is not only the most frequently diagnosed articular pathology, but also the main cause for loss of ability to work with subsequent disability.Moreover, in old age, it is mainly the fair sex who get sick, but among young people, the majority of those who get sick are men.
The incidence of osteoarthritis varies greatly across countries.It has not yet been possible to establish the reasons for the wide dispersion of statistical data.
Causes and risk factors
Arthrosis is a disease that can be primary or secondary.If there are no objective reasons for the development of pathology, they speak of the primary type.If it is possible to identify the causes of arthrosis, they speak of a secondary type.
Secondary arthrosis can be provoked by the following negative factors:
- traumatization of joints 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;
- some pathologies of the endocrine system;
- processes of degenerative-dystrophic type that occur chronically;
- various diseases accompanied by excessive joint mobility coupled with weak ligamentous apparatus;
- presence of hemophilia;
- inflammatory processes of a specific type.
In addition to the direct causes that lead to the development of arthrosis, there are also predisposing factors that do not cause the disease themselves, but can increase the risk of its development.
These include:
- age exceeding 55 years;
- the presence of excess weight, due to which the load on the joints increases;
- excessive load on any one joint or group due to improper sports training, specific work that requires a long stay in one position;
- history of surgical interventions on joints;
- heredity;
- hormonal changes in the female body during postmenopause;
- constant hypothermia;
- pathologies of the spine that are not treated;
- insufficient intake of beneficial micro- and macroelements from food.
Development mechanism
The mechanism of arthrosis development is quite well known.The cartilage that ensures the normal contact between two bones is smooth in nature, without any bumps or roughness, which helps maintain normal movement in the joints.When the disease occurs, the structure of the cartilage changes, it becomes rough, and defects appear on it, reducing the effectiveness of natural gliding.
Due to the acquired unevenness, 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 that end up in the joint fluid and can injure surrounding tissues.
As the pathology worsens, the joint may go into a state of chronic subluxation, which will significantly impair its motor function.
Degrees
Doctors divide arthrosis into three main degrees:
- I degree.Characterized by the absence of a clear clinical picture.The patient may present rare complaints of pain in the affected joint, but generally does not consult a doctor.In this case, changes are observed in the ligamentous-muscular apparatus and joint fluid, but there are no visible deformations yet.
- II degree.Symptoms of arthrosis become more pronounced.The pain is characterized as tolerable, but occurring regularly.The patient consults a doctor because he notes a decrease in quality of life.A characteristic crunching sound can be heard in the affected joint.Changes are observed in nearby muscle structures, as nerve conduction is disrupted.
- III degree.Characterized by pronounced symptoms.The articular cartilage is very thin, and cysts, foci of calcification or ossification may be found in it.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 arthrosis is the most common complaint with which patients consult a doctor.Their characteristic feature is their connection with the time of day, weather, and physical activity.
In most patients, pain worsens when walking, running or 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 cartilage is no longer able to perform its shock-absorbing 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 begun active movement.Initial pain usually subsides if physical activity continues.Their occurrence is explained by the presence of articular 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 arthrosis, which may indicate the presence of pathology.
These include:
- The appearance of aching and crunching sound.Aches mainly appear if a person has suffered from hypothermia.At first, the crunch will be barely perceptible by ear, but as the disease progresses without therapy, it will become audible to people around you.
- Decreased ability to move.At the early stage of development of the pathology, there is no decrease in mobility.However, the longer the disease remains untreated, the more severe the limitation of movements in the joint becomes.This is explained by a narrowing of the joint space and spasm of nearby muscle structures.
- Joint deformity.It is characteristic of the late stage of arthrosis, but is 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, therapy is carried out by several specialists at once.First of all, an arthrologist is involved - a specialist in joints.Additionally, the patient will also need to visit an orthopedist.If the disease is a consequence of an inflammatory process, then it is also recommended to visit 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.
Diagnostics
Treatment of joint arthrosis begins only after the diagnosis has been confirmed and the degree of pathology has been established.First of all, the doctor interviews 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 radiography of the affected joint.If the disease has affected the knee, then a picture of the knee is taken; if the pathology is found in the hand, then X-ray signs of the disease are specifically looked for there.
Diagnosis using radiography does not always provide sufficient results to diagnose the patient.In this case, he may be sent for an MRI (this will allow assessing the condition of the soft tissues and their involvement in the pathological process) or CT (this will allow drawing conclusions about the state of bone and cartilage structures, the involvement of nearby anatomical formations in the pathological process).
Treatment
How to treat arthrosis of the joints?The choice of appropriate therapeutic technique depends on the severity of symptoms and the stage of the disease.
The doctor selects the treatment 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 to treat the disease if it is preferable not to undergo surgery, but to use medications?
Conservative therapy is suitable for patients only at an early stage of pathology formation, 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;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,which are mainly used as injections and are injected into muscles close to the joint or directly into a vein.But doctors can also recommend tablets, although this option for taking NSAIDs is undesirable due to the negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
- chondroprotectors– drugs in this group can reduce the processes of destruction of cartilage tissue and enhance regeneration; they are especially effective in the initial stages of the formation of the disease.
Surgical
How to cure arthrosis if the disease has already gone quite far?In this case, conservative therapy will be ineffective, and doctors can only recommend surgical intervention to the patient.
Today, in most cases endoprosthetics is performed.During the operation, the real joint is replaced with a prosthesis that has all the functions of a healthy joint.
In some cases, palliative treatment options are provided, the main goal of which is to reduce the load on the articular surfaces.
Exercise
In the early stages of the disease, it is treated not only with medications, but also with physical therapy.Physical exercise is an important stage of therapy, which helps maintain the functionality of the joint and reduces the likelihood 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 localization of arthrosis, which allows the most effective treatment of the affected tissue.
Self-study without medical supervision is not recommended, especially at the initial stage.Exercises must be selected so that they are as smooth as possible, without sudden movements.
Exercise therapy classes are effective only if the patient devotes a little time to performing the recommended complex every day.
Traditional methods
Many people suffering from arthrosis refuse to use medications or undergo surgery until the very end.In this case, alternative medicines are used as a substitute for medicines.
The most commonly used plants in therapy are:
- Kalanchoe;
- ginger;
- horseradish;
- laurel leaf;
- garlic;
- cinnamon;
- horsetail and others.
They are used in the form of tinctures, decoctions, and poultices to the affected area.It is important to keep in mind that complete treatment of the disease using only home recipes is impossible.It is best if traditional therapy is combined with traditional medicine.
Prevention
What to do to reduce the likelihood of developing arthrosis in old age?Simple preventive measures are available to anyone.
Recommended:
- daily moderate physical activity: walking, cycling, performing simple sets of exercises as exercise, and so on;
- adherence to the basic principles of a healthy diet: eat often, but little by little, avoid fast food, overeating, heavy and fatty foods, eating a lot of spices;
- weight control: weight gain leads to increased stress on the joints, which can lead to the development of arthrosis;
- timely treatment of chronic diseases leading to metabolic disorders;
- the use of vitamin-mineral complexes if the amount of nutrients supplied from food is considered insufficient.
The difference between arthritis and arthrosis
Many people, due to the similarity in sound, confuse arthritis and arthrosis.However, these are completely different diseases.
Arthritis is not called dystrophy and degeneration in joint tissues, 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 closest to it, bone and ligamentous structures.Pain in arthritis is not associated with physical activity; it can bother the patient even at rest, and there is no crunching in the joints at all.
In most cases, it is impossible to independently distinguish arthritis from arthrosis, 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 a mistake with subsequent treatment and prevention of the disease.
Arthrosis 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 surgical intervention, limiting yourself only to conservative treatment.