Arthrosis is a pathological process in the joints, which can have various causes.Each leads to disruption of the function and structure of one or more joints.This disease is the most common cause of chronic joint pain.It affects millions of people.The symptoms and treatment of arthrosis require individual observation by a qualified orthopedist in each case.
What is arthrosis?
The basis of the disease is the progressive loss of cartilage, which normally lines adjacent bone segments and ensures their relative slippage.As a result of various reasons, the cartilage tissue begins to collapse, immature stem cells are activated in the underlying bone, it becomes denser, cavities (cysts) and outgrowths (osteophytes) form in it.
The gap between the joint surfaces gradually narrows and then disappears completely, and the movement of the limb stops.Osteoarthritis affects all joint tissues, including the nearby muscles, ligaments and joint capsule.Therefore, the treatment of joint arthrosis is a difficult task, in the later stages only surgery can help the patient.
The most common form of the pathology is deforming arthrosis, which affects the large joints of the lower limbs, as well as the hand.
Causes of arthrosis
Possible causes of arthrosis:
- endocrine diseases - diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly, obesity;
- injuries, both large (bone fractures, as a result of which their articular surfaces are displaced from the normal axis), and microscopic, but permanent (during hard work, constant professional or sports load);
- inflammatory processes: infectious arthritis, gout, rheumatic diseases;
- metabolic disorders in the body: Paget's disease and Wilson-Konovalov's disease;
- congenital malformations such as different limb lengths;
- genetic defects in the structure of collagen, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome;
- neuropathies of various origins: diabetic, alcoholic;
- hemophilia with frequent bleeding in the joint cavity.
In order to successfully treat arthrosis of the joints, the cause that caused it must be eliminated.
Symptoms and stages of arthrosis
The disease is accompanied by the following complaints and external signs:
- aching pain and limited movement in one or more joints;
- painful sensations intensify after exercise, often at night, and become permanent in severe stages of arthrosis;
- a dangerous complication is immobility of the joints, inability to move and take care of oneself.
Common forms of the disease:
- damage to the interphalangeal joints of the fingers and the base of the thumb, they can enlarge, swell, sometimes become painful, inflammation develops in them;
- hip joint arthrosis: more common in men, associated with heavy physical work;the main cause of this disease in women is obesity;
- knee joint arthrosis: more often associated with professional activities carried out in a kneeling and squatting position;
- spinal arthrosis: it is accompanied by the formation of bone spurs pinching the nerve roots, which results in pain, weakness, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, and constant pain in the lower back.
Arthrosis has such degrees:
- 1st degree: mild mobility limitation.
- 2nd degree: significant limitation of movement, cracking during movement, moderate atrophy of nearby muscles.
- 3rd degree: deformation of the joint with almost complete lack of movement.
Depending on the degree of dysfunction and the stage of the pathology, doctors of different profiles - therapists, physiotherapists, rheumatologists, neurologists and orthopedists - are involved in the treatment of the disease.
Treatment of arthrosis
The aim of the treatment is to eliminate risk factors and pain, as well as to restore joint functions.Various influencing methods are used for this:
- non-medicinal: informing the patient about his illness and preventing complications, physical exercise, weight loss, physical exercise, use of aids (orthosis, cane, crutches);
- anti-arthrosis drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially their new generation - selective COX-2 inhibitors;Taking atypical antidepressants is recommended to relieve chronic pain;symptomatic, slow-acting drugs have only auxiliary value, since their effect on slowing cartilage destruction has not been proven;
- with simultaneous inflammation and severe pain, traumatologists perform intra-articular injections of glucocorticoid hormones;
- The most effective method is surgery, which allows you to get rid of pain and restore mobility.
Different types of surgery can be performed:
- arthroscopy - examination of the inner surface of the joint with a small video camera (endoscope), removal of pieces of cartilage blocking the joint;
- arthroplasty – replacement of the cartilage surface with an artificial material;
- osteotomy - cutting or removing part of the bone in order to restore the normal axis of the joint;
- arthroscopic surgery - surgical restoration of cartilage integrity;
- arthrodesis - creating artificial immobility in a joint (most often the ankle) to relieve the patient of constant pain;
- endoprosthetics - removal of damaged joint ends of bones and replacement with an artificial joint.
Prevention
There is no guaranteed way to prevent the disease.The prevention of arthrosis includes the elimination of excessive load on the joints and the timely treatment of diseases that contribute to the destruction of cartilage.Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies does not slow down the progression of the disease, but helps to temporarily relieve joint pain.It can only be considered as an adjunct to conventional drug therapy or surgery.
Time is a negative factor for patients with arthrosis.The sooner therapy or surgery begins, the better the results.Therefore, if symptoms of osteoarthritis appear, consult a doctor immediately.