First, let's define what osteoarthritis is. Osteoarthritis or arthritis is a joint disease in which the cartilage tissue of the interarticular surfaces is damaged. At the same time, not only the articular cartilages are involved in the pathological process, but also the ligaments, synovial membrane, peri-articular muscles.
Arthropathy can be of two forms: localized, in which one of the joints is affected (foot joint, knee joint, etc. ), and generalized. The types of this disease depend on the affected joint and are:
- Coxarthrosis (or hip).
- gonoarthrosis (or knee);
- arthropathy of the distal interphalangeal joints (Heberd nodes);
- damage to the proximal interphalangeal joints.
- polyosteoarthritis of the joints of the hands (Kelgen's disease);
- shoulder arthropathy;
- spondyloarthritis of the lumbosacral region.
- ankle arthropathy (arthropathy of the foot).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- "dry" tingling 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 on it may change (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 problems in the joint can be determined by the presence of tingling, tingling and accompanying pain. However, the body temperature does not rise, swelling does not appear. It is recommended to start the treatment already at the initial stage of the development of the disease.
- In the second degree 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. Reduced joint mobility.
- The third degree is accompanied by symptoms of constant severe pain in the joints (even at rest). There is increased sensitivity to weather conditions. The joints can fail completely and the person becomes incapacitated.
- The fourth degree of the disease is the presence of constant severe pain, in which strong drugs are powerless.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of different types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and treatment of arthropathy of the hip joint
Symptoms of the disease are characterized by pain or simply a pulling sensation in the groin, especially at night, after physical activity during the day. Unpleasant sensations pass quickly. However, if not treated in time, the pain becomes greater and more intense even with little effort. The patient begins to limp, trying to reduce the load on the inflamed organ. Traffic is becoming more and more restricted. As the disease progresses, atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the affected limb occurs.
Depending on the degree of the disease, treatment can be with or without surgery (III-IV degree).
Naturally, the sooner the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment begins, the less likely the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
So, in the initial stages (stages I and II), various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and mandatory diet in such cases will help. The diet aims to reduce the patient's weight in order to reduce the load on the joints (if there is of course an overweight problem). 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 the diet should include dairy and legumes, jelly, low-fat jelly.
The patient can prescribe a course of acupuncture and physiotherapy, which, in addition to the gymnastics already mentioned above, can include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydro- and bath therapy, electrotherapy. Orthopedic structures can be used (walking stick, wedge-shaped pillows, booster seats, braces).
Medicines prescribed to the patient for the treatment of this disease (grades I-II):
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. These medications are designed to relieve groin and hip pain and not directly treat the joints.
- chondroprotectors. Medicines help to restore the structure of the damaged cartilage of the joint and nourish the cartilage, i. e. intended for the treatment of joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasm. It should be used with caution, as often the body thus protects the joint from further damage.
- ointments and creams. It is intended to relieve the patient's condition, but not to cure.
- drugs to inject into a diseased organ. They are rarely used to relieve 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 with each other are brought up. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the affected organ is partially restored and the spasm is reduced. However, the technique is quite time-consuming (up to 15 operations per year) and must be comprehensive, i. e. accompanied by medication and other types of treatment.
The doctor performs manipulation with the help of a sharp movement, which brings immediate relief to the patient, however, this technique is effective in the initial stages of the disease in combination with other treatment methods.
Surgery is performed in the last stages of the disease. Various types of interventions can be used, which depend on the specifics of the disease. Thus, joint-sparing operations are performed with corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur and pelvis. Operations to close the hip joint and operations to replace the joint (or arthroplasty).
Arthritis of the feet
It is possible to define 2 types of deforming arthropathy of the feet: primary and secondary. Primary is characterized by the absence of visible causes for the development of the disease and is considered genetic. Secondary arthropathy of the feet develops in the context of any disease (for example, flat feet) or injuries.
Arthritis of the foot joints is a general definition for diseases of the ankle (arthrosis of the foot) and the knee joint. Symptoms and treatment of joint disease of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Arthritis of the foot: what are the symptoms and how is it treated?
Symptoms are characterized by tingling in the ankle, pain when walking, which disappears at rest, limited joint mobility, swelling of the legs and redness of the skin in the joints, as well as atrophy of the adjacent muscles. Most often the joints of the toes are affected. Arthritis of the foot is diagnosed by X-ray.
The treatment of arthropathy of the foot, as well as of the hip joint, can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical methods include (in the early stages of the disease):
- orthopedic shoes or the use of orthopedic insoles in comfortable shoes,
- low heel on shoes (3-4 cm),
- physiotherapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- special medical gymnastics.
If the arthropathy of the foot has reached grade II-III, pain relievers may be prescribed and surgery may be performed.
It is also important to follow a diet for overweight patients (to reduce the load on the joints of the legs). Shoes should be comfortable, with a low heel and not restrict movement.
Medicines are needed to relieve pain and help regenerate cartilage in affected joints.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, UV radiation, UHF therapy, magnetic and ultrasound therapy.
Surgical treatment methods can be:
- arthrodesis, in which there is a rigid fixation of the affected area,
- arthroplasty, when the affected joint is restored by surgery,
- endoprosthetic - completely replace the diseased joint with an artificial one.
Symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
As with other types of joints, the symptoms of emerging cartilage disease of the knee are mild pain during exercise, which disappears with rest. The knee may swell. It often occurs after fractures and dislocations of the legs.
In stage II of the disease, a characteristic crease appears 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,
- physiotherapy is the performance of special exercises to improve the elasticity of the ligaments and blood circulation,
- taking homeopathic medicines.
Treatment of arthropathy in folk ways
Of course, folk remedies should not be taken as a panacea for such a serious disease as arthrosis. But in combination with the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up recovery.
- To relieve painful symptoms, it is possible to use cabbage juice, in which a natural piece of 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 leaf of cabbage, smeared with honey. Spread the stained side on the joint, wrap it with cellophane film and wrap it warm. We leave it all night.
- To relieve symptoms in arthropathy of the feet, crushed white chalk or eggshells 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 thus relieves pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal compresses also help reduce pain in arthrosis of the joints. For a compress, it is necessary to cook a thick porridge, cool it, wrap it in a cloth and apply it to the sore spot all night. You can only use it once and then brew it fresh.
- To relieve the pain, you can prepare a drink by mouth. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to a glass of boiling water. large. 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 most important thing is the complete and timely treatment of the joint, in order to avoid serious complications and surgery.