Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body in which various joints are affected. Due to the similarity of these terms, many people do not realize the difference between the two. But arthritis and osteoarthritis are not really the same disease. And they have significant differences. It is important to study their main symptoms so that if they occur, they should visit a hospital immediately. You also need to know which doctor treats osteoarthritis in order to turn to qualified honey in time. specialist.

Do not self-medicate. At the first signs of illness, see your doctor.

Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue inside the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease in the world. According to the latest statistics, about 80% of the world's population suffers from this. But most people have no idea what osteoarthritis is. In this disease for a long period of time in the articular ends of the bones occur various changes and rearrangements and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, periarticular tissues degenerate.

Many people ask the same question - how is arthritis different from osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a pathology that leads to damage to large and small joints. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the entire human body. The changes that occur in the body do not only affect the joints. The most common disease in arthritis is the heart and kidneys. If not treated properly, then complications and even death can occur.

The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis or arthritis increases significantly by the age of 40-50. The disease affects women and men equally. The disease occurs in able-bodied people and has recently become much younger (people over 30 suffer from osteoarthritis). That is why it is very important to know what osteoarthritis is and how to properly treat this pathology.

Reasons

Like arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs in the body due to metabolic failure in certain joints. This leads to a loss of elasticity of the cartilage tissue.

Cartilage located in the joints of the limbs can be destroyed due to disturbances in hormone production, reduced blood supply to the joints and injuries. Also, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause osteoarthritis.

Main reasons:

• history of limb injuries;
• old age;
• severe hypothermia;
• the presence of inflammatory processes in large and small joints (arthritis and osteoarthritis are two concomitant diseases);
• increased body weight. In this case there will be a constant additional load on the joints;
• general intoxication of the body;
• frequent SARS, acute respiratory infections and influenza;
• pathological processes in the thyroid gland;
• hemophilia;
• Perthes' disease.

Osteoarthritis of the joints can also develop in humans due to genetic disorders - collagen mutations, dysplasia.

Symptoms

The symptoms of osteoarthritis appear almost immediately. The first sign of the development of a pathological process is severe pain when loading a particular joint. The pain will subside once the joint is at rest. In medical circles, the following groups of symptoms of osteoarthritis are distinguished:

• pain.Acute pain occurs only when certain movements are made. Its location is at the site of the affected joint. At night there is practically no discomfort, as the joint is at rest. Pain at rest can occur only during the progression of osteoarthritis;
• joint mobility decreases.This is true for both osteoarthritis and arthritis. In the initial stage of the disease, this symptom does not cause much concern to the patient. But soon the muscles will begin to spasm. The difference between the joints will almost completely disappear;
• crisis.The reason for its appearance lies in the fact that due to the disease, the softness of rotation of the bone in the joint decreases. Its sound is "dry";
• deformation of the affected joint.This is due to the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom appears last. The treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most difficult.

Stages of the disease

All these signs of osteoarthritis appear at different stages of the disease. In medical practice, three degrees are distinguished:

• 1st degree osteoarthritis. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are not pronounced. Most often, minor joint pain occurs during exercise or prolonged walking. Pathological changes begin to appear in the fluid and synovium. The treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most effective;
• grade 2 osteoarthritis.The joint is destroyed. Osteophytes form. The pain during exercise and movement becomes stronger, a characteristic crunch is heard in the affected joints;
• grade 3 osteoarthritis.This is the most difficult stage in the development of this disease. There is a pathological change in the sites of diseased joints. Inflammation occurs. The patient feels stiffness when moving, because the muscles cannot contract completely and perform their functions.

Osteoarthritis of the joints in the third stage of its development is extremely difficult to treat. You will have a better chance of success if you find a qualified specialist. Many people ask the question - which doctor treats osteoarthritis? In this case, you should seek help from a rheumatologist. This is a narrow specialist who deals with the treatment of dystrophic and inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue and joints, such as osteoarthritis and arthritis.

Complications

If you do not start treatment for osteoarthritis in the early stages of its development, it can lead to the following consequences:

• complete destruction of the joint;
• it will become almost impossible to perform various movements;
• spinal disc herniation;
• injury to a person;
• complete deformation of the joint;
• the patient's standard of living will decrease.

Treatment

The question of how to treat osteoarthritis is asked by every person who showed the first signs of the disease. The easiest way to do this is in the early stages of the pathological process, until the disorders become irreversible. The essence of therapeutic measures is to eliminate the root causes of osteoarthritis and eliminate inflammation in the joints.

The treatment of osteoarthritis should only be complex. It includes medication (tablets, mixtures) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Physiotherapy procedures are also needed.

Principles of treatment of osteoarthritis:

• elimination of excessive stress on the joints;
• therapy with anti-inflammatory and analgesic pills. Also, in complex therapy, chondroprotectors are actively used for osteoarthritis;
• physiotherapy;
• balneotherapy;
• magnetic therapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy;
• intra-articular oxygen therapy;
• intraosseous blockade;
• it is important to choose the right diet for osteoarthritis.

Medication treatment

How to treat osteoarthritis with drugs? This question is most common among patients. The treatment is performed with the help of three groups of drugs:

• hormonal corticosteroids.Effective in osteoarthritis in the acute stage. Introduction - intra-articular. In this case, the tablets are less effective;
• anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used to reduce inflammation in the joint as well as to relieve pain. Doctors do not recommend that patients take the pill, as it irritates the stomach lining to some extent. Therefore, they are most often injected into a vein or muscle;
• chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis.They are used to restore the structure of cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is most commonly prescribed because it is highly effective. The use of chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis gives positive results in the early stages of the pathological process.

Folk recipes

Most people these days do not want to take pills or injections. Therefore, they ask the question - how to cure osteoarthritis with the help of folk remedies? For the most part, such funds are aimed at increasing body tone, improving blood circulation, relieving pain and increasing immunity. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is most effective in the early stages of the pathological process. Recipes based on the following plants are used to treat this disease:

• ginger;
• Kalanchoe;
• celery seeds;
• castor oil seeds;
• cinnamon;
• turmeric;
• horsetail.

Infusions of bay leaf, horseradish, garlic and rye beans are also considered effective. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies will be most effective if combined with drugs.

Nutrition in osteoarthritis

The diet for osteoarthritis has its own specifics. It is especially important to monitor your diet during an exacerbation of the disease. Do not overeat too much, as the body weight and load on the affected joint will increase. But you also can't sit hungry. Cartilage must receive the required amount of micronutrients.

The diet for osteoarthritis is aimed at reducing excess weight. Therefore, carbohydrates should be eliminated from the diet. Jam, flour, alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.

Fish dishes can be included in the daily diet. Preference should be given to low-fat varieties. The leading role in the treatment of osteoarthritis is assigned to everyone's favorite dish - meat jelly. Many doctors recommend its use because it is a real panacea for the joints. It contains all the necessary trace elements. But the most important component of the dish is natural collagen.

Eating for osteoarthritis should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in B vitamins. They are needed to regulate metabolism.

If you stick to a diet for osteoarthritis, then you can achieve a significant improvement in general condition.

Basic nutritional principles:

• the menu must be completely balanced;
• heavy food should not be eaten at night. You can cause an attack of osteoarthritis;
• if the disease is not in an exacerbation stage, then it is better to walk shortly after eating;
• the food must be partial;
• you must constantly monitor your weight and prevent it from increasing;
• if pills are prescribed, then it is necessary to clearly regulate their intake and consumption of food (take them before or after meals).

Diet for osteoarthritis helps not only to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but also to improve the condition of the joints.

Prevention

Prevention of osteoarthritis begins with proper nutrition. We need to try to reduce salt intake, as well as food that can disrupt metabolism. These include legumes, fatty meats and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

To prevent osteoarthritis it is necessary to attend physical education, to do warm-ups. If possible, it is better to walk a few kilometers. It is also important to monitor your weight and prevent weight gain, as this will put extra stress on diseased joints. It is not recommended to take pills for weight loss, as they can disrupt the body's metabolism.