There are more than 180 joints in the human body and they are bad for almost everyone. Diagnoses look different, different treatment is recommended, but the pain does not go away, it only intensifies with age, the relief is temporary.
There is still no consensus in the medical community on this disease, including treatment methods.
What is osteoarthritis 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 joint or gonarthrosis occurs.
- Postponed arthritis. Arthritis is inflammation of the joint. It can also be a complication after ARVI or the result of a specific infection: gonorrhea, tuberculous, brucelosis, with viral hepatitis, adenovirus infection, rubella, HIV infection.
- High physical activity is a professional problem for athletes. For a normal person, any load can become stressful and "kick start" the process.
- Autoimmune diseases: osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, drug arthropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system. For example, dysplasia can 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 impressive enough.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are numerous, but the main one is pain.
Pain in osteoarthritis appears first with physical exertion, decreases during rest. They arise due to microfractures, spasms of the periarticular muscles, irritation of surrounding tissues by osteophytes. When synovitis develops, the joint swells, pain occurs at the very first movements, then disappears and reappears with prolonged effort.
A necrotic osteophyte (a torn piece of joint cartilage) "wedges" the joint and causes severe pain, creaking and external changes appear, habitual movements are difficult.
Stage one classification: movements in the joint are moderately limited, pain is only during exertion, insignificant bone growths are visible on X-ray images, the narrowing of the joint space is small. Stage two - the mobility of some joints is significantly limited, a crunch appears. Pain occurs with the simplest movements. With arthrosis of the leg joints, lameness occurs due to shortening of the limb, there is a sprain of the pelvic area, pain in the legs and lower back. The pictures show that the joint space decreases threefold, the bone growths are rough, the joint surfaces are damaged. Stage three: the joint is destroyed, with bilateral arthrosis - movement is possible only with crutches.
Classification
- Stage one: the movements in the joint are moderately limited, the pain is only during exertion, insignificant bone growths are visible on X-rays, the narrowing of the joint space is small.
- Stage two - the mobility of some joints is significantly limited, a crunch appears. Pain occurs with the simplest movements. With arthrosis of the leg joints, lameness occurs due to shortening of the limb, there is a sprain of the pelvic area, pain in the legs and lower back.
- Stage three: the joint is destroyed, with bilateral arthrosis - movement is possible only with crutches.
Diagnostics
Osteoarthritis of the knee and osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis) are the most common diagnoses.
Instrumental examination for arthrosis:
- X-ray - to assess the condition of the bone.
- MRI or computed tomography - the degree of destruction of the joint and its parts is determined.
- Arthroscopy.
Treatment of arthrosis
Conservative treatment (only in the early stages):
- NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory and warming ointments, orthotics of the joints.
- Physiotherapy - to relieve pain and improve blood circulation.
- Chondroprotector - one could say biologically active additives with placebo effect.
- Chondroprotector with NVPS: relief is felt immediately (anti-inflammatory action), the treatment is longer.
- Hormonal drugs
- Preparations of hyaluronic acid are a full-fledged "prosthesis" of the synovial fluid.
- Plasma treatment - PRP therapy, orthokine therapy.
Operative treatment
- Endoprosthesis - replacement of joint surfaces.
- Arthroplasty is a method for small, unstressed hand joints.
- Arthroscopy.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of osteoarthritis, like many complex diseases, is the timely treatment of any infections and a careful attitude to health.