Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative changes in the joints, which begin with the depletion of cartilage tissue and over time lead to limitation or complete loss of mobility.The disease is more susceptible to older people, but also develops in people under 40 years of age.The prevalence of the diagnosis is high: approximately 20% of the world population, of which up to 80% concern patients over the age of 70.
How does the disease develop?
To understand what osteoarthritis is (an alternative name is osteoarthritis), you need to understand how a joint works.A joint of two or more bones is surrounded by a joint capsule and remains mobile thanks to a cavity filled with synovial fluid.The elastic mass acts as a lubricant, preventing friction and premature wear of the joint surfaces.The cartilaginous tissue, in turn, functions as a shock absorber.In individual joints, its functions are complemented by menisci or discs.
The main cause of degenerative changes in arthrosis is the discrepancy between external influences and the joint's ability to resist them.The role of a provoking factor can be played by:
- age, injuries, excess weight;
- lack of nutrients;
- excessive physical activity;
- inflammatory processes;
- genetic diseases;
- autoimmune reactions, etc.
Osteoarthritis in the elderly is usually the result of natural aging and wear of bone structures.Therefore, after 50 years, it is diagnosed in one in three people, and after 70 years in one in two people.In addition, accelerated destruction of some joints is typical for representatives of numerous professions: mechanics, loaders, weavers, dancers, etc.
Under the influence of unfavorable factors, the cartilage tissue is damaged and becomes thinner.As a result, the bones shift and begin to rub against each other, causing considerable discomfort.The process is accompanied by inflammation and swelling.The joint surfaces are deformed, the lost cartilaginous tissue is replaced by spines and bony growths that hinder movement and lead to disability.In these cases, only a strong painkiller can relieve the pain for a long time.
Types of osteoarthritis
Destructive processes inside the joints are called primary if the cause of their occurrence is unknown, and secondary if they develop against the background of certain diseases and conditions.Acute arthrosis is associated with infectious and stress factors and is characterized by a rapid course.The chronic form develops gradually, risking limiting physical activity if therapy is refused.In addition, the type of disease is determined by the place of its development.
Osteoarthritis of the hip joint (coxarthrosis)
It is accompanied by pain in the groin area, which spreads to the surface of the thigh, occasionally affecting the lower leg area.In the initial stages, difficulties arise in walking, climbing stairs, and during long walks - lameness.Subsequently, it becomes difficult for a person to do basic things related to the load on the sore joint: putting on shoes, getting on a bicycle, tying shoelaces, walking without crutches.The muscles atrophy, the leg shortens, and pain occurs in the lower back and knee.In the absence of therapy, the probability of disability is high.
Osteoarthritis of the knee joint (gonarthrosis)
Often diagnosed in women, it is severe with excess weight and varicose veins.Knee discomfort increases in bad weather, when climbing stairs or during physical activity.As the disease progresses, flexion-extension movements are impaired, limb deformities, signs of inflammation and swelling appear.Knee osteoarthritis is often confused with damage to the meniscus, which is characterized by more rapid development.
Osteoarthritis of the spine
A common form of joint degenerative processes, which can be triggered both by high loads or mineral deficiency, and by a number of diseases affecting the vertebrae.The difficulty of diagnosis is due to the fact that the symptoms are masked as clinical manifestations of other pathologies.Osteoarthritis of the spine can develop in different areas: thoracic, lumbar, cervical, sacrococcygeal.Accordingly, the symptoms and names will be different.
Ankle arthritis
It is often a consequence of home or professional injuries, excess weight or ligament problems.It begins with pain and swelling in the ankle area, which increases after physical exertion and long walking.There may be creaking noises and limited mobility that progress as the degenerative processes progress.The diagnosis is complicated by edema, which is associated with other diseases: diabetes, kidney damage, heart disease.
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint (oarthrosis)
Usually caused by a dislocation, a strong blow or a fracture.There is an aching pain radiating to the lower part of the limb, which is especially troubling at night.As the cartilage deteriorates, difficulties occur with abduction, rotation, and other arm movements.The disease must be distinguished from heart problems and spinal diseases, which have similar manifestations.
Osteoarthritis of the foot joints
It affects both the large and small joints of the foot.Most often, a destructive process develops in the thumb area, which is why it is mistaken for gout.The provoking factor is usually not damage to the foot, but the incorrect choice of shoes in combination with flat feet.In a confined space, the joint area becomes injured, thickened, inflamed and loses mobility.
Osteoarthritis of the joints and fingers
Damage to small joints, as a rule, is multiple and develops on both hands.The process is usually associated with changes in hormone levels, so it is often observed in women during menopause.In the acute phase, the joints become swollen, red, and nodules may appear.Gradually, the pain decreases, but the deformities of the fingers increase and mobility is lost.
Injuries and pinching of the nerves in the hand area can lead to degenerative processes in the wrist joint.The prerequisite is often tunnel syndrome, due to which blood circulation suffers.Rhizarthrosis, caused by loads on the base of the thumb, is also common.The pain in this type of osteoarthritis is moderate, but mobility may be impaired and crunching may occur during exertion.
Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint
It often occurs against the background of dental problems, autoimmune and endocrine pathologies.Often the provoking factor is chronic stress, which causes muscle tension and convulsive clenching of the teeth, which compromises the nutrition of the joint capsule.The disease is accompanied by jaw discomfort and can lead to dizziness, disturbances in hearing, sleep and facial symmetry.
Among large lesions, the most common are gonarthrosis, coxarthrosis and arthrosis of the shoulder joint.Of small ones, the joints of the hands and spine are most often affected.Much less frequently, degenerative processes are observed in the area of the patella, clavicle, talus and elbow joints.They are usually caused by specific injuries or stress, particularly in professional sports or work with monotonous movements.
Other types of osteoarthritis
Another classification of the disease is related to the nature of the destructive processes and the reasons that cause them.If degenerative changes are associated with the consequences of an injury, it is called post-traumatic arthrosis.When autoimmune diseases become the factor that triggers the depletion of cartilage tissue, rheumatoid and psoriatic types are distinguished.
If the disease affects a joint it is called localized arthrosis.If more than one joint is affected, the term polyarthrosis (or generalized osteoarthritis) is used.The progressive form of the disease refers to the rapid destruction of cartilage, which develops over a few years.If the process is accompanied by bone growth and affects the ligaments and surrounding tissues, deforming osteoarthritis is diagnosed.
Stages of osteoarthritis
Degenerative processes in the joint develop gradually, leading over time to complete thinning and destruction of the cartilage.The initial changes are evident only at the cellular level, but as one progresses to later degrees of osteoarthritis, the clinical signs become more and more pronounced.Their nature, as well as X-ray indicators, form the basis for the classification of the disease.
Arthritis of the joint stage 1
Accompanied by slight changes in bone and cartilage tissue.They are still poorly visible on ultrasound and radiographic examination, but are already visible on CT.With significant loads, short-term pain, swelling and movement in the affected area are somewhat limited.A certain narrowing of the joint space and sharpening of the bone edges are observed.At this stage the disease responds well to drug therapy.
Arthritis of the joint stage 2
The destructive processes are progressing.Photographs show significant narrowing of the joint space, damage to the cartilage reaches 50%.The pain is still moderate, but becomes permanent.Symptoms characteristic of each type of arthrosis appear, such as lameness, decreased mobility, creaking, accumulation of fluid in the synovial cavity, etc.Treatment of joint arthrosis at this stage of the disease allows you to slow down destructive changes.
Arthritis of the joint stage 3
The disease leads to complete destruction of cartilage.The joint surfaces expand significantly due to bone growth, the gap practically disappears.Cavities, cysts and deformities may appear.Bone destruction begins, thinning of the muscle fibers adjacent to the joint.Flexion and rotation movements are limited.The pain is severe.In the absence of treatment, the processes of fusion and ossification of the joint structures begin, accompanied by a complete loss of mobility.The patient loses the ability to take care of himself and requires constant care.
The first degrees of arthrosis respond well to drug therapy, which allows you to preserve mobility as much as possible and stop the degenerative processes.In advanced cases, it is possible to alleviate the condition only with the help of physiotherapy, taking chondroprotectors, anti-inflammatories and painkillers.In some cases, the only treatment option is surgery.