Causes, symptoms of arthrosis, complications and treatment methods

Arthosis is an joint disease, considered dystrophic and associated with the slow destruction of the cartilage within the joint.With arthrosis, for a long period, changes occur, renovating the joint ends of the bones, inflammatory processes are underway and the degeneration of periosematic tissues occurs.One thing like "arthrosis" also includes a very large group of inflammatory degenerative joint diseases, which have different causes and similar mechanisms of their development.

Arthosis is considered the most common joint disease in the world, according to statistical data at one level or another, up to 80% of the population of the globe suffer from arthrosis.The lessons of this type are very common and are in third place, after oncology and cardiovascular diseases.

The probability of developing arthrosis with age increases many times.The disease equally affects men and women, the exception is only the arthrosis of the Inter -falax joints, since it is often noticed in women.Arthosis has overcome people in working age - for 30 years and every year the number of patients constantly and constantly increased.

The causes of osteoarthritis

Arthosis develops due to metabolic disorders in the joint, which in turn leads to the fact that cartilage begins to lose elasticity.This can be facilitated by the complete or partial loss by the composition of the cartilage of the proteoglycans, this happens, as a rule, due to rather deep cracks in the cartilage itself.The loss of proteoglycans can occur for another reason: due to the failure of their production by joint cells.

The following reasons can affect the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis:

• Pretent previous injuries.It can be dislocations, bruises, fractures, ligaments and other damage.
• Metabolic disorders.
• Excess of body weight, leading to additional loads on the joints.
• The inflammatory process in the joints is acute purulent arthritis.
• Elderly.
• Low power quality.
• Hypothermia.
• Autoimmune diseases - Red lupus, rheumatoid arthritis.
• General body intoxication.
• Frequent colds.
• Specific inflammation: syphilis, tuberculosis, encephalitis from ticks, gonorrhea.
• Thyroid diseases.
• Violation of blood coagulation (hemophilia).
• Pertes's disease is a violation of the blood flow to the head of the femur.

In addition, at risk, in the near future, a disease like arthrosis are people whose professions are: bricklayer, miner, fisherman, blacksmith, metallurgist - and other areas of activities related to the increase in physical work.

Symptoms of arthrosis

Symptom of osteoarthritisThere is pain in the load on the joint, which attends itself when the articulation at rest;By reducing the mobility of the joint, the creaking, a sensation of muscle tension in the articulation.The joint periodically affected by arthrosis can swell and over time it is deformed.

Consider the following 4 large groups of arthrosis symptoms:

• Pain.The presence of pain is the first sign of arthrosis of the joints.It can be assumed that similar sensations occur with any damage, but with arthrosis pain has some characteristics.Firstly, this is the occurrence of sudden pain or significant discomfort during movements.It will be located in the place where the painful joint is located.When a person interrupts the movement and enters a state of rest, the pain passes.At night, a person practically does not undergo unpleasant sensations, unless during the body's state shots, finding the optimal position: the patient falls asleep calmly.Pain appears during rest only in the phase of the progression of the disease, have a certain similarity with dental bastards when a person cannot fall asleep.They are closer in the morning - at 5 am. So, at the beginning of the pain there is practically no pain, it can be felt only with load or palpation, over time the suffering of a person is intensified and the joint requires more and more rest periods.So life completely turns torture: the cartilage IALINA has diluted, the bone is exposed, the osteophytes begin to grow.The acute pain torments almost constantly, intensifying even more in bad weather and full moon.
• Crunch.An equally indicative symptom of arthrosis is the presence of crunch.It becomes audible due to the fact that the softness of the rotation of the bones in the joint is reduced, they rub each other, following which a characteristic sound arises.A crunch can be listened to with other diseases and even when the joints are healthy.But it is precisely such a creak that stands out for its "dry" sound.The more the disease progresses, the more it becomes brighter.Also, if you feel a creaking, pain will take place.This is what allows you to distinguish the sound emitted by the joints with arthrosis from the usual harmless clic.
• Reducing mobility in the joints is another characteristic symptom of osteoarthritis.In the initial phase, this phenomenon does not disturb the patient, but with the progression of arthrosis, the germination of bone neoplasms leads to the fact that the muscles are spasmodic and the joint gap disappears almost completely.This is the cause of the immobility of the limbs to the destination.
• Joint deformation.Its change is determined by the fact that osteophytes grow on the surface of the bones and the synovial fluid arrives.Although the deformation is one of the last symptoms, when arthrosis has affected the articulation to a large extent.

The course of the disease is characterized by the phases of exacerbation and the phases of remission.This significantly complicates the independent diagnosis of arthrosis, based only on his sensations.Therefore, it is necessary to seek a clarification of the diagnosis to the doctor.

Degree of arthrosis

Arthosis is characterized by degenerative distance changes in the joints that will pursue a person in the form of a chronic disease.The result of this destruction is the defeat of the cartilage joint, the pathological changes in its capsule and the synovial shell, in ligaments and bone structures.

It is customary to distinguish between three degrees of arthrosis, which characterize the different severity of the course of the disease and have various symptoms.

1 degree of arthrosis

In the first phase of the development of arthrosis, serious changes in joint morphology are not observed.Only the composition of the synovial fluid is disturbed.It provides the worst joint tissue, then the cartilage loses its previous resistance to family loads.This leads to the fact that cartilage tissues are inflamed, a person has pain.

The patient can complain of an insignificant rigidity in the joints, but very often it does not pay any attention to this feeling, attributing this violation of health changes over time, laying uncomfortable, etc.

Sometimes you can listen to a weak crew in the area of the articulation concerned.Pain can be painful.If the disease is diagnosed at this stage, it will be possible to cope with conservative methods.

2 degree of arthrosis

The second phase of arthrosis is accompanied by the destruction of the cartilage.Bone growths appear on the edges of the joint.The more intense the load, the stronger the fabric of the cartilage of the joint.

A person experiences constant pains, to which he gets used to.The inflammation now calms down, then worsens again.

The muscles surrounding the joints will lose their previous functions, but the most often these disorders are weak or moderate.Therefore, at this stage, a person can refuse to visit the doctor.

After a short load on the legs, a person can try fatigue.At the same time, the painful pain in the joints becomes acute.The crystal during the movement intensifies, which is explained by bone growths.

It is in the second degree of development of osteoarthritis in the joints that the deformation process begins, so you must certainly seek medical assistance.

3 degree of arthrosis

The third degree of arthrosis is the most serious.The joint cartilage of the affected articulation is not only thinned, but has also started to collapse and the pathological outbreaks are already large enough.The joint is very deformed, which affects the normal axis of the limb.

The ligaments that surrounded the articulation previously lose their functional activity, become short, which affects the mobility of the arms or legs.

During this period, a person has contractures and subluxation.The muscles surrounding the joint are abbreviated and elongated, they are difficult to contract.The articulation itself and close tissues suffer from insufficient nutrition.

A person is tormented by severe pain, it is acute and acute.Even at rest, the patient experiences significant discomfort.The third degree of arthrosis is associated with the risk of complete loss of human capacity.

Types of arthrosis

Depending on the cause of osteoarthritis, a disease with unclear etiology is distinguished.Very often, it is diagnosed in people over the age of 40.There is also secondary arthrosis, which occurs against the background of evident causes (after injuries, with joint inflammation, with endocrine diseases, etc.).

In addition to the fact that arthrosis is classified according to the cause of its occurrence, the following varieties of the disease are distinguished:

• Arthrosis of the knee or gonartrosis.This is the most common type of disease.At the same time, the knee joints suffer.The pathology is diagnosed more often in people with an excess of body weight, against the background of metabolic compromise in the body, as well as due to stress.Over the years, the disease develops over the years, the knee completely loses its mobility.
• Osteoarthritis of the ankle.In this type of disease, the ankle articulation is influenced.The disease develops against the background of the lesions, with the extension of the ligaments, due to available dysplasia, gout and diabetes.Sometimes the cause of the pathology is rheumatoid arthritis.Very often, the arthrosis of the ankle is diagnosed in people whose work is associated with excessive loads in this area: in dancers, athletes, in women who wear high wheels.
• Arthrosis of the shoulder.The main reason for the pathology is considered congenital defects of the shoulder joint or excessive loads on it.The risk group includes carriers, patches and people who are engaged with hard manual work.This also includes arthrosis of the elbow joint.
• Arthrosis of the hip or coxartrosis joint.This is one of the heavy varieties of the pathology.The main reason are the changes related to age in joint tissues.The risk group includes people over the age of 40.
• Cervical arthrosis.The reasons that can lead to the development of this pathology: insufficient mobility of the cervical column, obesity and injury.The risk group includes people engaged in sedentary work.In addition to the main symptoms of arthrosis in the form of pain and restriction of joint mobility, patients have dizziness, headache and sometimes even loss of consciousness.This is due to the involvement of the vertebral artery in the pathological process, which feeds the brain.
• Osteoarthritis of the hands and fingers.In this case, the articulation of the wrist is damaged, the joints of the fingers, etc.Very often, women who entered during the menopause period suffer from pathology.
• Spondylartosis in which the joints and cartilage of the spine suffer.The disease develops more often in people of age, after 65 years.Women suffer mainly, which is explained by a decrease in the level of estrogen after the climax that has arrived.
• In Poliosteoartrosis.This is a degenerative disease in which peripheral joints, ligaments and tendons suffer.The joints of the spine can be involved in the pathology.

Complications of osteoarthritis

If arthrosis does not provide adequate attention, not treating it in time and correctly, this can lead not only to the complete destruction of the sick articulation, but also to a change in the biomechanics of the spine, which is why the hernias in intervertebral discs can appear and the development of arthrosis in other healthy joints.The complication of arthrosis of the joints is better not to allow.

The following pathologies are distinguished as the main complications of osteoarthritis:

• Destruction of the joint.
• Joint deformation.
• The impossibility of performing movements.
• Patient disability.
• Violation of the biomechanics of the spine and other joints.
• Ernie of intervertebral records.
• Reduce the patient's standard of life.

Diagnosis of arthrosis

To make a diagnosis, the doctor must interview and inspect the patient.Then it will appoint him a radius x of the joints concerned.

X -ray images are performed more often in 2 projections.The study allows you to view the dystrophic changes in the tissues, the damage to the cartilage and the adjacent bones.The articular gap in arthrosis is restricted, the bone site is deformed, bone growth, osteophytes can leave it.Sometimes the articulation itself loses stability, which leads to dislocations.

The first sign of arthrosis, which can be displayed in an X ray, is the presence of osteophytes.First of all, the edges of the joint surface simply become acute.In the future, they thicken, and then the growing growing and peaks appear on them.The joint gap is already becoming while the pathology advances.

Depending on the resulting radiological image, the doctor can make the following diagnosis (the classification of Kellgren-Lawrence is taken as a base):

• Arthosis is doubtful.It is not possible to determine the degree of narrowing of the joint gap, but small osteophytes are visible.
• Soft arthrosis, in which osteophytes are well displayed, but there are doubts about the narrowing of the joint gap.
• Moderate arthrosis is diagnosed when the joint gap is clearly restricted and the osteophytes are clearly visible.Sometimes bone deformations are found.
• The serious arthrosis is accompanied by a significant narrowing of the joint gap and the formation of large osteophytes.The joint will be deformed.

If the doctor needs more information on the condition of the joint, he can direct the patient to pass the CT, arthroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging.To evaluate the quality of the synovial fluid, joint puncture is performed.

Treatment methods

It is better to treat the painful joints in an initial phase, the treatment itself should be pathogenetic and complex.The essence of the treatment is to remove the causes that contribute to the development of this disease, it is also necessary to eliminate inflammatory changes and restore the functions that have been lost previously.

The complete treatment of arthrosis includes drugs that have anti -inflammatory and analgesic properties, physiotherapeutic procedures should also be performed, which have an analgesic effect on the joints.If the treatment is performed in a resort spa, it consists of climatic conditions that act favorably on the joints, as well as in the use of mineral waters and mud.

The treatment of osteoarthritis is based on different basic principles:

• The damaged joints must be eliminated by an excessive load.If possible, during treatment, it must be generally reduced to a minimum.
• Following the established orthopedic regime.
• Fisiotherapy exercises classes.
• The passage of physiotherapy, which includes a magnet and electrotherapy, a shock wave and laser therapy.
• Sanatorium treatment.To do this, it is necessary once a year, on the recommendation of a doctor, it undergoes a treatment of the course in specialized resorts.
• Saturation of the joint with oxygen or oxygen therapy of the articulation so called inside.
• Drug therapy.
• Inside, the bone block and the decompression of the metrophy.
• Rational approach to nutrition.

Physiotherapy treatment

You can face arthrosis using physiotherapy treatment methods.

These include:

• UVT.The therapy of shock waves allows you to get rid of osteophytes, which are bone processes.They are the ones who become the main cause of pain.The waves soften these extensions and after a while they are absorbed.In parallel, the power of the joint improves, the metabolic processes are normalized.This procedure is effective only in the early stages of the development of the disease.In addition, only a doctor can appoint him, since he has many contraindications.
• Myostimulation.The method is based on muscle stimulation by electrical impulses.The procedure is shown for the treatment of patients forced to bed who are forced to adhere to bed rest after injuries.This method is not very often prescribed for arthrosis, although you allow you to normalize the bloodstream in the problematic area and increase muscle tone, which allows you to bring the deadlines for the restoration of the joints.
• Sound.In this method of treatment, the articulation is exposed to ultrasound waves and drugs.The effect of medicines increases, since they will be delivered "exactly at destination" and the cells will learn them better.
• Ozonotherapy.This method provides for the introduction of a mix of gas in the articulation.The patient disappears, inflammation decreases, joint mobility is normalized and blood circulation improves.The treatment is carried out in courses.Their duration depends on the severity of the flow of pathology.

Surgical types of treatment

When it is not possible to cope with the disease with conservative methods, the patient is directed to the operation.

Surgical intervention methods include:

• Sting performance.This is not just a therapeutic diagnostic method.During its implementation, the needle is inserted in the articulation, taking a small amount of liquid.In the future, it is sent for the analysis.This method allows you to remove the load from the joint and deliver drugs, for example corticosteroids.
• Arthroscopy.At the same time, an arthroscope is introduced into the articulation, for which several small cuts on the skin are made.This procedure allows you to evaluate the conditions of the joint from the inside.During arthroscopy, the doctor can remove unnecessary cartilage, thus offering a person from pain.
• Close to joint osteotomy.The operation is reduced to the fact that the bones of the joint have slightly followed and fixed in the right position.This allows you to reduce the load on the defeat area, as well as save a person from pain.Although the procedure is sufficiently effective, they rarely resort to it, since it is performed under anesthesia and requires a long recovery period.
• Replace your articulation with a prosthesis.Endopropostetic is appealed if the articulation is very deformed and cannot be restored.This is a difficult operation that costs a lot of money.The prosthesis itself is made with materials such as: metal, ceramic, plastic.After the intervention, a person is restored for a long time, he can suffer from pain.Although it is often impossible to help patients with other methods, otherwise a person can be completely immobilized.A high quality prosthesis is able to last for 20 years.Throughout this time, a person will have no problem with the movement.

Pharmacological treatment

We consider the treatment of the drug in more detail:

• Anti -inflammatory drugs.Starting osteoarthritis therapy is complete, you can slow down the course of the disease and largely improve the quality of life.It is worth living in more detailed way in some treatment points.In particular, drug therapy includes in the initial phase: this is the removal of pain, as well as the elimination of inflammatory processes that occur in the joints.
• Hormonal corticosteroids.When arthrosis is in the exacerbation phase, hormonal corticosteroids are recommended.Are inserted in the joint.Externally, you can use a special patch, ointment or tincture, which are made on the basis of the combustion of pepper.
• Preparations aimed at restoring cartilage and improving the high quality composition of the synovial fluid will not be superfluous.The course lasts a rather long period until the moment until the improvement occurs.  

If the case is particularly difficult, it is possible to prescribe the intake of narcotic analgesics.But they are used extremely rarely when the rest of the vehicles did not bring the desired effect.

Adequate nutrition for arthrosis

Separately, it is worth living in nutrition during an exacerbation of the disease.There are also some recommendations here: you cannot eat too much, since this will contribute to the accumulation of extra kilos, but it is impossible to starve, since the supply of cartilage with important elements will be broken.The priority task, which is facing the patient with excess weight is its decrease.To do this, it is simply necessary to remove fast carbohydrates from the diet, they are contained in all flour and dessert products.Alcohol falls under the ban and before all beer.

There are absolutely no complaints about fish dishes: they can be used enough, of course, in reasonable quantities.But you shouldn't lean on its too fat varieties, since they have many calories, which means that the extra pounds will not go for a long time.

An important role in the treatment of arthrosis is assigned to a cold dish.Surprisingly, this dish is recommended to include all doctors in the diet.This food will be a true warehouse of traces of elements for painful joints.The most important component in this dish is a collagen of natural origin.It is absorbed by the body quite quickly and is the basis of any connective tissue.Thanks to the regular consumption of gelatin, good results can be obtained: the joints will become more mobile, the tissues that flank their tissues: elastic bands, cartilage and bones will earn strength.

Do not forget the regular intake of vitamins with food.For arthrosis patients, vitamins B are particularly relevant

Pyridossin will help the production of hemoglobin."You can get it "by eating bananas, walnuts, cabbage and potatoes. It is worth being transported with vegetation and legumes. They will become a source of folic acid. The liver, mushrooms, dairy products -caseari and eggs will be useful. They are rich in riboflavin.

By observing the treatment regime prescribed by the doctor, it can be achieved that the disease withdraws and damaged tissues will begin to recover.