Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body that affect various joints. Because of the similarity of these terms, many people are unaware of the difference between the two. But in fact, arthritis and osteoarthritis are not the same disease. And they have significant differences. It is important to learn the main symptoms so that they can go to the hospital immediately if they appear. You also need to know which doctor treats osteoarthritis in order to see a qualified puppy in a timely manner. specialist

Do not self-medicate. See your doctor at the first sign of illness.

Joint osteoarthritis is a complex degenerative disease 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 it. However, most people do not have a clear idea of what osteoarthritis is. With this disease, various changes and reconstructions occur in the articular ends of the bones for a long time, and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, periarticular tissues are degenerated.

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

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

Reasons

Like arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs due to metabolic failure in certain joints in the body. This causes the cartilage tissue to lose its elasticity.

Cartilage in the joints of the extremities can be destroyed due to disruption of hormone production, reduced blood supply to the joints and injuries. In addition, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause osteoarthritis.

The main reasons:

• history of limb injuries;
• advanced age;
• severe hypothermia;
• presence of inflammatory processes in large and small joints (arthritis and osteoarthritis are two concomitant diseases);
• increasing 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.

Arthritis of the joints can also develop in a person due to genetic diseases - 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 decrease after joint play. The following groups of symptoms of osteoarthritis are distinguished in medical circles:

• pain.Acute pain occurs only when certain actions are performed. Its localization is at the site of the affected joint. At night, there is practically no worries because it is a playful rest. Pain in the quiescent state can manifest itself only during the development of osteoarthritis;
• joint mobility decreases.This is true for both osteoarthritis and arthritis. In the early stages of the disease, this symptom does not bother the patient much. But soon the muscles will begin to spasm. The gap between the joints will almost completely disappear;
• crisisThe reason for its appearance is a decrease in the softness of rotation of the bone in the joint due to the disease. The sound "dries";
• deformation of the affected joint.This is due to the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom is the last visible symptom. Osteoarthritis is the most difficult to treat at this stage.

Stages of the disease

All these symptoms of osteoarthritis occur at different stages of disease development. There are three degrees of difference in medical practice:

• Grade 1 osteoarthritis. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are not obvious. Minor joint pain often occurs during tension or long walks. Pathological changes begin to occur in the fluid and synovium. Treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most effective;
• Grade 2 osteoarthritis.The joint is destroyed. Osteophytes are formed. Pain increases during exercise and movement, a characteristic crisis is heard in the affected joints;
• Grade 3 osteoarthritis.This is the most difficult stage in the development of the disease. There are pathological changes in the joints of the patient. Inflammation occurs. The patient feels stiffness when moving, because the muscles do not fully contract and can not perform their functions.

In the third stage, arthrosis of the joints is very difficult to treat. If you find a qualified professional, you will have a better chance of success. Many people ask the question - which doctor treats osteoarthritis? In this case, you need to seek help from a rheumatologist. He is a narrow specialist in 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 in the early stages of osteoarthritis, it can lead to the following consequences:

• complete destruction of the joint;
• it will be almost impossible to do different actions;
• herniated vertebral discs;
• a person's disability;
• complete deformation of the joint;
• the patient's standard of living will fall.

Treatment

The question of how to treat osteoarthritis is asked by everyone who shows 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 main causes of the development of osteoarthritis and eliminate inflammation in the joints.

Treatment of osteoarthritis should only be comprehensive. Includes taking drugs (tablets, mixtures) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Physiotherapy procedures are also required.

Principles of treatment of osteoarthritis:

• to eliminate excessive tension in the joints;
• treatment with anti-inflammatory and analgesic pills. Also, in complex therapy, chondroprotectors are actively used for osteoarthritis;
• physiotherapy;
• spa treatment;
• magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy;
• intraarticular oxygen therapy;
• intraosseous blockade;
• It is important to choose the right diet for osteoarthritis.

Drug treatment

How to treat osteoarthritis with drugs? This question is most common among patients. Treatment is carried out with three groups of drugs:

• hormonal corticosteroids.Effective for acute osteoarthritisIntroduction - intra-articular. Tablets are less effective in this situation;
• anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used not only to reduce inflammation in the joints, but also to relieve pain. Doctors do not advise patients to take pills because they irritate the gastric mucosa to some extent. Therefore, most veins or muscles are included;
• chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis.They are used to restore cartilage structure. Chondroitin sulfate is the 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 today do not want to take pills or injections. Therefore, the question arises - how to treat osteoarthritis with folk remedies? Often, 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. The following herbal recipes are used to treat this disease:

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

Tinctures of bay leaf, horseradish, garlic and rye seeds are also effective. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies will be most effective when used in combination with drugs.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis

Diet for osteoarthritis has its own characteristics. It is especially important to follow your diet during an exacerbation of the disease. Do not pull too much, as the weight of the body and the load on the affected joint will increase. But you can't sit hungry. Cartilage needs to get the right amount of micronutrients.

The diet for osteoarthritis aims to reduce excess weight. Therefore, carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet. Sweet, flour, alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.

Fish dishes can be included in the daily diet. Low fat varieties should be preferred. The leading role in the treatment of osteoarthritis is given to everyone's favorite food - jelly meat. Many doctors recommend using it as a real medicine for joints. Contains all necessary trace elementsBut the most important component of food is natural collagen.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in vitamin B. Needed to regulate metabolism.

If you follow a diet for osteoarthritis, you can get a significant improvement in your overall condition.

Basic nutrition principles:

• the menu should be completely balanced;
• heavy meals should not be eaten at night. It can cause an attack of osteoarthritis;
• If the disease is not in the exacerbation stage, it is better to walk a little after a meal;
• meals should be in portions;
• you should constantly monitor your weight and prevent it from gaining weight;
• If pills are prescribed, food intake and consumption should be carefully regulated (take before or after meals).

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

Prophylaxis

Prevention of osteoarthritis begins with proper nutrition. In addition to foods that can disrupt metabolism, you should try to reduce salt intake. These include legumes, fatty meats and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

To prevent osteoarthritis, it is necessary to go to physical education, to warm up. 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 your joint pain. It is not recommended to take pills to lose weight, as it can disrupt the body's metabolism.