Arthrosis

Arthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body in which various joints are affected. Because of the similarity of these terms, many people do not know what the difference is between the two. In fact, arthritis and osteoarthritis are not the same disease. And they have important differences. It is important to study their main symptoms so that if they appear, you can visit the hospital immediately. You also need to know which doctor is treating osteoarthritis in order to apply qualified honey in a timely manner. Specialist.

Do not self-medicate. In case of the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.

Osteoarthritis of the joints 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. Most people do not have an accurate idea of what osteoarthritis is. With this disease, for a long time, various changes and rearrangements occur at the articular ends of the bones and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, the periarticular tissues degenerate.

Many people ask the same question - how is arthritis different from osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is a pathology that causes damage to large and small joints. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease throughout the human body. Changes in the body occur not only in the joints. The most common disease of 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 between the ages of 40-50. The disease affects women and men equally. The disease is manifested in able-bodied people and recently it has become much younger (people over the age of 30 suffer from osteoarthritis). Therefore, it is very important to know what osteoarthritis is and how to behave properly for this pathology.

ᲛReasons

Like arthritis, arthrosis occurs due to a metabolic deficiency in certain joints in the body. This causes a loss of cartilage tissue elasticity.

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

Main reasons:

• History of limb injuries;
• Advanced age;
• Severe hypothermia;
• Presence of inflammatory processes in large and small joints (arthritis and arthrosis 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 of 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 an abnormal process is severe pain when a certain joint is loaded. The pain disappears after the joint has rested. The following groups of arthrosis symptoms are distinguished in medical circles:

• PainAcute pain occurs only when certain movements occur. Its localization is at the site of the affected joint. At night, there is virtually no discomfort as the joint rests. Pain at rest can be detected only during the progression of arthrosis;
• Joint mobility decreases.This applies to both arthrosis and arthritis. In the early stages of the disease this symptom does not cause much concern to the patient. But soon the muscles start to spasm. The gap between the joints will almost completely disappear;
• ხრაშუნაThe reason for its appearance is that due to the disease, the softness of the bone turnover in the joint is reduced. His voice is "dry";
• Deformation of the affected joint.This is caused by the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom is the last thing that appears. Osteoarthritis is the most difficult to treat at this stage.

Stages of the disease

All these signs of osteoarthritis occur at different stages of the disease. There are three degrees in medical practice:

• 1st degree arthrosis.The symptoms of osteoarthritis are not pronounced. Most often, minor joint pain occurs during exercise or prolonged walking. Abnormal changes in fluid and synovium begin. Arthritis treatment is most effective at this stage;
• 2nd degree arthrosis.The joint is destroyed. Osteophytes are formed. The pain intensifies during exercise and movement, with a characteristic crackling sound being heard in the affected joints;
• 3rd degree arthrosis.This is the most difficult stage in the development of this disease. There is a pathological change in the areas of the diseased joints. Inflammation occurs. During the movement the patient feels heaviness, because the muscles can not fully contract and perform their functions.

Osteoarthritis of the joints in the third stage of its development is very difficult to cure. There will be more chances 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. It is a narrow specialist in the treatment of dystrophic and inflammatory diseases of the connective tissue and joints, such as arthrosis and arthritis.

Complications

If you do not start treatment for osteoarthritis at an early stage of its development, then this can lead to the following consequences:

• Complete destruction of the joint;
• It will become almost impossible to perform different movements;
• Herniated spinal discs;
• Disability of the person;
• Complete deformation of the joint;
• The patient's standard of living will be reduced.

Treatment

The question of how to treat osteoarthritis is asked by all people who have shown the first signs of the disease. The easiest way to do this is at an early stage in the development of the pathological process before the disorders become irreversible. The essence of therapeutic measures is to remove the root causes of the development of osteoarthritis and eliminate inflammation in the joints.

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

Principles of treatment of osteoarthritis:

• Eliminate unnecessary stress on the joints;
• Therapy with anti-inflammatory and analgesic pills. Also, in complex therapy chondroprotectors are actively used in osteoarthritis;
• Physiotherapy;
• Spa treatments;
• Magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy;
• Intra-articular oxygen therapy;
• Intraosseous blockade;
• It is important to choose the right diet for osteoarthritis.

Drug treatment

How to treat osteoarthritis with medication? This question is most commonly found in patients. Treatment is carried out using three groups of drugs:

• Hormonal corticosteroids.It is effective in the acute stage of arthrosis. Introduction - Intra-articular. Tablets are less effective in this case;
• 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 pills because they irritate the gastric mucosa to some extent. Therefore, they are most often administered intravenously or intramuscularly;
• Chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis.They are used to restore cartilage structure. Chondroitin sulfate is most often prescribed because this drug is very effective. The use of chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis gives a positive result in the early stages of the pathological process.

Folk recipes

Most people today 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 intended to increase body tone, improve blood circulation, relieve pain, and increase immunity. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is most effective in the early stages of the pathological process. To treat this disease, recipes based on the following herbs are used:

• ginger;
• Kalanchoe;
• Celery seeds;
• Castor oil seeds;
• Cinnamon;
• Turmeric;
• Horse tail.

Also effective are tinctures of bay leaf, horse, garlic and rye grains. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies will be most effective in combination with medication.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis

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

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

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

During arthrosis, meals should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in B vitamins. They are essential for regulating metabolism.

If you follow an osteoarthritis diet, then you can achieve a significant improvement in general condition.

Basic principles of nutrition:

• The menu should be completely balanced;
• Heavy foods should not be eaten at night. You can provoke an arthritic attack;
• If the disease is not in the aggravation stage, it is better to walk a little after eating;
• Food should be fractional;
• You need to constantly control your weight and prevent it from growing;
• If pills are prescribed, then it is necessary to clearly regulate their intake and consumption of food (take them before or after meals).

Arthritis diet 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. It is necessary to try to reduce salt intake, as well as foods that can disrupt metabolism. These include legumes, fatty meats and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

For the prevention of osteoarthritis it is necessary to attend physical education, do warming. If possible, it is best to walk a few miles. It is also important to monitor your weight and avoid weight gain as this will put extra stress on the painful joints. It is not recommended to take pills for weight loss as they can disrupt the metabolism in the body.