arthrosis

Osteoarthritis and arthritis are pathological processes in the human body, in which various joints are affected. Because of the similarity of these terms, many people are not aware of the difference between the two. But in fact, arthritis and osteoarthritis are not the same disease. And they have significant differences. Importers It is important to study their main symptoms so that, if they do occur, you can visit a hospital immediately. You also need to know which doctor treats osteoarthritis in order to turn to a qualified honey in time. specialist.

Do not treat yourself. At the first signs of illness, see your doctor.

Osteoarthritis of the joints is a complex degenerative disease that is associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue within the joints. This pathological process is the most common joint disease in the world. According to recent statistics, about 80% of the world's population suffers from it. But most people do not have an accurate idea of what osteoarthritis is. With this disease, for a long period of time, various changes and rearrangements occur at the articular ends of the bones and inflammatory processes develop. As a result, periarticular tissues degenerate.

Many people ask the same question - how does arthritis differ from osteoarthritis? Arthrosis is a pathology that results in damage to large and small joints. Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the entire human body. The changes that occur in the body do not only affect the joints. The most common disease in arthritis is the heart and kidneys. If proper treatment is not performed, then complications and even death can occur.

The chance of developing osteoarthritis or arthritis increases significantly up to the age of 40-50 years. The disease affects women and men equally. The disease occurs in people with fit body and has recently become much younger (people over 30 suffer from osteoarthritis). Therefore, it is very important to know what osteoarthritis is and how to properly treat this pathology.

Causes

Like arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs in the body due to metabolic failure in certain joints. This leads to a loss of cartilage tissue elasticity.

Cartilage located in the joints of the extremities can be destroyed due to disturbances in hormone production, reduced blood supply to the joints and damage. Also, some diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can cause osteoarthritis.

Main reasons:

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

Osteoarthritis of the joints can develop in a person due to genetic disorders - collagen mutations, dysplasia.

Symptoms

The symptoms of osteoarthritis appear almost immediately. The first sign of the development of a pathological process is strong pain when loading a certain joint. The pain will subside when the joint rests. In medical circles, the following groups of osteoarthritis symptoms are distinguished:

• pain.Acute pain occurs only when certain movements are made. Its location is at the site of the affected node. At night, there is virtually no discomfort, as the knot is at rest. Pain in a relaxed state may appear only during the progression of osteoarthritis;
• joint mobility decreases.This is true for both osteoarthritis and arthritis. In the initial stage of the disease, this symptom does not cause much concern to the patient. But soon the muscles will start to spasm. The gap between the joints will disappear almost completely;
• cracklingThe reason for its appearance lies in the fact that due to the disease, the softness of the rotation of the bone in the joint is reduced. Its sound is "dry";
• deformation of the affected joint.This is due to the proliferation of osteophytes. This symptom is the last to appear. Treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is the most difficult.

Stages of the disease

All of these signs of osteoarthritis occur at different stages of disease development. In medical practice, there are three degrees:

• degree arthrosis 1.The symptoms of osteoarthritis are not pronounced. Most often, minor joint pain occurs during exercise or long walks. Pathological changes begin to occur in the fluid and synovium. Treatment of osteoarthritis at this stage is most effective;
• grade 2 arthrosis.The connection has been broken. Osteophytes form. The pain during exertion and movement becomes stronger, a characteristic crackling is heard in the affected joints;
• grade 3 arthrosis.This is the most difficult stage in the development of this disease. There is a pathological change in the sites of diseased joints. Inflammation occurs. The patient feels stiffness when moving, as the muscles cannot fully contract and perform their functions.

Osteoarthritis of the joints in the third stage of its development is extremely difficult to cure. More chances for success will be 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. This is a close specialist who deals with the treatment of dystrophic and inflammatory diseases of connective tissue and joints, such as osteoarthritis and arthritis.

Complications

If you do not start treating osteoarthritis in the early stages of its development, then this can lead to the following consequences:

• complete destruction of the node;
• it will become almost impossible to perform various movements;
• vertebral disc herniation;
• disability of a person;
• complete deformation of the joint;
• the patient's standard of living will decrease.

Treatment

The question of how to treat osteoarthritis is asked by any person who has shown the first signs of the disease. The easiest way to do this is in the early stages of development of the pathological process, until the violations become irreversible. The essence of therapeutic measures is the removal of the root causes of the development of osteoarthritis and the elimination of 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 osteoarthritis treatment:

• eliminate excess stress on the joints;
• therapy with anti-inflammatory and pain relieving pills. Also, in complex therapy, chondroprotectors are actively used for osteoarthritis;
• physiotherapy;
• spa treatment;
• magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy;
• intra-articular oxygen therapy;
• intraosseous blockage;
• it is important to choose the right food for osteoarthritis.

Drug treatment

How to treat osteoarthritis with medication? This question is more common in patients. Treatment is performed using three groups of drugs:

• hormonal corticosteroids.Effective for osteoarthritis in the acute phase. Introduction - intra -articular. Tablets are less effective in this case;
• anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used to reduce inflammation in the joints as well as to relieve pain. Doctors do not recommend that patients take pills, as they irritate the gastric mucosa to some extent. Therefore, they are most often injected into a vein or muscle;
• chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis.They are used to restore cartilage structure. Chondroitin sulfate is most often prescribed, as this medicine is very effective. The use of chondroprotectors for osteoarthritis gives positive results in the early stages of development of the pathological process.

Popular recipes

Most people these days 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 aimed at increasing body tone, improving blood circulation, relieving pain, and boosting immunity. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies is most effective in the early stages of development of the pathological process. For the treatment of this disease, recipes are used based on the following herbs:

• ginger;
• Kalanchoe;
• fara celery;
• castor oil seeds;
• cinnamon;
• India's saffron;
• horse tail.

Tinctures of laurel leaves, horseradish, garlic and rye berries are also considered effective. Treatment of osteoarthritis with folk remedies will be more effective if combined with medication.

Nutrition for osteoarthritis

The diet for osteoarthritis has its own specifics. It is especially important to monitor your diet during an exacerbation of the disease. Do not overdo it, as the body weight and load on the affected joint will increase. But you also can not sit hungry. Cartilage should receive the required amount of micronutrients.

The osteoarthritis diet aims to reduce excess weight. Therefore, carbohydrates should be removed from the diet. Sweet drinks, flour, alcohol are completely excluded.

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

Nutrition for osteoarthritis should be regular. It is important to eat in portions. The daily menu should include foods rich in B vitamins. They are necessary for regulating metabolism.

If you adhere to a diet for osteoarthritis, then you can achieve a significant improvement in overall condition.

Basic nutritional principles:

• the menu should be fully balanced;
• heavy food should not be eaten at night. You can provoke an attack of osteoarthritis;
• if the disease is not in a stage of deterioration, then it is better to walk a little after eating;
• food should be partial;
• you need to constantly monitor 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).

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

Osteoarthritis prevention starts with proper nutrition. It is necessary to try to reduce salt intake as well as food that can disrupt metabolism. These include legumes, fatty meats and alcohol. The diet includes cabbage, herbs and fish.

To prevent osteoarthritis, it is necessary to follow physical education, do warm-ups. If possible, it is best to walk a few miles. It is also important to monitor your weight and prevent weight gain, as this will put extra stress on the injured joints. It is not recommended to take pills for the purpose of weight loss, as they can disrupt the metabolism in the body.