Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joints in which their nutrition is disrupted and their structures are destroyed. This disease develops slowly and is associated with gradual wear and tear on the joints and slower recovery processes over life. Most often it occurs in people over 40, and by the age of 80 it manifests itself to one degree or another in almost every person. The resulting mobility restrictions lead to disability over time.
Timely contact with specialists will help maintain freedom of movement for many years.
About the disease
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative-dystrophic disease of mobile bone joints. When it occurs, tissue nutrition is disrupted and destruction occurs. The body compensates for the destruction and the bone tissue becomes harder and begins to grow. Compensatory growth naturally leads to joint deformity, dysfunction and pain.
In different regions of our planet, 10-20% of people suffer from osteoarthritis. It often turns out that a person is treated independently and without the help of a doctor. This leads to deterioration and disability. Well-chosen treatment relieves suffering and slows down the development of the disease.
Causes of the appearance and development of osteoarthritis
- habit of moving a little,
- longer stationary standing position (found in some professions),
- increased physical activity (some sports, professional sports),
- Age,
- unhealthy diet
- overweight,
- bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking),
- Dysfunction of the endocrine and reproductive systems (thyroid disease, lack of sex hormones),
- Metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, obesity, arteriosclerosis),
- circulatory disorders (venous insufficiency),
- Inheritance.
These factors affect the nutrition of the cartilage that covers the articular bone surfaces. There is less cartilage tissue, the cartilage becomes thinner and begins to tear, and the secretion of synovial fluid (lubricating fluid) decreases. Where the cartilage tissue has broken down, the bone surfaces begin to rub against each other. In response, bone tissue grows, the joint deforms and loses mobility.
classification
Depending on its origin, osteoarthritis is divided into:primary and secondary. Primarily, it is a disease that develops in an intact joint without any previous damage, for example due to too much physical activity. Secondary, the disease affects the joint tissue after an injury or as a result of changes associated with other joint diseases.
The legs (knee, first metatarsophalangeal joint, hip) and fingers are most commonly affected by this disease. In addition, osteoarthritis of the spine is widespread. The hip joint (coxarthrosis) is considered the most serious disease, and the knee joint (gonarthrosis) is most common.
Stages of development
Stages of disease development according to the Kellgren-Lawrence clinical and radiological classification:
- Stage I: Discomfort and pain occur when walking. There are no radiological changes.
- Stage II: There is a slight dull pain when walking for a long time, a rare crunching sound when bending the limbs. In the X-ray: barely noticeable narrowing of the joint space, questionably small osteophytes (growths on the edges of the joint).
- Stage III: Pain and stiffness increase in the morning. The pain gets worse with movement. X-ray: slight narrowing of the joint space, rarely osteophytes.
- Stage IV: Pain in muscles and bones occurs at any time of the day. Swelling may occur and pain increases. In the x-ray: moderate narrowing of the joint space, pronounced osteophytes, changes in the bone surfaces and there is a compaction of the bone tissue under the cartilage tissue (subchondral sclerosis).
- Stage V: Persistent aching, dull pain that increases with movement, severe "crunching" with movement, joint deformation, muscle atrophy. On the X-ray: the joint space is severely narrowed, subchondral sclerosis, rough osteophytes, pronounced deformation of the surfaces.
Doctors help relieve discomfort, conduct a complete examination and select individual treatment, taking into account gender, age, metabolic level, concomitant diseases and other characteristics of each client.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis progresses gradually: symptoms may only appear several years after the destruction process begins or when inflammation occurs.
The first signs include pain in the arms and legs during physical activity. After prolonged relaxation (at night), a slight stiffness is felt in the morning. Aching, dull "initial pains" appear, i. e. movements that appear at the beginning after a break and subside after some activity. Since the symptoms are not yet very pronounced, people at this stage rarely turn to a specialist. Although right nowThe easiest time is to stop the development of osteoarthritis.
Over time, the pain increases and does not subside, interferes with sleep at night and worsens with changing weather. A feeling of pain arises in the bones, muscles and joints begin to ache. This disease most often affects the knee and hip joints. When walking, fatigue occurs quickly and mobility decreases (stiffness).
People often lose the feeling of security in their arms and legs and their gait becomes unsteady. When moving, a strong "crunch" occurs in the legs (exposed bone surfaces rub against each other). The joints become deformed. Due to the restriction of movement, the adjacent muscles become less tense and they atrophy (volume decreases). Weakened muscles lead to an increasingunsteady gait.
Hands are most often affected by osteoarthritis after injuries or chronic inflammation. The deformation of the hand becomes clearly visible. It becomes square and growths form on the fingers (Heberden and Bouchard nodes).
Clear signals that osteoarthritis needs treatment are joint deformations, persistent pain in the arms and legs, swelling, limited motor skills and unsteady gait.
If you experience the symptoms described, contact the clinic. Experienced doctors are always available to you, will conduct a comprehensive examination and provide comprehensive answers to all your questions. Thanks to the recommendations of competent doctors, you can maintain your usual rhythm of life.
diagnosis
To assess the condition of articular surfaces and cartilage, instrumental diagnostic methods are usually used. The most informative are: radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound (US).
A medical diagnosis is not difficult - joint changes are clearly visible in the photos. The doctor uses them to determine the stage of osteoarthritis and the degree of its progression.
As an additional diagnostic method, arthroscopy (endoscopy of the joint with a flexible probe) can be prescribed. The doctor examines the joint surface from the inside, can take material to analyze the synovial fluid and perform a minimally invasive procedure (removal of small bone fragments).
General, biochemical and immunological blood tests are carried out for laboratory diagnostics. They determine the general condition of the patient, the presence of an inflammatory process, metabolic disorders and rule out other joint diseases.
Treatment
Conservative therapy is used to relieve pain, slow down the destruction process and, if possible, establish restorative processes in the joint tissue. It can be used:
Drug therapy: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain medications are prescribed to relieve and relieve inflammation and pain. Muscle relaxants (to relieve muscle tension), vitamin complexes and chondroprotectors can be used. In each case, the selection of drugs is made individually, based on the characteristics of the person and the disease.
Nutrition correction: It is necessary to organize nutritious and regular meals. With the help of the doctor, the client creates a list of products and a detailed diet. All that remains is to follow the chosen path.
Injection therapy: injection of hyaluronic acid into the joint space, PRP therapy (injection of human plasma into joints to accelerate recovery processes), etc.
Ozone therapy in various forms and routes of administration to stimulate metabolic processes in cells and improve oxygen uptake. It is particularly effective for relieving pain, reducing inflammation and stimulating natural tissue renewal and repair.
Physiotherapy: magnetic therapy, ultrasound therapy, phonophoresis (a combination of drugs with ultrasound waves), thermal baths, massage, etc.
Applications: Application of special gels, ointments and other medications to relieve pain and increase the effectiveness of basic therapy.
Therapeutic exercises: The doctor offers the client a series of exercises aimed at restoring joint function. Exercises in the pool have a beneficial effect.
Hirudotherapy: the use of leeches. Your saliva contains substances that activate the dilation of blood vessels and thus improve metabolism. Other substances in saliva can clean the joint cavity by dissolving dead tissue.
Orthoses: Wearing and using special structures - orthoses (special shoes, orthopedic insoles, bandages, corsets).
Taping: fixation with adhesive tapes.
In some cases an operation is necessary. The clinic successfully carries out such effective operations in the area of the hip and knee joints as:
- Arthroscopy
- Endoprosthetics
In most cases, after this operation the discomfort disappears, the pain disappears and freedom of movement gradually returns. The symptoms of the disease decrease and usually do not recur if there are no triggering factors.
The modern clinic has modern operating rooms where complex operations are performed using expert-class endoscopes. Our doctors have the opportunity to help even in difficult cases.
Benefits of Visiting a Professional Clinic
- Qualification of skilled workers. Experienced and competent doctors are specialists of the highest category, candidates of medical sciences. They follow the latest advances in the treatment of joint diseases, regularly exchange experiences with colleagues and abroad, and carry out scientific activities.
- Excellent clinical and laboratory facilities. Modern clinics have the most modern, effective and safe equipment to successfully diagnose, treat and carry out preventive measures. The clinical diagnostic laboratory enables you to carry out laboratory tests quickly.
- Fast and effective diagnosis. The excellent equipment of the clinics allows us to carry out a wide range of diagnostic methods: MRI, CT, radiography and other very informative examinations are carried out, which allow us to make a diagnosis and, in particular, obtain detailed data on the condition of the joints, andthe body in general.
- A complex approach. In a modern clinic, consultation with doctors of different specialties is widespread in order to achieve the best treatment result.
- Effective therapy. An integrated, comprehensive treatment and prevention approach includes a variety of state-of-the-art methods.
- Individual approach. Prescribing therapy taking into account the client's gender and age, as well as other characteristics.
Prevention of osteoarthritis
To minimize pain and maintain normal working condition, you should:
- Follow the doctor's recommendations,
- control body weight (each additional kilogram of weight increases the risk of deterioration),
- eliminate or minimize heavy physical activity,
- do regular physiotherapy exercises,
- Avoid injuries: Use special protective elements (knee pads, protective clothing, etc. ) and increase the load gradually.
- Use correction devices and treatment methods (ligaments, orthoses) as recommended,
- Undergo regular examinations, preventive courses and monitor the condition of the disease.
Proper treatment and following the recommendations of the treating specialist will help stop the progression of the disease and maintain mobility. If you have problems with your joints, go to the hospital. Our doctors will help you eliminate pain and crunching in the joints and select therapy to restore motor function. Timely start of therapy allows for complete joint recovery, and preventive treatment procedures will help you lead a normal life without joint pain!
FAQ
What is the difference between osteoarthritis and arthritis?
In osteoarthritis, the cause of tissue destruction is inadequate nutrition (disruption of metabolic processes) and, as a result, compensatory compaction and proliferation of the articular bone surfaces. Arthritis is characterized by inflammation, which is the main cause of tissue damage.
The chronic inflammatory process gradually turns into nutritional and metabolic disorders, i. e. H. Arthritis with frequent exacerbations progresses to osteoarthritis through a mixed intermediate stage in which signs of both diseases are present.
Is osteoarthritis a curable disease?
The later the disease is detected, the lower the chances of a full recovery. But in any case and at any stage, you can stop the disease and relieve pain and other unpleasant sensations as much as possible.
Is warming up in the sauna/bathtub worth it if you have osteoarthritis?
Warming up is useful and is part of the complex treatment of osteoarthritis. However, you must consult your doctor first. If there is a local or general inflammatory process in the body, warming procedures are contraindicated - they increase inflammation, and dilated blood vessels spread inflammation throughout the body.
Is osteoarthritis a contraindication to military service?
Depends on the severity of the disease. A contraindication may be limited mobility and joint function.
Can children suffer from osteoarthritis?
Yes, this is possible after injuries and other joint diseases.
Is it possible to cure arthrosis at home with folk remedies?
There is a possibility, but without special examination and qualified recommendations, the likelihood of your condition worsening is much higher.
What is the most dangerous thing about osteoarthritis?
The destruction of the tissue leads to constant pain, reduced motor function and disability. Is it possible to independently determine whether you have osteoarthritis?
If the symptoms are known, one can assume the presence of a disease, but the diagnosis is made after an instrumental and laboratory diagnostic examination by a doctor.