Causes of arthrosis, symptoms, its complications and treatment methods

Arthrosis, more correctly called osteoarthrosis, is a chronic disease of a dystrophic nature caused by the destruction of the cartilaginous tissue of the joint, therefore the treatment of joint arthrosis is extremely necessary.If such a disease occurs, irreversible inflammatory processes begin at the ends of the bones and in the tissues around the joints, leading to their degeneration.Furthermore, arthrosis refers to a series of additional degenerative joint diseases, characterized by numerous similar causes of onset and mechanisms of progression.

Osteoarthritis, according to various statistical data, affects up to 80% of the inhabitants of our planet, which makes it the most commonly diagnosed joint disease.And among all diseases it is in 3rd place.

The older a person gets, the greater the chance of developing osteoarthritis.Both sexes are equally susceptible to it, except that osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints occurs more often in women.The active population over the age of 30 is the most affected.From year to year the percentage of patients only increases.

Causes of arthrosis of a diseased joint

The development and causes of arthrosis are accompanied by a deterioration in the metabolism of the joint, due to which the cartilaginous tissue loses elasticity.The reason for this may be the complete or incomplete loss of proteoglycans in the cartilage, which most often occurs due to severe cracks in the cartilage.The loss of these complex proteins can also occur due to an interruption in their production by joint cells.

According to experts, the destruction of cartilage can occur due to: hormonal imbalances, deterioration of blood flow in the joint, deterioration of metabolism, for hereditary reasons, due to mature age, injuries and other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lichen planus.However, the most important cause of osteoarthritis is excessive stress on the joints when they are most vulnerable.

Additional causes of osteoarthritis of the joints include the following:

• previous injuries;
• excessive body weight;
• inflammation due to the development of a severe form of purulent arthritis;
• poor daily diet;
• hypothermia;
• Libman-Sachs disease;
• intoxication of the whole body;
• frequent colds;
• syphilis, tuberculosis, purulent inflammation of the urinary tract, spring-summer tick-related meningoencephalitis;
• thyroid diseases;
• chronic bleeding (hemophilia);
• osteochondropathy of the femoral head.

The causes of osteoarthritis are genetic:

• osteoarthritis of the bones and fingers can be hereditary;
• dysplasia - as a result of abnormal processes during the development of joints and ligaments that occur in the uterus - leads to joint wear and arthrosis;
• pathogenic change in collagen type 2 – when the fibrillar protein of connective tissue is damaged.

People who carry out the following professions or hobbies are more susceptible to the disease: bricklayer, fisherman, blacksmith, loader, athlete.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis for various reasons

The symptoms of osteoarthritis can be divided into four groups:

• Painful in nature.The appearance of pain primarily indicates the initial symptoms of arthrosis.Pain can be caused by various reasons, but with osteoarthritis it is special.First, the pain is characterized by acute manifestations, and a person may feel some discomfort when moving.The pain disappears with rest.At night, the pain can only be felt when turning from side to side.At rest, the pain becomes constant only in severe forms of the disease.In the initial stages of the disease, pain is felt only during intense effort or on palpation.As the condition worsens, the pain intensifies, and more and more breaks are needed to eliminate it.In severe forms, the pain becomes unbearable, osteophytes appear due to thinning of the cartilage and exposed bone.Bad weather and the full moon aggravate the pain.
• The appearance of a creak.This type of symptom is also very important during diagnosis.It occurs due to friction between the rotating bones, the ends of which have lost softness and elasticity.Creaking may indicate other diseases or not be accompanied by them at all, but with arthrosis it has a special character, characterized by its "dryness".This causes pain.
• Deterioration of the motor functions of the joint.This symptom is typical of the advanced stages of arthrosis and occurs due to the appearance of bone tumors in the joint, which cause spasms and almost completely fill the joint space.The result is partial immobilization of the joint.
• Joint deformity.A change in the shape of the joint occurs due to the growth of osteophytes on the bones and the entry of synovial fluid into the joint.This symptom is characteristic of the more advanced forms of the disease.

Osteoarthritis can alternately pass from a state of exacerbation to a state of remission, which greatly interferes with the autonomous diagnosis of the disease.For this reason it is recommended to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Thanks to x-rays, the doctor will be able to determine the signs that indicate one of the four stages of osteoarthritis:

• Stage 1. The joint lumen may be slightly narrowed;no osteophytes are observed.
• Stage 2. The decrease in lumen may be more pronounced and osteophytes begin to form.
• Stage 3. A narrowing of the lumen is clearly observed and a large number of osteophytes are present.
• Stage 4. The joint lumen disappears almost completely and a pathological change in the shape of the joint begins due to many osteophytes.

Treatment methods for arthrosis

It is better to start treatment of arthrosis at the initial stage of its development and it should be comprehensive and pathogenetic in nature.Treatment should be aimed at eliminating the causes that aggravate the disease.Furthermore, it will be necessary to eliminate the pathogenic changes caused by inflammation and restore the functionality of the joint.

An integrated approach to the treatment of joint diseases consists in the use of drugs and physiotherapeutic measures.It is possible to prescribe sanatorium-resort therapy, since in some cases the climate, mineral waters and mud have an effective effect.

The treatment of joint arthrosis is based on a number of basic principles:

1. diseased joints should not experience excessive stress and during treatment they should be practically absent;
2. join the orthopedic order;
3. engage in recreational physical education;
4. conducting physiotherapy, consisting of laser, shock wave, electrotherapy and magnetic therapy;
5. undergo treatment at treatment centers at least once a year on the doctor's prescription;
6. oxygen therapy: nourishing the inside of the joint with oxygen;
7. pharmacological treatment;
8. method of intraosseous administration of drugs and decompression of the metaepiphysis;
9. establish a correct diet.

Pharmacological therapy consists of the use of the following drugs:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs.Thanks to an integrated approach, you can not only stop the development of the disease, but also make your life to a certain extent easier.In part, drug treatment is aimed at eliminating pain and inflammation within the joint.For this purpose, non-steroidal drugs are used.Experts advise against using the oral method of administering these drugs, as they can cause quite severe stomach pain.In this regard, depending on the specific drug, intravenous or intramuscular injections are used.Additional means, such as ointments, are practically not used, since their effectiveness is extremely low.
• Hormonal corticosteroids.Such drugs are prescribed in case of exacerbation of the disease.The drugs are injected into the joint.For external use, use a patch, tincture or ointment.
• Chondroprotectors.Prescribed for the restoration of cartilaginous tissue and to improve the quality of the structure of the synovium.Among these drugs, the most often preferred ones are glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.The duration of this course can be significant until improvement occurs.However, if the required result is not observed within six months, such drugs should no longer be taken.Also, together with chondroprotectors, it is recommended to inject drugs into the joint with the addition of hyaluronic acid.Such drugs help the formation of articular cartilage cells.

In particularly serious cases, the prescription of narcotic analgesics is not excluded.But such drugs are prescribed very rarely, only in cases where other drugs did not have the desired effect.

Correct nutrition for osteoarthritis

An important role in the worsening of the disease should be given to proper nutrition.It must be balanced.You can't eat too little, but you shouldn't eat too much either.Due to excess weight, the load on the joints will increase, and in case of malnutrition, the cartilage tissue will lack important microelements, resulting in degradation.However, the main thing is to create a diet that helps you lose excess weight.You will have to give up fast carbohydrates, which are found in sweets and flour products.Furthermore, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially beer, is prohibited.

Fish dishes are welcome, there are practically no restrictions.Only fatty varieties should be avoided: due to their high calorie content, you can gain excess weight.

Jellied meat is especially popular in the treatment of arthrosis.It may seem strange, but all doctors, without exception, recommend using it because it contains a huge amount of different microelements.Collagen present in jellied meat is useful because it is an integral part of connective tissues, so in this case it is able to replenish the missing amount in the body.As a result, the joints acquire better mobility and the cartilaginous tissue becomes more resistant and elastic.

Vitamins, especially group B, play an important role for the body as a whole in this disease.It is this group that allows you to normalize metabolic processes in the body.A properly functioning metabolism will allow your joints to feel good.Thiamine, after entering the body from beans or peas, will accelerate the synthesis of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

To increase hemoglobin, pyridoxine is needed, which can be obtained from bananas, nuts, potatoes and cabbage.It is advisable to pay attention to vegetables and beans: they contain folic acid.The body also needs liver, mushrooms, eggs and fermented milk products.The entire list of vitamins is, of course, contained in vitamin complexes, but it's no secret that natural elements are absorbed better, which means the healing process will be much faster and more effective.

When eating, you should follow simple basic rules:

• Before going to bed you should not eat foods that are difficult to digest, as they can provoke an attack of arthrosis;
• food should be taken more often, but in small portions;
• Constantly monitor body weight so that it does not increase, otherwise large loads on the joints will be guaranteed, purchase a good product for weight loss and weight control;
• during periods of alleviation of the disease after eating food, go for walks;
• the daily diet should be balanced and compiled together with the doctor.

It is very important to seek help from a doctor in time.By following some of his instructions you can not only stop the development of osteoarthritis, but also reverse it, which will give you the opportunity to enjoy your normal life again.