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arthrosis

The surfaces of the bones that form the joint are covered with a special, hyaline cartilage - smooth, providing the least friction force during the motor skills of the articular surfaces. If arthrosis is diagnosed, it means that the cartilage is in the process of destruction.

Progressing, the destructive process spreads to the bones, and then to the joint capsule.

The disease has a universal code for microbial 10 - M15-M19, classifying it as a class of pathologies of the musculoskeletal and connective tissues.

According to medical statistics, 12% of the world's population suffers from osteoarthritis, most of which are elderly, from 65 years old, people. However, every year there is an alarming trend towards an increase in the number of cases among young people.

The diagnosis is not fatal, but arthrosis is insidious with its relapses and the threat of complete disability.

Origin mechanism

The disease develops gradually, we can conditionally distinguish four stages:

  1. Initially, an area of cartilage that is poorly supplied with blood, or damaged, appears on the site of cartilage. Gradually, in the presence of traumatic factors, the area is not restored, but, on the contrary, grows.
  2. The body, trying to restore the collapsing cartilage, replaces the damaged areas with a mineralized tissue that does not have a clear structure. Such tissue is, in general, an inferior substitute for smooth, sliding and elastic hyaline cartilage.
  3. Gradually, the entire surface of the cartilage becomes covered with scars and bone growths - osteophytes.
  4. Healthy areas from the load increased several times wear out very quickly, and as a result, the entire cartilage tissue turns into one large scar.

If the pathological process is not stopped, the joint will undergo the following adverse changes:

  • bones are involved in the process of destruction;
  • the synovial membrane becomes inflamed;
  • the joint capsule becomes denser, losing its elasticity;
  • the lumen of the joint space decreases rapidly;
  • bones, unable to withstand friction, are deformed, like the joint as a whole;
  • the tissues of the joint are reborn, thereby there is a complete loss of the possibility of movement.

Types of arthrosis

This disease affects absolutely any articular surface! At the same time, despite the same mechanism of pathology, it is classified into several types.

So, depending on which joints are sick, they distinguish:

  • arthrosis of the knee joint, or patellofemoral arthrosis (abbreviated as gonarthrosis);
  • arthrosis of the hip joint (abbreviated as coxarthrosis);
  • arthrosis of the shoulder joint;
  • interphalangeal arthrosis;
  • arthrosis of the ankle joint;
  • arthrosis of the hands;
  • cervical arthrosis;
  • jaw arthrosis;
  • arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal joint;
  • arthrosis of the ilium;
  • clavicular-acromial arthrosis;
  • temporal arthrosis;
  • arthrosis of the heels;
  • arcuate arthrosis affecting the arcuate processes of the vertebrae (abbreviated as spondyloarthrosis);
  • arthrosis of the facet articulation of the joints of the spine;
  • uncovertebral arthrosis;
  • costovertebral arthrosis;
  • talonavicular arthrosis.

According to the specifics of the course of the pathological process in the cartilage tissue, there are:

  • deforming arthrosis is the name of a disease that has passed into the terminal (final) stage;
  • arthrosis, - the presence of a classic inflammatory process is characteristic;
  • chronic;
  • acute arthrosis.

According to the causes of the pathology, there are:

  • dystrophic arthrosis of the joints associated with a critical metabolic disorder;
  • arthrosis of the fracture, caused by the corresponding injuries;
  • post-traumatic arthrosis.

It's important to know! There are no arthrosis of internal organs, for example, arthrosis of the heart is not a type of disease, but a consequence: a violation of cardiac activity due to the destruction of the cartilage of the chest region.

There is another classification, according to whether the disease is independent or caused by provoking factors:

  • primary - occurs on a completely healthy cartilage, another name - idiopathic arthrosis, or appears with age-related senile changes;
  • secondary - caused by many reasons.

Symptoms of arthrosis

There are quite typical signs of arthrosis of all localizations, which, depending on the degree of development of the pathology, differ in their severity:

  • aches, pain syndrome, aggravated by high humidity and hypothermia;
  • decreased mobility of the joint;
  • crackling, creaking and scraping sounds during movements of the articular surfaces;
  • external changes in the outline of the joint;
  • puffiness and swelling;
  • redness of the skin.

pain

The most initial signs of disorders make themselves felt by mild or moderate, short-term pain, which almost never occurs at night, but usually appears only with a load on the articular surface.

When the inflammatory processes have passed into their final stage, the patient begins to feel unbearable, "gnawing" pain due to stagnation of blood and increased pressure in the joint bag. Pain is characterized by a long duration, at any time of the day, and regardless of whether the affected area is at rest or in motion.

joint stiffness

This symptom is typical for a fairly advanced disease. At the same time, in the early stages, the patient still feels in the morning, after waking up, discomfort when moving in the form of a feeling of some stiffness.

With the progression of destructive reactions, the patient notices:

  • limitation of the amplitude of habitual movements;
  • the inability to change the position of the limbs at rest, even when attempting to unbend the joint manually;
  • strong fixation (contracture) in a certain position of the joint, which for a long time was in a state of lack of motor activity.

In the end, at the fourth stage of the pathology, ankylosis is formed in the form of replacement of articular tissues with scars, with a complete loss of functionality.

Sounds in the joint

A crunch can be accompanied by any dysfunction of bones and cartilage, not only caused by arthrosis.

However, it is characteristic of this disease that the sound:

  • occurs only in the joint that aches;
  • accompanied by difficulty in movement;
  • tends to increase with the progression of the pathology, and enters during the formation of ankylosis.

Changing the appearance of the joint

Noticeable changes appear in the later stages. So, the axis of the affected limb is bent, and the articular region itself is disfigured - it grows in size, the shape changes ugly.

All this testifies to the irreversible destruction of the joint, inside which a new, not having a specific structure, tissue has formed.

If such a disease-causing process occurs in the knee, then the load on the ankle and metatarsophalangeal joints will increase, which will damage them over time.

If the outwardly deformed part of the body is also swollen or swollen, this means inflammation of the synovial membrane, due to which the synovial fluid accumulates in large quantities in the joint bag, causing severe pain.

Causes of arthrosis

Pathology can occur both in a single joint, and spread to several. This disease occurs least often at a young age - there is still enough vitality for the self-healing of the body.

healthy joint and joint arthrosis

However, for all age groups, the causes of occurrence in their direction of exposure are:

  • internal - some diseases, bad habits, unbalanced diet, etc. ;
  • external, - injuries, professional factor.

Internal causes are factors provoking a negative change in the joint in the form of inflammation of the joint. There are inflammations of various origins:

  • infectious (E. coli and Koch's bacillus, viruses, chlamydia, staphylococci, Treponema pallidum, etc. );
  • rheumatism;
  • purulent arthritis;
  • autoimmune nature;
  • gout;
  • psoriasis.

In addition, the causes of internal exposure include congenital or acquired disorders of the structure of cartilage and malnutrition, which may be associated with:

  • genetic failures and mutations;
  • anomalies of intrauterine development, including perinatal trauma;
  • advanced age;
  • osteoporosis, i. e. "washing out" of the constituent elements from the bone tissue;
  • hormonal disorders and overload, including menopause;
  • violations of normal metabolism;
  • nutritional deficiencies of vitamins and minerals;
  • diseases that cause muscle weakness;
  • internal prolonged intoxication.

Exacerbation of many diseases of the musculoskeletal skeleton also leads to cartilage degeneration.

External causes of the development of the disease are factors damaging the joint, such as:

  • frequent hypothermia;
  • dislocations;
  • strong blows;
  • fractures;
  • meniscus injury;
  • strong physical activity (lifting weights, for example);
  • professional sports;
  • joint surgery.

Degrees of arthrosis

According to the clinical manifestations and the process of progression of the disease, four stages of arthrosis are distinguished:

  1. arthrosis of the 1st degree, this is the initial stage of arthrosis, which is characterized by hidden symptoms in the form of negative changes in the composition of the synovial fluid and weakening of muscle fibers, if pain appears, it is only during physical exertion;
  2. arthrosis of the 2nd degree - this is already a feeling of pain due to the collapsing articulation of bones and the formation of osteophytes, reflex neurotrophic regulation is disturbed and an audible crunch appears;
  3. arthrosis of the 3rd degree is characterized by significant degenerative changes in the joint, its visible deformation with a curvature of the axis of the limb, the ligaments are shortened, and the joint becomes pathologically mobile;
  4. arthrosis of the 4th degree is a complete ankylosis, complete contracture and severe pain even at rest.

All four stages proceed unevenly: during the pathological period, sharp exacerbations and moments of remission are possible.

Treatment of arthrosis

It has been clinically proven that treatment and prevention in the form of eliminating the provoking factors of hyaline cartilage damage, although they do not relieve the disease at the initial stage, stop its development and restore the functionality of the joint.

Basically, the disease of small and moderate severity is treated with conservative methods. In case of severe destruction of the cartilaginous surface, which led to the destruction of bones, surgical arthroplasty is indicated.

In this case, the main principle in the treatment are:

  • an integrated approach that involves the use of several therapeutic methods;
  • purposefulness, that is, the concentration of efforts on the elimination of disease-provoking factors and consequences.

Treatment with folk remedies

Being treated comprehensively, but at home, you can additionally resort to healing recipes of traditional healers, offering effective treatment of health problems through herbs and bee products.

From plants use:

  • bay leaf in the form of decoctions, vodka tinctures and specially prepared oils, used externally, directly on the area of inflammation;
  • treatment of arthrosis with honey has established itself as a reliable local drug that relieves inflammation in the form of rubbing and nourishes the skin, muscles and cartilage;
  • cabbage leaf, - better than white cabbage, - knead it a little, and wrap it around a sore spot, warm it with a woolen cloth on top, and keep it all night;
  • aloe juice in the form of compresses and rubbing into the skin;

The treatment of arthrosis of the knee joint with burdock also helps: the leaf is bandaged to the sore spot, which is insulated all night.

It's important to know! Using phytotherapy, it is necessary, to enhance the effect, to forget bad habits and take care of proper nutrition.

Drugs for arthrosis

Drug treatment related to the classical method of therapy is divided, depending on the dosage form used, into drugs:

  • external use, in the form of an ointment for arthrosis, rubbing, lotions;
  • injections;
  • pills for arthrosis;
  • capsules.

Ointments

The pharmaceutical industry produces medical ointments based on natural, highly active ingredients:

  • heparin ointment.

A remedy containing 1% diclofenac helps well: the gel is applied to the skin.

Injections

Injections have proven themselves very well in the treatment, not only intravenously and intramuscularly, but also directly into the affected area, for example, with nonsteroidal drugs.

So, intra-articular injections are injected into damaged articular tissues:

  • glucocorticoids, which enhance the nutrition of cartilage tissue, relieve inflammation and increase elasticity;
  • chondroprotectors and analogs of intra-articular fluid;
  • hyaluronic acid as a lubricant and pain reliever.

Preparations in the form of tablets and capsules

A special group in drug therapy are the so-called chondroprotectors for arthrosis, containing the structural elements of hyaline cartilage, and thereby restoring it.

These drugs are available in the form of tablets and capsules intended to be taken orally through the gastrointestinal tract (orally).

Additionally, patients are prescribed NSAIDs - anti-inflammatory drugs for arthrosis of the non-steroidal group, stopping acute pain and relieving exacerbations.

Painkillers are also used in the form of novocaine blockade.

Additionally, complex vitamins are prescribed for arthrosis.

From natural preparations of local action, medical bile is recommended, applied in the form of compresses to the skin.

Exercises for arthrosis

Special exercises and remedial gymnastics (LFK) have proven themselves excellently, the complex of which gives physical activity on the unhealthy part of the body in a gentle, dosed manner.

Dr. Bubnovsky and Evdokimenko developed their own sets of therapeutic exercises.

It's important to know! Physical exercises are very effective in helping to restore health, but only if you resort to them at the very beginning of the development of the disease!

Massage for arthrosis

A very beneficial effect on the treatment and medical massage, which improves microcirculation and nutrition of deep tissues.

Diet for arthritis

In this condition, it is important to adhere to proper, rational nutrition in order to slightly improve the patient's condition. Recommended abstinence from overeating, exclusion of animal fats and fried foods.

It's important to know! In addition, in the struggle for healthy cartilage, it is necessary to use physiotherapy in the form of magnetic therapy, electrophoresis, paraffin and therapeutic mud wraps.

Which doctor treats arthritis

First of all, with complaints of pain in the joints of the bones, you should go to the therapist. It is he who, having summarized the patient's history, and having asked him in detail, will give a referral to the necessary narrow specialist.

It can be, depending on the cause of the disease and its type, doctors of such profiles as:

  • orthopedist;
  • traumatologist;
  • surgeon;
  • rheumatologist.