First, let's define what osteoarthritis is. Osteoarthritis, or arthropathy, is a disease of the joints in which the cartilage tissue on the surfaces of the joints is damaged. At the same time, not only articular cartilage is involved in the pathological process, but also ligaments, synovium, and periarticular muscles.
Arthropathy can come in two forms: local, where one joint is affected (foot, knee, etc. ), and systemic. The type of this disorder depends on the affected joint and is:
- Hip disease (or hip joint);
- Arthropathy (or knee joint);
- Arthropathy of the distal interphalangeal joint (Hebbard's node);
- Proximal interphalangeal joint injury;
- polyosteoarthritis of the hand joints (Kelgan's disease);
- Shoulder joint disease;
- lumbosacral spondyloarthropathy;
- Ankle disease (foot joint disease).
The main symptoms of the disease are:
- pain and deformity
- Joint "dry" tightening,
- Decreased mobility (due to reduced joint space and muscle spasms around inflamed joints).
The joint may become swollen and the skin on it may change color (redness). In some cases, the temperature will increase.
There are four degrees of the disease (according to some sources, only three)
- First, the presence of joint problems can be identified by the creaking, tingling, and accompanying pain. However, the body temperature does not rise and swelling does not occur. Treatment is recommended from the initial stage of disease development.
- In the second stage of development of the disease, there are marked changes. The affected area suffers from constant fatigue and stress, which increases with physical exertion. Decreased range of motion of the joints.
- The third degree is accompanied by symptoms of persistent severe pain in the joint (even at rest). Increased sensitivity to weather conditions. The joints may fail completely and the person loses the ability to move.
- Fourth-degree disease is the presence of persistent, severe pain in which strong drugs are powerless.
Read more about the symptoms and treatment of various types of osteoarthritis.
Symptoms and Treatment of Hip Arthropathy
Symptoms of this disorder are characterized by groin pain or just a pulling sensation, especially at night, after physical activity during the day. The unpleasant feeling passed quickly. However, if left untreated, the pain can become longer and more intense even with light exercise. The patient begins to limp in an attempt to reduce the load on the inflamed organs. Movement has become increasingly restricted. As the disease progresses, there is atrophy of the thigh muscles and shortening of the affected limb.
Depending on the extent of the disease, treatment may be with or without surgical intervention (grades III-IV).
Naturally, the sooner the disease is diagnosed and appropriate treatment is started, the less likely the disease will progress and the patient will maintain a high quality of life.
Therefore, in the initial stage (stages I and II), in this case, various drugs, special gymnastics, manual therapy and forced diet can help. The diet is designed to reduce the patient's weight to reduce the load on the joints (if, of course, there is a problem with being overweight). Eating vegetables and fruits is also important to provide the body with vitamins and minerals. Protein saturation is the foundation of any connective tissue and is a priority, so include dairy and soy products, jellies, low-fat jellies in your diet.
Acupuncture and physiotherapy sessions can be prescribed for patients, which, in addition to gymnastics already mentioned above, can include underwater massage, thermal therapy, hydrotherapy and balneotherapy, electrotherapy. Orthopaedic structures can be used (crutches, wedge pillows, lift chairs, orthoses when walking).
Medications to treat the disease (Classes I-II) are prescribed to patients:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications are designed to relieve groin and buttock pain, not directly to the joints;
- chondroprotective agent. These drugs help restore the structure of damaged cartilage in the joints and nourish the cartilage, i. e. they are used to treat the joints;
- Muscle relaxants are used to relieve muscle spasms. It should be used with caution as the body normally protects the joints from greater damage.
- Ointments and creams. Intended to relieve the patient's condition, but not for treatment.
- Medications injected into diseased organs. They are rarely used to relieve pain.
Manual therapy is the application of one of two methods. During the mobilization process, the doctor gently stretches the hip joint, creating an interconnected bone. If everything is done correctly, the movement of the diseased organ is partially restored and spasticity is reduced. However, the technique is rather lengthy (up to 15 procedures per year) and must be comprehensive, i. e. with concomitant medications and other types of treatment.
The doctor operates with the help of a sharp single motion, which brings immediate relief to the patient, however, this technique is effective in combination with other treatments in the initial stages of the disease.
Surgical intervention is performed in the final stages of the disease. Various types of manipulations are available, depending on the specifics of the disease. Therefore, joint preservation surgery is performed by corrective osteotomy of the proximal femur and pelvis. Hip closure surgery and joint replacement surgery (or arthroplasty).
leg joint disease
There are 2 types of leg deforming joints that can be specified: primary and secondary. Primary is characterized by no apparent cause of disease development and is considered to be inherited. Secondary arthropathy of the legs develops in the context of any disease (eg flat foot) or injury.
Arthropathy of the leg joints is a general definition of ankle (foot arthropathy) and knee joint disease. The symptoms and treatment of joint disorders of the legs (foot and knee) are discussed below.
Foot joint disease: what are the symptoms and how to treat
Symptoms are characterized by tight ankles, pain when walking that disappears at rest, limited joint mobility, swelling and redness of the skin on the joints of the feet, and atrophy of adjacent muscles. In most cases, the joints of the toes are affected. Foot arthropathy is diagnosed by X-ray.
Treatment of podiatric and hip joints can be surgical and non-surgical. Non-surgical methods include (in the initial stages of the disease):
- Orthopedic shoes or use of orthopedic insoles in comfort shoes,
- low heels (3-4 cm),
- physiotherapy,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- Special medical gymnastics.
Pain medication and surgical intervention may be prescribed if the foot arthropathy has reached degrees II-III.
It is also important to follow a diet (to reduce the load on the leg joints) for overweight patients. Shoes should be comfortable, low-heeled and not restrict movement.
Medications are needed to relieve pain and help regenerate cartilage in the affected joints.
Physiotherapy includes foot massage, therapeutic baths, infrared laser therapy, ultraviolet radiation, ultra-high frequency therapy, magnetic therapy and ultrasound therapy.
Surgical treatment can be:
- Arthrodesis, in which the affected area is rigidly immobilized,
- Arthroplasty, when the affected joint is surgically restored,
- Endoprosthesis - Complete replacement of a diseased joint with an artificial joint.
Symptoms and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
As with other types of arthropathy, symptoms of emerging knee cartilage disease are mild pain with exercise that disappears with rest. The knee may swell. Often occurs after leg fractures and dislocations.
In the second stage of the disease there is a characteristic tightening with pain. There is also limited range of motion in the joints and fluid buildup may occur.
Treatment includes medications and procedures:
- Ozone therapy acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic,
- Exercise therapy is the performance of special movements to improve ligament elasticity and blood circulation,
- Take homeopathic medicines.
Treating Arthropathy with Folk Methods
Of course, folk remedies should not be used as a panacea for serious ailments like joint disease. But combined with the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, folk remedies will speed up recovery.
- For pain relief, use cabbage juice, in which a piece of natural wool is soaked and then compressed every night. Cabbage juice needs to be used within three days, after which it needs to be made fresh.
- The compress is also made from whole cabbage leaves and coated with honey. We apply the painted side to the joints, wrap in cellophane film and wrap warm. We left it all night.
- To relieve symptoms of leg arthropathy, mix crushed white chalk or eggshell with kefir until you get a homogeneous mass, then apply it to your feet in the form of a dressing at night. The calcium contained in these products improves blood flow, which relieves pain and swelling.
- Oatmeal can also help reduce joint pain. For the compress, it is necessary to cook thick porridge, cool it, wrap it in a cloth, and apply it to the sore spot overnight. You can only use it once and brew fresh.
- To relieve pain, you can prepare an oral drink. To do this, add 1 tablespoon to a cup of boiling water. l. Olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon grated garlic. It should be taken 2 times a day when pain occurs.
Again, we note that the main thing is to treat arthropathy comprehensively and promptly to avoid serious complications and surgical intervention.