What is osteoarthritis: its types, symptoms and treatment methods

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of a dystrophic nature, expressed by damage to cartilaginous tissue and joints.About a third of older people suffer from this disease.Therefore, it is worth knowing which specialist to contact and how to treat this disease.

Types of osteoarthritis

The parameter by which osteoarthritis is divided into types is location.Based on this, experts have established the following classification of the disease:

• Spondyloarthrosis.Spinal osteoarthritis affects one or more vertebrae in the spine.The cause of spondyloarthrosis is excessive stress on a certain part of the spine.Scoliosis is a common cause of this type of disease, as are other postural disorders.
• Non-covertebral osteoarthritis.Cervical spondylosis is directly related to the natural aging process of the human body, which is why it is most often diagnosed in older people.

• Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint.Shoulder osteoarthritis is quite common in the population, particularly among men.Two-thirds of people with shoulder osteoarthritis have arm joint deformity.
• Osteoarthritis of the hands.Osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joints is another type of osteoarthritis.The disease is also called Heberden's lymph nodes.More common in women during menopause.
• Coxarthrosis.Osteoarthritis of the hip joints usually affects middle-aged and elderly people.However, if there is joint dysplasia (congenital disorders of bone structure), the disease can also occur in young people.
• Gonarthrosis.Osteoarthritis of the knee joints is one of the most common types.People over 45 are the most susceptible.The disease is more common in women than in men.
• Osteoarthritis of the ankle.Foot injuries, subluxations, leg bruises and other similar problems are warning signs of this group of diseases.This happens at all ages and in all population categories.
• Primary polyarthrosis.Kellgren's disease is characterized by general weakening of the ligaments and muscular dystrophy.It occurs in postmenopausal women in the context of general osteoarthritis of the extremities.

The mechanism of development of osteoarthritis

In its normal state, cartilage has a smooth surface and is also quite flexible.Thanks to this, the joint surfaces can move relative to each other without difficulty.In other words, healthy cartilage provides the necessary level of shock absorption and reduces the load on bones, muscles and ligaments.

Due to osteoarthritis, over time the surface of the cartilage becomes increasingly rough and friction occurs when the joints move.The small particles begin to separate from the cartilage and eventually enter the joint cavity and fluid.

In addition, the cartilage becomes more and more rigid, until it ossifies.Cysts form in the central and deep areas, coming into direct contact with the joints.

This ensures constant injury to the capsule and synovium of the joint, causing them to thicken.Over time, the structure of the bones itself is also damaged: they become deformed and peculiar protrusions appear at the edges.

Increased load on ligaments and muscles contributes to the appearance of fibrous lesions.The risk of damage to the ligamento-muscular system increases (sprains, tears, ruptures).With significant cartilage destruction, movements are severely limited and ankylosis formation is common.

Causes and risk factors

The causes of osteoarthritis are varied and multifaceted.However, there are groups of factors that increase the risks of developing the disease:

• age over 60;
• obesity and large body weight, which create increased stress on the joints;
• failure to comply with safety precautions and work rules;
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• hormonal imbalance;
• lack of vitamins and microelements in the body;
• poisoning with certain toxic substances;
• poor environmental conditions at the place of residence and work;
• frequent hypothermia of the body.

Primary osteoarthritis

Primary osteoarthritis is a consequence that arises from a disruption of regenerative processes, increased degeneration of the cartilaginous tissue of the joint without accompaniment of abnormalities in the functioning of the body as a whole.

Typically, primary osteoarthritis results from hereditary factors:

• Composition of cartilaginous tissue.A genetic disorder in the composition of the tissue making up cartilage, which accelerates destruction, is a direct prerequisite for osteoarthritis.The sooner the cartilage is affected, the higher the likelihood that disease will occur.
• Congenital abnormality of the musculoskeletal system.Over time, this leads to trauma of a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe cartilaginous joint tissue, which, in turn, ultimately leads to the disease.
• Heredity.Osteoarthritis is likely to be hereditary.If at least one of the parents suffers from this disease, then increased attention should be paid to the child's joints.

Secondary osteoarthritis

As we have already mentioned, secondary osteoarthritis does not occur on its own;it is always preceded by a factor:

• Mechanical damage to the joint.Trauma, intra-articular bone fracture, constant excessive load and many other factors have an extremely high risk of causing subsequent disease.An aggravating factor is insufficient or absence of treatment.
• Surgery.It is not so much the operation itself as the medical error that can cause damage to the joint or cartilage.
• Joint disease.Osteoarthritis often occurs as a result of an inflammatory process: arthritis, synovitis.Also find out how osteoarthritis differs from arthritis.
• Vascular disease.Many diseases of the vascular system that disrupt the blood supply to the joint can lead to osteoarthritis.Their list includes varicose veins, atherosclerosis, endarteritis obliterans, etc.
• Autoimmune disease.Diseases such as hemochromatosis, psoriasis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and others are also a prerequisite for the disease.

Secondary osteoarthritis occurs as a result of pathological processes or as a result of partial destruction of the joint surface due to damage caused by external influences.

The difference between primary and secondary osteoarthritis is expressed in the dynamics and prerequisites of the disease: with the primary type, the disease occurs slowly and naturally, while for the secondary type, a trigger for development is necessary.

Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is accompanied by characteristic and recognizable symptoms:

• Painful sensations.Joint pain is the hallmark of the disease.For osteoarthritis, pain occurs during movement or when a heavy load is placed on the inflamed joint.The pain is noticeable but tolerable.However, over time, the symptoms become more intense and the pain ends up accompanying the patient even at rest.
• Crunch.Osteoarthritis is often accompanied by a cracking sensation in the inflamed joint.The symptom results from the gradual destruction of the cartilaginous layer and subsequent friction of the bones.If a person's joints crack, this is not yet a reason to panic.With osteoarthritis, the crunch is quite specific - rough and dry.Therefore, you should not make an appointment with a specialist, barely cracking your joints.Especially if there are no other symptoms.
• Rigidity of movements.As osteoarthritis develops, it increasingly limits movement due to ossification and destruction of cartilage.
• Change in appearance of the joint.One of the accompanying symptoms is deformation of the inflamed joint.A person with osteoarthritis may notice that the appearance of one or more joints has changed: for example, knees that have been sharp throughout their life have become more rounded.
• Soft tissue inflammation.However, osteoarthritis can cause not only joint deformity, but also inflammation of the soft tissues, accompanied by fluid accumulation around the cartilage (effusion).

Osteoarthritis stages

The process of developing osteoarthritis involves three stages:

• Osteoarthritis of the first stage is characterized by minor pain during movement and light loads on the affected joint.However, from the first stage, a change in the structure and composition of cartilaginous tissue begins.
• By the second stage, the joint itself is deformed and destroyed.Manifestations of pain become more and more noticeable, a loud and distinct crunch appears.
• The most serious stage of osteoarthritis, the third, leads to pathological deformation of the affected joint.Visually, the joints also start to change.At the third stage, the patient fully feels all the symptoms of the disease: pain bothers the joints even at rest, the person can no longer perform the usual movements, and visually the joints become less and less attractive.

The third stage of osteoarthritis leads to complete destruction of the joint, accompanied by neoarthrosis (unnatural partial mobility) or even a total loss of mobility.As a rule, at the end of the third stage of osteoarthritis, specialists decide on radical intervention - endoprostheses of the damaged joint.

Complications and possible consequences

Untimely and incorrect (or absent) treatment of osteoarthritis can lead to many unpleasant consequences.This is not only the complete destruction of the affected joint, but also a change in the biomechanics of the spine, which can lead to the appearance of herniations in the intervertebral discs and the spread of the disease to healthy joints.

The main complications of the disease include the following pathologies:

• joint deformity;
• joint destruction;
• violation of the biomechanics of the spine and other joints;
• intervertebral disc herniation;
• inability to perform movements;
• decrease in the patient's standard of living;
• the patient becomes disabled.

Specialist and diagnosis

If you discover symptoms inherent in osteoarthritis, the first specialist a person should consult is an orthopedist.In the future, the doctor will collect anamnesis, conduct a general examination and refer the patient for examination, including:

• X-ray (usually in two projections), necessary to detect specific signs of osteoarthritis.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan to study the bone structure of the affected joint.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), necessary to determine the condition of soft tissues.

Depending on the results of the examination, the orthopedist can either prescribe treatment himself, or, if aggravating circumstances are detected, refer the patient to other specialists: rheumatologist, hematologist, endocrinologist, gynecologist.

Treatment

The treatment of osteoarthritis rarely includes a single therapeutic method.As a rule, the patient is prescribed a whole range of measures, from proper nutrition to drug treatment and physiotherapy.Cases where surgery is indicated are also not uncommon.

General recommendations

Treatment of osteoarthritis, in addition to specific measures, includes several fundamental recommendations:

• reduce the load on the painful joint to the minimum possible;
• literal adherence to the regime established by the orthopedist;
• a rational and correctly formulated diet, rich in vitamins and minerals.

Drugs

Medications for osteoarthritis are indicated quite often.Typically, these are the following types of drugs:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs.At the initial stage of treatment, the first tasks to be solved are the elimination of pain and inflammation.The solution to the second problem includes the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, involving intravenous and intramuscular administration.
• Hormonal corticosteroids.Hormonal corticosteroids are indicated at the exacerbation stage of osteoarthritis.Most often, this group of drugs is prescribed in the form of injections, but sometimes there are patches, ointments and tinctures.
• Chondroprotectors.The main goal of this group of drugs is to restore cartilage tissue and normalize the composition of synovial fluid.The patient has to take the medicine for a long time, as the recovery process takes a long time.In advanced cases of osteoarthritis, medications may not produce the desired effect.
• Painkillers.In particularly severe cases of the disease, painkillers, including narcotics, may be prescribed.

Therapeutic exercise

Physiotherapy is often prescribed to patients suffering from osteoarthritis, especially in combination with drug treatment.The orthopedist selects a set of exercises that must be performed according to the following principles:

• No rush.The load and volume of training should increase gradually;there is no need to rush, even if you want to speed up the appearance of a positive result.
• No pain.Physiotherapy exercises should not cause pain.Exercise can bring discomfort, a feeling of tension and fatigue, but never pain.If the pain persists, it means that the exercises are not being performed correctly.
• No surge.The exercises should be intense, but without forcing the patient to overwork.We must not forget that everything is good in moderation.
• No breaks.Only regular exercise can truly benefit the joints and help overcome the disease.Classes held once a month depending on your mood will not bring any effect.
• No exacerbation.Exercises should only be performed during periods of osteoarthritis remission.
• No concessions.Problematic and healthy joints should be stressed equally.

Physiotherapy

The early stage of osteoarthritis is usually treated with medication.However, in combination with medications, physiotherapy procedures are often prescribed to increase the effect of medications.Additionally, with this prescription, the dosage and side effects of medications can be reduced.

For osteoarthritis, the following procedures are indicated:

• Electrophoresis.An absolutely painless procedure that allows the prescribed medication to act locally and at high concentrations while minimizing side effects.Allows you to quickly relieve pain, inflammation, improves joint nutrition and promotes a number of other beneficial effects of drugs.
• Ultrasound exposure.Causes a list of beneficial effects (warming, micromassage, improves capillary blood flow and tissue metabolism).In other words, the physiotherapy procedure aims to improve the condition of joint and cartilage tissues in general.
• Exposure to magnetic field.Physiotherapy reduces inflammation in the damaged joint and improves metabolic processes.An orthopedist can prescribe general and (or) local magnetotherapy depending on the type of osteoarthritis and the patient's general health.
• Exposure to radiation.Physiotherapy is prescribed not only in cases where there are contraindications to other physiotherapeutic methods, but also as an addition to others, as a means of accelerating recovery.

Massage

Massage is an effective way to treat osteoarthritis due to improving peripheral blood circulation in the joint.The better the blood circulation, the better the nutrition of the joints and cartilage with nutrients.

For osteoarthritis, the following massage techniques are often prescribed:

• Japanese.During the Japanese technique, point loading is performed on certain areas of the joint – hard and painful.Loads should be strictly dosed, so you should contact a massage therapist specializing in Japanese techniques.
• Finnish.The technique is characterized by the fact that the majority of movements are performed with the thumbs, which also has a targeted but gentle effect.
• Swedish.The Swedish technique involves stroking and rubbing movements, as well as direct kneading of the painful joint.

The purpose of massage achieves the following objectives:

• stretch the muscles and ligaments surrounding the painful joint;
• release muscles from venous blood;
• remove deposits from the seal;
• stimulate lymphatic flow and blood circulation;
• relieve tension;
• improve the motor function of the joint.

Food

In case of osteoarthritis, the flagship dish that should be included in the diet is jellied meat - its consumption leads to the intake of gelatin into the body, which is so necessary for the normal functioning of cartilage.However, other animal dishes containing cartilage are also recommended for consumption.

In addition, there is a list of dietary rules that patients suffering from osteoarthritis must follow:

• do not eat a lot at night, as this can lead not only to weight gain, but also to an attack of the disease;
• try to eat fractionally - proteins separately, fats separately, carbohydrates separately;
• if you have a large body weight, reduce your weight so as not to add stress to an already painful joint;
• The daily diet should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements.

Thermal treatment

Depending on the stage of osteoarthritis, the patient may be indicated for sanatorium interventions using special mud:

• Local mud applications.This involves applying warm healing mud (around 40 degrees) to the affected joints for 15 to 20 minutes.The course takes place every other day and includes 10-15 procedures.
• General mud applications.General application of hot mud to the human body.Around ten interventions are necessary, carried out every two days.
• Mud baths with mineral water.Immersion of a person in a specific bath consisting of healing mud mixed with mineral water at high temperature (36-37 degrees).The course takes place by analogy with applications.
• Compress.Mud compresses of different compositions are applied to the affected joints (no more than two) for a long time (from half an hour).Courses range from 10 to 20 procedures.

You should not make the decision about a spa treatment yourself.Before visiting the establishment, be sure to consult your attending specialist.

Additionally, other procedures are also presented:

• hydrokinesitherapy;
• traction of limbs underwater with hanging weights;
• vibrating massages;
• reflexology;
• medicinal baths.

Surgery

Surgery is performed to improve joint mobility, as well as to remove some damaged cartilage or menisci.

Osteoarthritis surgery is a last resort, which should be resorted to only if conservative treatment methods have not given a positive result and the patient suffers from pain, partial or complete immobility of the joint.

During the operation, a fragment of cartilage affected by osteoarthritis is removed, it is polished to a smooth surface, cartilaginous growths are removed and part of the damaged ligaments are cut.

The most common surgery is:

• hip joint - partial removal of cartilage and bone tissue from the femur and pelvic bone;
• knee joint – replacement of the articular surface of the joint with metal or combined prostheses.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are not capable of overcoming osteoarthritis on their own, but they can be an excellent adjuvant.The main thing is to consult your orthopedist before use.

Ointments, compresses and baths are the most effective in traditional medicine to combat the disease.

Ointments

For them to have an effect, ointments must be applied with massage movements and left on the skin for a long time, for example, overnight.

Ointment #1:

• 1 egg yolk;
• 1 tbsp.turpentine;
• 1 tbsp.apple cider vinegar.

Mix all the ingredients well.

Method of application.The painful joint should be lubricated at night and wrapped well.Use three times a week.

Ointment No. 2:

• 100 g of honey;
• 3 g of mom.

Mix all the ingredients well.

Method of application.Apply daily in the evening for a week.

Compress

In case of osteoarthritis, they must be warm and humid.The compress applied to the joint is covered with a film and a warm cloth.

Compress #1:

• water;
• 1 tbsp.vegetable oil;
• 6 burdock leaves.

The stacked leaves should be briefly held over a pan of hot water to steam.

Method of application.The diseased joint is lubricated with vegetable oil, wrapped in leaves, wrapped in cling film and a warm scarf.You must keep it for several hours.

Compress No. 2:

• 2 eggshells;
• 1 tbsp.L.large kefir.

The powdered shells are mixed with kefir until a thick paste is formed.

Method of application.The product is spread over the painful joint, covered with a linen cloth and cling film, after which the joint needs warmth (for example under a blanket).After two hours, the composition must be washed off.

Baths

If a large joint suffers from osteoarthritis, warming is indicated and a bath is an excellent remedy.

Salt and pine bath:

• 1 kilogram of sea salt;
• several pine branches;
• 3 Jerusalem artichoke tubers, chopped;
• 2 tbsp.L.Honey;
• 1 tbsp.turpentine.

All ingredients are mixed in a hot water bath.This bath lasts up to half an hour.

You should not take healing baths every day - the interval between procedures should be 1 day.

Herbal bath:

• 4 tbsp.L.nettle;
• 3 tbsp.L.St. John's wort;
• 2 tbsp.L.calendula;
• 3 tbsp.L.oregano;
• 1 tbsp.L.hemlock;
• 1 tbsp.L.burdock root;
• 500 g of clay.

Pour boiling water over the herb mixture and let it steep for an hour.After a while, clay is added, the solution is mixed well and poured into a hot bath.It takes about 20 minutes to lie down in the bathroom.

Prevention measures

Despite the many reasons that cause the disease, there are also effective measures designed to protect a person from the appearance of osteoarthritis:

• Physical activity.Healthy and moderate physical activity, especially with proper technique, will not only help fight excess weight, but also increase blood microcirculation around the articular cartilage, thereby enriching the cartilage with nutrients necessary for its normal functioning.
• Hot.Hypothermia of the joints should be avoided.
• Nutrition.A proper and balanced diet containing the daily requirements for nutrients, as well as vitamins and microelements, will help your joints live a long and happy life.
• Normal weight.Maintaining a normal weight throughout life minimizes the risk of osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that can be contracted by many people: from athletes (among whom it is the most common disease) to lovers of an absolutely unhealthy lifestyle.But taking preventive measures, contacting an orthopedist in a timely manner and following all instructions allows, if not completely eliminating the risk of getting sick, at least reducing damage to a minimum.