The treatment of joint damage: arthritis and osteoarthritis is complex. The earlier therapy is started, the less pronounced the pathological process will be. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system can occur at any age, against the background of existing chronic diseases, due to trauma, or as a manifestation of congenital abnormalities. Joint pathology requires not only traditional methods of treatment in the form of medication, physiotherapy, but also lifestyle changes.
%20and%20osteoarthritis%20(right)%20of%20the%20joints.jpg)
Arthritis and osteoarthritis - differences.
These two pathologies have a similar name due to the root of the word, which comes from the Latin word articulatio, which translates as joint. The ending -it means inflammation and -osis - deformity. The name is due to the process that occurs in the joints.
Arthritis affects the synovial membrane along with blood vessels and nerve endings. Synovial fluid production is impaired. It develops at any age, can occur in children as a manifestation of connective tissue diseases, autoimmune pathology. One or more joints are affected, in rare cases polyarthritis occurs.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of the cartilage located on the surface of the bone that forms the joint. Cartilage tissue becomes thinner, places of deformation are replaced by bone tissue. Formed in adulthood, it can be a consequence of injuries. It mainly affects large joints: knee, elbow, etc.
The first symptoms of arthritis are sharp pain that occurs during movement and at rest, motion stiffness in the morning. In addition to local manifestations, this pathology is accompanied by general symptoms in the form of fever, general weakness, lethargy. In autoimmune diseases, other organs are affected: the heart, the kidneys.
With arthrosis in the early stages, there are no symptoms. Complaints are made by patients in later stages, there is pain during physical exertion, a crunch during movement, movement disturbance. In the later stages contractures appear.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis can be a complication of each other.
Which doctor should I contact?
If arthritis and osteoarthritis are suspected, treatment is carried out by specialists such as:
- Surgeon: to examine the state of the tissues.
- A rheumatologist deals with autoimmune diseases.
- Traumatologist: treats pathology caused by injuries.
- Orthopedist - is engaged in the rehabilitation of patients after a course of treatment.
Principles of effective joint treatment
Effective joint treatment is based on an integrated approach, the period of exacerbations includes taking drugs that have an anti-inflammatory effect. During the remission period, physiotherapeutic methods, massage and gymnastics are prescribed. Arthrosis therapy is different in that it includes the use of chondroprotectors.
In arthritis, in addition to symptomatic treatment, etiotropic treatment should be prescribed. With the development of reactive arthritis against the background of an infection, antibiotics are prescribed, with autoimmune diseases, hormonal agents are prescribed. Treatment may include antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis are pathologies in which blood circulation and lymphatic flow are altered, so their effective treatment is based on the normalization of these processes, improving tissue nutrition.
Effective treatment of joints in the presence of synovitis against the background of arthritis and arthrosis is based on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
A mandatory step is to reduce the load on the affected limbs. This includes conservative methods: wearing orthopedic shoes, protecting joints from injury, normalizing weight, dosed physical activity.
How to cure osteoarthritis and arthritis? Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease. It cannot be completely cured, so the main task of therapy is to prevent further development of the deformity.
Arthritis that arose against the background of the underlying disease disappears after treatment of the pathology that caused the inflammation in the joint.
treatment methods
The treatment of osteoarthritis and arthritis of the foot is the same as for the rest of the joints. Be sure to wear proper shoes with arch support. When wearing high heels, flat shoes, the deformation will progress, other groups of joints and the spine will begin to get involved in the process.
The main methods of treatment of joint pathology:
- lifestyle correction;
- orthopedic correction;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- drug treatment;
- Surgical intervention.
Non-pharmacological methods
How to treat arthritis at home? Treatment of arthritis and arthrosis at home is carried out with compresses of dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medicinal bile. All these substances can be purchased at a pharmacy.
- Bischofite - relieves inflammation, has a local warming effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of large joints, with deformity not complicated by synovitis.
- Medical bile has a local heating and absorption effect.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide relieves inflammation, is absorbed into deep tissues.
You can apply anti-inflammatory ointments on your own. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune diseases, connective tissue pathology, gout, diet is of great importance in therapy. The diet is saturated with vegetables, fruits, fiber, excludes:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meats;
- canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gouty arthritis also requires the exclusion of spices, hot spices, fatty meat, caviar, legumes, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Joint Health Benefits:
- pineapples;
- cherry juice;
- ginger;
- lemon;
- turmeric;
- hot pepper.
For a patient treating arthrosis at home, it is important to include jelly and jelly in the diet. In the early stages, these dishes will serve as natural chondroprotectors and stimulate the restoration of cartilage. The restriction is imposed on salt and mineral water.
The next step in home therapy is daily joint exercises and stretches. Arthritis of the small joints is prevented by activities in which the fine motor skills of the hands are involved: modeling, drawing. For the general improvement of the body are useful: cycling, swimming.
Medical treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis with the help of drugs consists in the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors. Release forms: tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral form of release has a number of contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, stomach ulcers.
Long-term use can cause stomach bleeding. Ointments have no contraindications, but their effectiveness is less.
The dosage is prescribed by a doctor, usually 1-2 tablets are taken per day, propionic acid derivatives are taken no more than 1 tablet every 4-6 hours.
Hormonal drugs are injected into the joint cavity. They are prescribed for severe pain that is not relieved by NSAIDs. The most commonly prescribed are glucocorticoids.
Chondroprotectors - a group of drugs prescribed for the restoration of cartilage tissue. When using the oral form, they are used for a long course - up to 3 months, with intra-articular - up to 2 weeks. The main active ingredients are chondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid. Ointments with chondroprotectors are effective for the prevention of joint pathology.
Arthritis is treated by injecting a therapeutic substance with a laser through the skin. These procedures include phonophoresis and electrophoresis.
Phonophoresis: The device creates a directed flow, which improves tissue permeability for drug delivery. In addition, the beam has a massaging effect on deep tissues, thus improving their nutrition, increasing blood circulation and reducing inflammation.
Electrophoresis is the action of an electric current that breaks down substances into ionized particles. The tissue is impregnated with medicine, it is placed under electrodes with the opposite charge. An electric field is created in the affected area, which allows the active substance to penetrate into the deep tissues. The number of such procedures varies up to 10.
Treatment of arthrosis with drugs is effective in the early stages. In the future, medications do not have the desired effect.
Surgery
With osteoarthritis and arthritis, surgical treatment of the joints is indicated when the movement in the joint is already affected, the pain bothers all the time and is not stopped by medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
The puncture is used to examine the synovial fluid, remove it and administer drugs.
Arthroscopy refers to research methods, but can be therapeutic. With arthrosis, osteophytes are removed with an endoscope.
Osteotomy - excision of the bony edges to reduce the load on the diseased joint. It is used for arthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis and arthritis.
To keep your joints healthy, you need to change your lifestyle. That is, establish a diet, reduce body weight and exercise regularly. At the first pathological symptoms, specialist consultations, investigation and treatment are indicated.