Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joints in which cartilage is destroyed in nearby bone structures. The disease is spread all over the world.
The main cause of pathology is a violation of metabolic processes. Predisposing factors include congenital malformation, internal inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, and being overweight. The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis increases with age.
Treating osteoarthritis is a difficult and time consuming process. In this case it is not enough to just take different pills to reduce the symptoms. Other measures will be needed to help slow the progression of the disease. Without them the risks of complications and disability increase several times over.
Brief description of the disease
Before we talk about how to treat osteoarthritis, it is necessary to say a few words about what it is and what it is like to develop the disease. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints accompanied by degenerative-dystrophic processes. The following processes take place during its development:
- Cartilage density and elasticity decrease, they cease to perform shock absorption functions;
- The level of friction between the bones increases, which causes them to gradually break down and deform, forming sharp corners on the surface;
- Sharp elements dig into nearby tissues, causing them to become inflamed;
- Motor functions are partially or completely damaged.
Deformed arthrosis has severe symptoms. Most often patients complain of joint pain and swelling, as well as convulsions, restriction of movement, and morning stiffness.
Unfortunately, arthritis cannot be cured forever. You can escape from it only in one case - if the disease was detected at an early stage of development. But since it is asymptomatic at this stage, most patients do not even suspect that they have the pathology and therefore do not seek treatment. And when symptoms appear, irreversible processes occur in the joints that cannot be eliminated.
As for the factors provoking the development of pathology, we must distinguish the following reasons:
- Trauma;
- Hypothermia;
- Bad habits;
- Excessive physical labor;
- Professional sports;
- Improper nutrition;
- Hormonal disorders;
- Autoimmune diseases and a. Sh.
Basics of treatment
Can Arthritis Be Cured? No. This disease is not curable. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t deal with it. Lack of therapy can lead to serious consequences - the pathology progresses, the person loses the ability to work and becomes disabled. Therefore, while the methods used do not allow you to get rid of the disease, it should definitely be considered!
With the development of osteoarthritis (any of its types, coxarthrosis, osteoarthritis, etc. ) one treatment regimen is used, which includes:
- Taking medications that help relieve pain and stop disease progression;
- Weight loss and proper nutrition;
- Exercise therapy classes;
- Massages;
- Physiotherapy procedures.
A very important point in osteoarthritis is to fight against excess weight, if any. Excess kilograms is an additional load on the ligature apparatus, leading to rapid disease progression. Therefore, if a patient's body weight exceeds the norm, he or she urgently needs to lose weight. But fasting is contraindicated. In this case the dietary meal is selected individually.
As for the food itself, it also has limitations. For any type of osteoarthritis, it is worth refraining from eating foods containing purines. this:
- Meat of young animals;
- Mushroom, meat, vegetable and fish broths;
- Jelly dishes;
- Meat sauces, patties;
- By-products;
- Smoked meat;
- Oily fish;
- Salty and spicy cheese;
- Caviar;
- Cocoa, black tea, coffee;
- Refractory fats;
- Legumes;
- Grape-based products;
- Dough made from yeast dough and a. Sh.
Your doctor should tell you in detail how to eat after detecting osteoarthritis or other types of DOA. With proper nutrition, the patient will be able to avoid the accumulation of uric acid salts in the body and serious complications.
Also, when talking about the treatment of osteoarthritis, it should be noted that massages and physiotherapeutic exercises must be performed flawlessly. But not on yourself! Massages should be performed only by specialists, as any wrong action can lead to complications. While exercise therapy exercises are performed under the supervision of a physician only for the first time, then the patient can perform physical exercises at home.
Drugs
Medications will not help cure osteoarthritis forever. But they provide a reduction in symptoms and stop the pathological processes in the joints, which normalizes their motor functions and significantly improves the patient's condition.
Typically, treatment for osteoarthritis involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs have several actions at once:
- Stop inflammatory processes;
- Reduction of pain syndrome;
- Has a fever-reducing effect.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are available in several forms - tablets, ointments, rectal suppositories, intramuscular injection solutions. As practice shows, they quickly eliminate the pain syndrome and their effect lasts a long time. But this group of drugs has several disadvantages. It is impossible to take them for more than 5-7 days, as their components have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. And this, in turn, can lead to exacerbation of peptic ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, as well as the appearance of side effects such as diarrhea, flatulence, obesity, etc. Sh.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken only with a doctor's permission. Improper dosage can lead to exacerbation of osteoarthritis and even greater destruction of cartilage and bone tissue!
In severe cases, when treatment of deformed arthrosis with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not give a positive result, corticosteroids are used. They are usually injected into the body through a joint capsule. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids last for several months. But you can not use them more than 4 times a year, because they also negatively affect the condition of the joints.
ᲛImportant! Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are symptomatic drugs. They do not cure osteoarthritis, but simply eliminate its unpleasant manifestations.
Analgesics are also used to relieve pain. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, these drugs do not help eliminate inflammatory processes, but they do relieve pain better. And if the patient has muscle spasms, then antispasmodics are used to stop them. Analgesics and antispasmodics have the greatest effect as a solution for intramuscular injection.
Deformed joints and bones are also treated with chondroprotectors. And if the groups of drugs listed above give only a symptomatic effect, then these drugs have a therapeutic effect. They contain substances that help to restore the nutrition of damaged tissues, restore their integrity.
Chondroprotectors act slowly. To get a positive result from them, they must be taken continuously for at least six months. But if the disease has reached the 3rd or 4th stage, their reception will be meaningless.
In addition, vasodilators are also often used to treat osteoarthritis. They provide improved blood flow as well as eliminate spasm in small blood vessels. Use such funds in conjunction with chondroprotectors.
Physiotherapeutic procedures
In addition to drug therapy, osteoarthritis is also treated with the help of physiotherapy procedures. They also do not help cure the disease but contribute to a significant improvement in patient well-being. The most popular among them are:
- Shock Wave Therapy (SWT). The action of this procedure is aimed at eliminating the main cause of pain that occurs during osteoarthritis. It kills bone-like bone processes - osteophytes. Of course, this does not happen immediately, but gradually. Under the influence of ultrasound waves, osteophytes soften and eventually collapse. In addition, SWT improves blood circulation in the pathological focus and normalizes metabolism. But, despite the effectiveness of this procedure, its use is possible only in the early stages of disease development. In addition, it has many contraindications.
- Myostimulation. This procedure involves the use of electrical impulses that cause the muscles to contract. Its implementation is advisable in bedridden patients and in case of severe injuries when exercise therapy becomes impossible. Stimulation of muscles increases their tone and improves blood circulation, which has a positive effect on the course of osteoarthritis.
- Phonophoresis. This procedure is performed using ultrasound waves with the simultaneous use of medication. Waves enhance the effect of drugs. Thanks to them, they are delivered directly to the pathological focus, which significantly enhances their therapeutic effect.
- Ozone therapy. It involves injecting a gas mixture into a joint capsule. The main actions are to alleviate inflammatory reactions, reduce pain, improve motor functions. Ozone therapy is usually prescribed in a course that includes several injections. Their number depends on the severity of the course of arthrosis.
ᲛImportant! Physiotherapy procedures are prescribed individually, taking into account the contraindications and the severity of the disease.
Physiotherapy
Can Osteoarthritis Cure With Exercise Therapy? The answer is the same - no. Therapeutic exercises are prescribed to patients to improve joint development and motor functions. Performing special exercises also helps to normalize blood circulation in pathological foci and increase the supply of nutrients to damaged tissues.
All physical exercises are also selected individually. First they are held under the strict supervision of a specialist, then can be done independently, at home.
Massage and manual therapy
They are used to treat osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) and other types of osteoarthritis. These procedures provide heating of the diseased area, elimination of spasms, normalization of blood circulation. Massages and manual therapy are performed only by a specialist. They can be done both in remission and during the exacerbation period.
Mechanotherapy
Mechanotherapy is a special type of gymnastics, during which all physical exercises are performed using special simulators. They help to increase the load on the body, while preventing damage to diseased joints. Like physical therapy, mechanotherapy provides an increase in muscle tone and improves blood circulation.
Joint traction
The essence of the procedure is the mechanical "stretching" of the joints with the help of a special device. The duration of one session is about 15-20 minutes. The full course includes 10-12 procedures, performed once every six months.
ტერAlternative Medicine
Alternative medicine also helps to effectively eliminate the pain caused by osteoarthritis, coxarthrosis and other diseases. But as in other cases, they do not give a cure for the pathology, so you should not rely too much on them.
ᲛImportant! Folk remedies should be used as adjunctive therapy in combination with other medications prescribed by your doctor.
Homemade ointment
To prepare it you will need:
- Animal fat (for example, pork) - 1 cup;
- Unrefined vegetable oil - 100 ml;
- Birch buds - 1 tbsp. K. L. ;
- Propolis - 50 g.
The ointment is prepared as follows. First, the animal fat is melted, brought to a boil, and birch buds are added to it. The resulting composition is then boiled in a water bath for about 2-3 hours and cooled to room temperature. Then add propolis (pre-ground on a grinder) and mix the ointment until it dissolves. And the last ingredient is vegetable oil. The product is then left in a cool place until completely cooled and filtered.
Apply the ointment as needed, depending on the degree of pain, but not more than 5 times a day. It should be noted that such a remedy has not only analgesic but also anti-inflammatory effect. It can be used not only for osteoarthritis. It will also help with arthritis, osteochondrosis and bronchitis. It can be used by both adults and children.
Cabbage leaf
An effective remedy for joint pain. It is used as follows. Take a large leaf of white cabbage, place it on the affected area from the inside and fasten it with a warm bandage on top. The compress stays on overnight. To enhance the effect, the leaf is soaked in honey.
Healing compresses
All pharmacies sell medicines that are cheap and sold without a doctor's prescription. For example, dimexid. This remedy has a good analgesic, absorbent and anti-inflammatory effect. It improves metabolism and enhances blood circulation.
To apply the compress, you need to take a layer of marl folded in several layers, soak it in the solution and apply it on the painful joint, after which you lubricate it with vegetable oil. You need to fasten the polyethylene from the top and make a warm bandage. Keep the compress on for about 20-30 minutes. Do it before bed.
Compress with wine
Available in several versions:
- 280 g of lime or flower honey is melted in a water bath, then add 350 ml of radish juice, 1 tbsp. K. L. Salt and 120 g of fortified red wine. All components are well mixed and cooled. It is used as follows - rub about 10-15 g of the mixture on the sore spot, then apply a warm bandage for 30-40 minutes. The duration of treatment is 30 days.
- First, a healing mixture is prepared. To do this, red wine and bee venom are mixed in a container in a ratio of 1: 1. The resulting composition is slightly warmed, then moistened with a gauze towel and applied to the damaged joint, making a warm bandage on top. Hold the compress for 30 minutes.
- This compress will require 150 g of radish. Grind on a fine grater, then 2 tsp. K. Crime. The resulting precipitate is placed on the tissue and applied to the joint. Polyethylene is definitely applied from the top while the limb is wrapped in a warm scarf or towel. Hold the compress for 40 minutes. The course of treatment is 5 weeks.
Garlic juice with oil
Peel a squash, grate it and squeeze the juice. Mix the olive oil in a ratio of 1: 10. If there is no olive oil, you can use corn oil, but in this case the proportion will be 1: 12. The resulting mixture should take 1 tsp. K. Every day before breakfast.
Cranberry decoction
To prepare it you will need blackberry leaves. 1 st. L. The raw material is poured into 250 ml of water, then put on fire, boiled and boiled for 20 minutes. The finished broth is then cooled and filtered. Take in small sips throughout the day.
Infusion of black currant leaves
1 st. L. Pour the crushed leaves of black currant in 0. 5 liters of boiling water and leave for about 1 hour and then filter. Take ½ cup 5-6 times a day.
It should be understood that no medication can eliminate the causes of osteoarthritis and completely relieve the disease. Unfortunately, this disease is not curable and all the measures used only help to reduce the symptoms. And in order for the therapy to give us maximum results, it is necessary to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor.