The treatment of joint damage - arthritis and osteoarthritis is complex. The sooner therapy is started, the less pronounced the pathological process will be. Pathology of the musculoskeletal system can appear at any age, on the background of existing chronic diseases, due to trauma or as a manifestation of congenital anomalies. Joint pathology requires not only traditional methods of treatment in the form of drugs, physiotherapy, but also lifestyle changes.
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Arthritis and osteoarthritis - differences
These two pathologies have a similar name because of the root of the word, which comes from the Latin word articulatio, which translates as joint. The ending -it means inflammation, and -osis - deformity. It got its name because of the process that takes place 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, it can appear in children as a manifestation of connective tissue disease, autoimmune pathology. One or more joints are affected, in rare cases polyarthritis occurs.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage located on the surface of the bone that forms the joint. The cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the places of deformation are replaced by bone tissue. Occurs in adulthood, can be the result of injury. It mainly affects large joints - knees, elbows, etc.
The first symptoms of arthritis are acute pain that occurs during movement and at rest, 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 also affected - the heart, the kidneys.
There are no symptoms of early osteoarthritis. Complaints occur in patients in later stages, there is pain during physical exertion, creaking when moving, difficulty moving. In the last stages, contractures appear.
Arthritis and osteoarthritis can be complications of each other.
Which doctor should I go to?
If arthritis and osteoarthritis are suspected, treatment is performed by specialists such as:
- Surgeon - to examine the condition of tissues.
- An autoimmune disease is dealt with by a rheumatologist.
- Traumatologist - treats pathology caused by injuries.
- Orthopedist - deals with the rehabilitation of patients after treatment.
Principles of effective joint treatment
Effective joint treatment is based on an integrated approach, the period of exacerbation involves taking medications that have an anti-inflammatory effect. In the period of remission, physiotherapeutic methods, massage and gymnastics are prescribed. Osteoarthritis therapy differs in that it involves the use of chondroprotectors.
In arthritis, in addition to symptomatic treatment, etiotropic treatment should be prescribed. With the development of reactive arthritis on the background of infection, antibiotics are prescribed, with autoimmune diseases hormonal agents are prescribed. Treatment may include antiviral agents, immunomodulators.
Arthritis and arthrosis are pathologies in which blood circulation and lymph flow are disturbed, so their effective treatment is based on the normalization of these processes, the improvement of tissue nutrition.
Effective treatment of joints in the presence of synovitis on the background of arthritis and osteoarthritis is based on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
The obligatory step is to reduce the load on the affected limbs. These include conservative methods - wearing orthopedic shoes, protection of joints from injuries, normalization of 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 on the background of the underlying disease disappears after treatment of the pathology that caused the inflammation in the joint.
Methods of treatment
The treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis of the feet is the same as for other joints. Be sure to wear appropriate shoes with a bow support. When wearing high heels, flat shoes deformation will progress, other groups of joints and spine will begin to be involved in the process.
The main methods of treatment of joint pathology:
- lifestyle correction;
- orthopedic correction;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- drug treatment;
- surgical intervention.
Drug-free methods
How to treat arthritis at home? Treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis at home is carried out with compresses with dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medical bile. All these substances can be bought in pharmacies.
- Bischofite - relieves inflammation, has a local warming effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of large joints, in deformities that are not complicated by synovitis.
- Medical bile has a local warming and absorbing 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, then diet is of great importance in therapy. The diet is saturated with vegetables, fruits, fiber, excludes:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meat;
- canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gouty arthritis also requires the exclusion of spices, spicy spices, fatty meats, caviar, legumes, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Benefits for joint health:
- pineapple;
- Cherry juice;
- ginger;
- lemon;
- turmeric;
- hot chili peppers.
For a patient treating osteoarthritis at home, it is important to include jellies and jellies in the diet. In the early stages, these foods will serve as natural chondroprotectors and stimulate cartilage regeneration. A restriction was introduced on salt and mineral water.
The next step in home therapy is daily joint exercises and stretching. Arthritis of the small joints is prevented by activities that include fine motor skills of the hands - modeling, drawing. For the general improvement of the organism are useful - cycling, swimming.
Treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis with the help of drugs consists in the appointment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroprotectors. Forms of release - tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral form of release has a number of contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, gastric ulcer.
Their long-term use can cause stomach bleeding. Fats have no contraindications, but their efficiency is lower.
The dose is prescribed by a doctor, usually 1-2 tablets are taken daily, propionic acid derivatives are taken at most 1 tablet every 4-6 hours.
Hormonal drugs are injected into the joint cavity. They are prescribed for severe pain that does not alleviate NSAIDs. Glucocorticoids are most commonly prescribed.
Chondroprotectors - a group of drugs that are prescribed to restore cartilage tissue. When the oral form is used, they are used for a long time - up to 3 months, with intra-articular - up to 2 weeks. The main active ingredients are chondroitin, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid. Fats with chondroprotectors are effective in preventing 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 the permeability of the tissue for drug administration. In addition, the beam has a massaging effect on deep tissues, which improves their nutrition, increases blood circulation and reduces inflammation.
Electrophoresis is the action of an electric current that breaks down substances into ionized particles. The tissue is impregnated with the drug, placed under the 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, the drugs will not have the desired effect.
Operation
In arthrosis and arthritis, surgical treatment of the joints is indicated when the movement in the joint is already disturbed, the pain is constantly tormenting, and it is not stopped by medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
The puncture is used to examine the synovial fluid, remove it and give medication.
Arthroscopy refers to research methods, but can also be therapeutic. In osteoarthritis, osteophytes are removed with an endoscope.
Osteotomy - cutting the edges of the bone to reduce the load on the affected joint. Used for arthritis.
Prevention of arthrosis and arthritis
To maintain joint health, you need to change your lifestyle. Namely, establish a diet, lose weight, and exercise regularly. At the first pathological symptoms, expert consultations, research and treatment are indicated.