Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) of the joints is a pathological dystrophic process in which there is a slow destruction of various layers and tissues. Every person should clearly understand how to treat osteoarthritis, because neither adults, nor children, nor the elderly are insured against the disease. If there is a suspicion of the development of arthrosis, what it is and in order to overcome the different types, you must know thoroughly.
Depending on the localization of the pathological process and the severity of the damage, in medicine there are several types of diseases on which the treatment of arthrosis depends. Naturally, a person who first encounters such a diagnosis should strive to learn as much as possible about what osteoarthritis is. Consider the most commonly diagnosed variants of the disease.
Reviews
The pathology can be of the following types:
- Typical osteoarthritis affects all segments of the population and is a fairly common disease. It is diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Osteoarthritis of the ankle and foot is quite common.
- Patelofemoral arthrosis occurs below the patella. The causes of this type of arthrosis lie in the defeat of the patellofemoral joint.
- Hemarthrosis is bleeding into the cavity. Often this is osteoarthritis of the lower extremities that affects the knee.
- Polyarthrosis is a group of dystrophic lesions and is diagnosed mainly in people of the older age group. This species is considered an independent disease. Therapy should be chosen by the doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.
- Rheumatic type of pathology or rheumatoid arthrosis occurs due to improper metabolism.
Osteoarthritis
It is best to treat grade 1 osteoarthritis and grade 2 osteoarthritis. Initially, there is a decrease in the elasticity of the surface layers of cartilage, followed by its softening and loosening. During the pathological process the condition worsens and the surface becomes too thin, dividing into fibers, leading to the appearance of cracks on it.
Pathological changes on the joint surface in osteoarthritis
When grade 3 osteoarthritis is diagnosed, the patient already has erosive cartilage damage with deep enough cracks, but the subchondral bone and deep parts are not damaged.
When osteoarthritis is diagnosed, treatment will be medication. It is based on taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (within 10 days of the course). Treatment of osteoarthritis in the second stage may require the appointment of hormonal drugs that are injected into the damaged joint. It is also possible to treat with compresses and prescriptions of traditional medicine, but only in combination with drugs. Only a doctor will tell you in more detail how osteoarthritis is treated and must be informed of the decision to combine traditional and traditional medicine.
Patellofemoral
If a patient is diagnosed with patellofemoral osteoarthritis of the knee joint, it is important to know how to treat it and what happens at each stage of the pathological process.
With grade 1 osteoarthritis, they talk about daily fatigue or situations where the legs are very tired or overworked. But in the presence of unpleasant symptoms (pain, fatigue, heaviness in the knee) or after an injury, a second degree of osteoarthritis is diagnosed. If you don’t know how to treat it or do it on time, cartilage dystrophy will begin.
Patellofemoral arthrosis does not have its own treatment regimen. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, doctors decide on the need for fixation with knee pads or orthoses, and osteoarthritis can also be treated by reducing physical exertion and taking analgesics.
Once you know what osteoarthritis is and how to deal with it, you can start taking medications on time, which will allow you to maintain joint mobility and health in general.
Hemarthrosis
A characteristic feature of this type of joint lesion as hemarthrosis is the outpouring of blood into the joint cavity. This condition is most commonly diagnosed in people prone to hemophilia. During stage 1 osteoarthritis, there are virtually no visible and noticeable changes, and the structures and tissues of the joint are not damaged. In the 2nd degree of arthrosis, the soft tissues (menisci and ligaments, joint capsule) are damaged.
The procedure of pumping blood from the joint cavity in hemarthrosis
Hemarthrosis is treated with drugs in several stages:
- First of all, cleaning of the joint cavity from leaking blood is done by puncture;
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are then injected into the joint;
- And finally, they prescribe a course of taking synthetic agents that contribute to the renewal of the joint.
The treatment regimen directly depends on how severe the symptoms of osteoarthritis are and the extent to which the disease is detected.
Polyarthrosis
Before discussing treatment methods, you should understand what signs of osteoarthritis are characteristic of this type.
Polyarthrosis is characterized by:
- multiple lesions of different joints;
- restriction of physical activity;
- pain when wiggling fingers;
- swelling of damaged joints;
- the appearance of nodules on the thickening of the bones;
- narrowing of the joint gap.
Polyarthrosis is dangerous because it immediately affects several joints, so it requires the right approach to treatment and the selection of the right medications.
Now in detail about how to treat osteoarthritis of this type. First of all, the therapy is aimed at restoring physical activity. When talking about how to cure osteoarthritis with the help of medications, you need to remember the physical procedures that are very effective in such a lesion. Here it can be seen as a remedy by heat or water. As well as balneotherapy.
If a patient has osteoarthritis of the joints, the doctor will definitely prescribe the intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids and chondroprotectors also help. Relieve pain and discomfort, various ointments, compresses, rubbing.
It is not forbidden to choose a cure for osteoarthritis from the prescriptions of traditional medicine, but this must be agreed with the doctor who will avoid complications. If the described methods are not effective, the doctor will consider the possibility of solving the problem with surgery.
It is very important not only to know how to treat osteoarthritis, but also not to forget that there is a proper prevention of osteoarthritis, which we will talk about later.
Degrees
Osteoarthritis, hemarthrosis, polyarthrosis and patellofemoral arthrosis occur in three stages. The symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis in each clinical case will be different, so there is no one universal therapeutic regimen.
There are 3 degrees of pathology:
- 1 degree of arthrosis - characterized by narrowing of the gap and the absence of osteophytes;
- Grade 2 arthrosis - a slight narrowing of the gap is accompanied by the formation of osteophytes;
- Grade 3 arthrosis - significant narrowing of the joint space, multiple osteophytes and bone deformation.
At each stage, the treatment of osteoarthritis must be carried out by a qualified specialist, otherwise the therapy may not give the necessary results, and the process will worsen.
Folk remedies
As for folk remedies for the treatment of diseases, here you can find a lot of valuable, easily implemented and effective recipes. Consider a few of them.
Fermented dairy products and chalk
For cooking you need to find peeled chalk and turn it into small crumbs. The ideal option would be the material written on the boards. Also keep in mind that if you buy chalk that is offered at a building materials store, it may contain chemical components that can be harmful.
The resulting mass must be poured over any fermented milk product and mixed well until a homogeneous mass is obtained. What you have done should be carefully laid on the affected area, wrapped in cling film and fixed with a bandage. Leave the mixture overnight and rinse with warm water and soap in the morning. As a result, the pain disappears and blood circulation improves.
Oatmeal
A very economical and simple but effective recipe. You need to take 100 grams of oatmeal and pour boiling water over them. Then put the mass on a low heat and simmer for five minutes. After the time has elapsed, a paste will be obtained which is applied to the sore spot. It is advisable to leave the compress overnight. Keep in mind that oatmeal should only be used freshly prepared.
Fern leaves
If there is such a plant at home, then you can donate a few leaves for your health. If not, then in the summer they are collected in the forest, then applied to the affected area, wrapped in a bandage and left overnight. The effect will not last long.
Propolis
Beekeeping products are known in folk medicine for their good medicinal properties in relation to many diseases. You need to take propolis and dissolve it in a water bath (it should be enough to treat the damaged area). When it becomes liquid, you need to add corn or sunflower oil, wait for the mixture to cool, apply to the skin and leave overnight. In the morning the pain and swelling will go away.
Prophylaxis
If you set a goal and try to find a cure to prevent osteoarthritis, then the attempt will not be crowned with success, because it fails. It is not possible to accurately predict the pathology, but it is quite possible to reduce the risk of arthrosis.
To prevent joint destruction, you can:
- Avoid injuries and mechanical damage of varying severity as much as possible;
- Try to treat all joint diseases in time;
- Treat all infectious and viral diseases;
- Do not overload the joints;
- Live an active lifestyle;
- Eat right;
- Exercise every day.
Now you know all about the symptoms and treatment of osteoarthritis of the most common types, and if you follow these simple recommendations, the disease will not be felt for a long time, and if you are lucky, it will never manifest itself at all.