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 occur at any age, against the background of existing chronic diseases, due to trauma or as a manifestation of congenital anomalies. Articular pathology requires not only traditional methods of treatment in the form of medication, 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, translated as node. Termination - means inflammation, and -osis - deformation. The name is due to the process that takes place in the node.
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 appears.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by the destruction of cartilage located on the surface of the bone that forms the joint. Cartilage tissue becomes thinner, deformation sites 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 acute pain that occurs during movement and at rest, stiffness of movement in the morning. In addition to local manifestations, this pathology is associated with general symptoms in the form of fever, general weakness, lethargy. In autoimmune diseases other organs are affected - heart, kidneys.
With osteoarthritis in the early stages, there are no symptoms. Complaints are presented by patients in the later stages, there is pain during physical exertion, cracks during movement, impaired movement. In the final 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 performed by specialists such as:
- Surgeon - to examine the condition of the tissue.
- 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 treatment of joints is based on an integrated approach, the period of exacerbations involves taking drugs that have an anti-inflammatory effect. During the period of remission, physiotherapeutic methods, massage and gymnastics are described. Osteoarthritis therapy is different 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 osteoarthritis are a pathology in which blood circulation and lymph flow are disturbed, therefore their effective treatment is based on the normalization of these processes, improving 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.
A mandatory step is to reduce the load on the affected limbs. This includes conservative methods - wearing orthopedic shoes, protecting the joints from injury, normalizing weight, dosing physical activity.
How to cure osteoarthritis and arthritis? Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease. It can not be completely cured, so the main task of therapy is to prevent further development of the deformity.
Arthritis that appeared on the background of the underlying disease disappears after treatment of the pathology that caused inflammation in the joints.
Treatment Methods
The treatment of osteoarthritis and arthritis of the foot is the same as for other joints. Make sure you wear the right shoes with bow support. When you wear high heels, flat shoes, the deformity will progress, other sets of ankles and spine will start to get involved in the process.
Main methods of treatment of joint pathology:
- lifestyle correction;
- orthopedic correction;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy;
- drug treatment;
- Surgical intervention.
Non-drug methods
How to treat arthritis at home? Treatment of arthritis and osteoarthritis at home is carried out using compresses with dimethyl sulfoxide, bischofite or medical bile. All of 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 uncomplicated deformity by synovitis.
- Medicinal bile has a local warming and absorbing effect.
- Dimethyl sulfoxide relieves inflammation, absorbed into deep tissues.
Anti-inflammatory ointments can be applied yourself. When arthritis is caused by autoimmune diseases, connective tissue pathology, gout, then diet has a great importance in therapy. The diet is saturated with vegetables, fruits, fiber, exclude:
- fried and fatty foods;
- smoked meat;
- Canned food;
- carbonated drinks;
- alcohol.
Gout also requires the exclusion of spices, hot spices, fatty meats, caviar, legumes, coffee, tea, chocolate.
Joint health benefits:
- pineapple;
- Cherry juice;
- ginger;
- lemon;
- India's saffron;
- hot chili pepper.
For a patient treating osteoarthritis 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 cartilage restoration. The limit is set for 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 involve excellent motor skills of the hands - modeling, drawing. For the general improvement of the body are useful - cycling, swimming.
Medical treatment
Treatment of osteoarthritis with the help of medication consists in the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors. Release forms - tablets, capsules, injections, ointments and gels. The oral release form has a number of contraindications, such as bronchial asthma, stomach ulcers.
Their long-term use can cause bleeding in the stomach. Ointments have no contraindications, but their effectiveness is lower.
The dose is prescribed by a doctor, usually 1-2 tablets 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 common 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 in preventing joint pathology.
Arthritis is treated by injecting a laser therapeutic substance through the skin. These procedures include phonophoresis and electrophoresis.
Phonophoresis - the device creates a directed flow, which improves tissue permeability for drug administration. Moreover, the ray has a massage effect on the 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 ionizing particles. India is saturated with medicine, placed under electrodes with 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 osteoarthritis with medication is effective in the early stages. In the future, medicines 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 impaired, the pain bothers all the time and is not stopped by medication. The main operation is arthroplasty.
The puncture is used to examine synovial fluid, remove it, and administer medication.
Arthroscopy refers to research methods, but can be therapeutic. With osteoarthritis, osteophytes are removed using an endoscope.
Osteotomy - removal of the edges of the bone to reduce the load on the diseased joint. Used for arthritis.
Prevention of osteoarthritis and arthritis
To keep your joints healthy, you need to change your lifestyle. Respectively, to establish a diet, to reduce body weight and to exercise regularly. At the first pathological symptoms, specialist consultations, research and treatment are indicated.